Is the development of diabetes with antihypertensive therapy a problem?--Pro

The potential role of clinical pharmacy services in patients with cardiovascular diseases

Clinical pharmacy is deemed an integral component of a health care system. The presence of clinical pharmacists in medical rounds could assist physicians in optimizing patients' pharmacotherapy. Moreover, clinical pharmacists may reduce adverse effects and medication errors insofar as they contribute significantly to the detection and management of drug-related problems, not least in patients with cardiovascular diseases, who have the highest rank in the frequency of medication errors. Clinical pharmacists can also collaborate with physicians in the management of cardiovascular risk factors as well as anticoagulation therapy based on patients' specific situations.In summary, the practice of clinical pharmacy is considered a crucial part of a health care team to improve the level of patients' care by increasing the quality of therapy with the least expense for a health care system.

The evidence-based use of thiazide diuretics in hypertension and nephrolithiasis

Thiazide-type diuretics are commonly used in the treatment of hypertension and nephrolithiasis. Evidence from randomized clinical trials needs to be considered in decisions about agent choice and dose. In nephrolithiasis, one of the major limitations of the literature is a paucity of data on the dose-response effect of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) on urinary calcium excretion. The best available evidence for prevention of stone recurrence suggests the use of indapamide at 2.5 mg/d, chlorthalidone at 25 to 50 mg daily, or HCTZ 25 mg twice a day or 50 mg daily. In hypertension, chlorthalidone (12.5 to 30 mg daily) may be the best choice when a diuretic is used for initial therapy, with indapamide (1.5 mg daily) being a valuable alternative for older patients. When adding a thiazide to other drug classes, indapamide (2.5 mg daily) has demonstrated value in hypertensive patients who have had a stroke, and HCTZ (12.5 to 25 mg daily) has a safe track record in several patient groups. Although chlorthalidone has not been tested as add-on therapy, the authors believe it is a safe option in such cases.

Antihypertensive medications: benefits of blood pressure lowering and hazards of metabolic effects

Blood pressure reduction is associated with significant reduction in adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Certain blood pressure-lowering drugs have adverse effects on glucose homeostasis, and have been associated with the development of both prediabetes and diabetes during use. There is controversy over the significance of diabetes that develops during treatment with antihypertensives and whether the benefits of blood pressure reduction offset the hazards of dysglycemia that can lead to diabetes. Many treatment guidelines have recently undergone revisions to include consideration for the metabolic effects of antihypertensive drugs, particularly in high-risk populations. This review summarizes the data related to the benefits of blood pressure reduction as well as the adverse metabolic effects and new-onset diabetes associated with some medications.

Metabolic side effects and cardiovascular events of diuretics: should a diuretic remain the first choice therapy in hypertension treatment? The case of yes

Essential hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the Western world. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated that the treatment of hypertension results in a substantial reduction of hypertension-related morbidity and mortality. The efficacy and safety of diuretics has been shown in many clinical trials. Like most other antihypertensive agents, the side effects of diuretics are mostly benign and mild. The metabolic side effects of diuretics, however, have been a bone of contention for a long time. In this paper, we describe the most important and frequent metabolic side effects of diuretics, and emphasize particularly the non-life-threatening effect of diuretics on ventricular arrhythmias due to their hypokalemic effect, the detection of the new onset diabetes (perhaps caused by the administration of diuretics itself), and their significant beneficial effect on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality. At the end of the article, we highlighted the differences regarding the prescription of diuretics between the recently published American and European Guidelines of hypertension.

Is new-onset diabetes of clinical significance in treated hypertensive patients?--Con

There is little doubt that diabetes is more common in hypertensive than normotensive individuals. There are also some data suggesting that the use of certain antihypertensive agents, i.e., diuretics and more specifically some beta blockers will increase the occurrence of new onset diabetes (NOD) when compared to other medications, especially angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers. The clinical significance of this 1%-3.5% difference, however, has not been established. Different studies report different outcomes. In large outcome trials the occurrence of NOD did not effect mortality or morbidity outcomes. Although one study reported that NOD had the same prognosis as pretreatment diabetes, another did not. At present, data are insufficient to suggest that NOD is of important clinical significance or that present treatment recommendations, especially regarding the use of diuretics, should be changed.