Antihypertensive treatment and its implications on lipoprotein metabolism of patients in care by a hypertension and diabetes program in Brazil

Multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disorders, particularly hypercholesterolemia, are often present in hypertensive patients. Several studies have shown that antihypertensive drugs affect the lipid profile, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Here, it was investigated the lipoprotein metabolism alterations in a group of hypertensive patients in care by the Hypertension and Diabetes Program of a public hospital in Fortaleza-CE/Brazil. In this study, one hundred sixty nine serum samples from hypertensive patients (32-87 years old) under antihypertensive therapy were analyzed. Triglycerides, total cholesterol, cholesterol from high density lipoprotein (HDL) and from low density lipoprotein (LDL) serum levels were determined by enzymatic colorimetric method and AI and B apolipoproteins by immunoturbidimetric assay. The population enrolled was predominantly women (73.13%) and from these, 33.53% taking the monotherapy regimen, used angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I). However, in combined therapy (66.47%) the most used drugs were the diuretics, especially in prescriptions associated to ACE-I. It was also observed that patients taking diuretics in monotherapy regimen showed significant effects in their serum lipid concentrations of lipids, in contrast with individuals taking combined therapy, which had no expressive alterations in their lipid profile. Theses results suggest that the antihypertensive therapy must be associated to a lipid monitoring process.