Antihypertensive drug classes and the risk of hip fracture: results from the Swedish primary care cardiovascular database.

OBJECTIVE: Hypertension and fractures related to osteoporosis are major public health problems that often coexist. This study examined the associations between exposure to different antihypertensive drug classes and the risk of hip fracture in hypertensive patients. METHOD: We included 59 246 individuals, 50 years and older, diagnosed with hypertension during 2001-2008 in the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database. Patients were followed from 1 January 2006 (or the date of diagnosis of hypertension) until they had their first hip fracture, died, or reached the end of the study on 31 December 2012. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate the risk of hip fracture across types of antihypertensive medications, adjusted for age, sex, comorbidity, medications, and socioeconomic factors. RESULTS: In total, 2593 hip fractures occurred. Compared to nonusers, current use of bendroflumethiazide or hydrochlorothiazide was associated with a reduced risk of hip fracture (hazard ratio 0.86; 95% CI 0.75-0.98 and hazard ratio 0.84; 95% CI 0.74-0.96, respectively), as was use of fixed drug combinations containing a thiazide (hazard ratio 0.69; 95% CI 0.57-0.83). Current use of loop diuretics was associated with an increased risk of hip fracture (hazard ratio 1.23; 95% CI 1.11-1.35). No significant associations were found between the risk of hip fracture and current exposure to beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, aldosterone-receptor blockers or calcium channel blockers. CONCLUSION: In this large observational study of hypertensive patients, the risk of hip fracture differed across users of different antihypertensive drugs, results that could have practical implications when choosing antihypertensive drug therapy.

Cardiovascular outcome in treatment-resistant hypertension: results from the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database (SPCCD).

OBJECTIVE: To assess cardiovascular outcome in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension (TRH) compared with patients with nontreatment-resistant hypertension (HTN). METHODS: Cohort study with data from 2006 to 2012 derived from the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database with hypertensive patients aged at least 30 years. TRH was defined as blood pressure at least 140/90 mmHg despite medication adherence to three or more dispensed antihypertensive drug classes. Patients with cardiovascular comorbidity were excluded. The association between TRH and cardiovascular events with adjustment for important confounders was analyzed. RESULTS: We included 4317 TRH patients and 32 282 HTN patients. TRH patients (61% women) were older (70 vs. 66 years), had higher SBP (152 vs. 141 mmHg) and more diabetes (30 vs. 20%) (P < 0.001 for all) compared with HTN patients. Mean follow-up time was 4.3 years. In the adjusted analysis, TRH patients had an increased risk for total mortality [hazard ratio 1.12; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-1.23], cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio 1.20; 95% CI, 1.03-1.40) and incident heart failure (hazard ratio 1.34; 95% CI, 1.17-1.54) but not for incident stroke (hazard ratio 1.03; 95% CI, 0.90-1.19) or transitoric ischemic attack (hazard ratio 1.12; 95% CI, 0.86-1.46) compared with HTN patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with TRH have a poor prognosis beyond blood pressure level, compared with hypertensive patients without TRH. In particular, the high risk for heart failure is of clinical importance and merits further investigation.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and blood pressure control in patients treated for hypertension: results from the Swedish primary care cardiovascular database.

PURPOSE: The aim of this observational cohort study was to investigate blood pressure level and the possibility to reach target blood pressure during concomitant use of NSAID in hypertensive patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From the Swedish primary care cardiovascular database (SPCCD) a cohort of 5463 patients (2007 to 2008) with at least one prescription of NSAID dispensed 6 months prior to the last blood pressure measurement were included. Clinical data were extracted from computerized medical records and linked to the Prescribed Drug Register. Multivariable logistic regression models were used for analysis. RESULTS: Patients with NSAID usage were younger, more often female, with lower creatinine concentrations, more musculoskeletal diagnosis and less cardiovascular comorbidity compared to patients without dispensed NSAID (p < .0001 for all). Regular dose of NSAID was not associated with a decreased possibility to reach target blood pressure. A correlation between the dose of naproxen and an increase in SBP of 7 mm Hg was found. Impairment in renal function did not influence the association between blood pressure control and NSAID (p = .27). CONCLUSION: In hypertensive patients with concomitant use of NSAID the chance to reach target blood pressure was not impaired. In intermediate and frequent users of NSAID there was a dose response relation with naproxen and SBP which was not found in diclofenac and ibuprofen.

Thiazide diuretics and the risk of osteoporotic fractures in hypertensive patients. Results from the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database.

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to investigate if treatment with thiazides reduces the risk of osteoporotic fractures in hypertensive patients in primary healthcare. Further we aimed to examine the impact of duration of thiazide use, the consequences of discontinuation of treatment, and the possible difference in effect between men and women. METHOD: This retrospective cohort study includes 57 822 individuals, 45 years and older, diagnosed with hypertension during 2001-2008 in the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database. Patients were followed from 1 January 2006 (or the date of their first diagnosis of hypertension if that date came later), until they had an incident osteoporotic fracture, died, or reached the end of the study at 31 December 2012. Patients exposed to thiazides were compared with patients never exposed to thiazides. RESULTS: Current use of thiazides was associated with significantly reduced risk of osteoporotic fractures [hazards ratio 0.89; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81-0.98], and increased with longer treatment periods (hazards ratio 0.87; 95% CI 0.78-0.97 after 2 years). However, discontinuation of thiazides increased the risk of osteoporotic fractures (hazards ratio 1.18; 95% CI 1.04-1.33), but attenuated with longer duration past treatment period. When analyzing men and women separately, similar results were seen, although only significant in men. CONCLUSION: This large observational study confirms that thiazide therapy in hypertensive patients is associated with a reduced risk of osteoporotic fractures. The protective effect increased with longer treatment periods. However, discontinuation of treatment increased the risk of fractures, which emphasizes the importance of continuous treatment.