Combined antihypertensive and psychocorrective therapy in patients with arterial hypertension and anxiety-depressive disorders: are there any advantages?

Relevance. Arterial hypertension (AH) and anxiety-depressive disorders (ADD) are comorbid pathologies that are common in clinical practice. At the same time, the possibility of including an antidepressant in antihypertensive therapy for optimal control of hypertension, as well as to ensure a vasoprotective effect, has not been studied enough. Aim. To compare the effect of traditional antihypertensive therapy and therapy, including an antidepressant, on indicators of the daily profile of blood pressure (BP), stiffness of the vascular wall and central aortic pressure (CAP), the severity of anxiety and depression, as well as on cognitive function (CF) in patients AH and ADD. Materials and methods. The study included 90 patients with AH and ADD, who were randomized into two groups: group 1 patients who received a fixed combination of an angiotensin II receptor blocker and a diuretic, a b-blocker and an antidepressant; group 2 persons who took only three-component antihypertensive therapy. Before and after 24 weeks, all patients underwent a general clinical examination, 24-hour BP monitoring ABPM (BpLab Vasotens, Petr Telegin, Russia) with an assessment of the daily profile of BP, CAP and vascular stiffness. In addition, testing was carried out on the HADS, CES-D scales; CF were rated according to the Montreal scale. Results. In the group of patients treated with an antidepressant, it was noted that the target BP level was achieved more quickly when lower doses of angiotensin II receptor blockers were prescribed. After 6 months of therapy in both groups, there was a comparable positive dynamics of the main indicators of ABPM. In group 1, a statistically more pronounced decrease in both peripheral and CAP at night was recorded. In both groups of patients, a decrease in the augmentation index was noted; however, a statistically significant improvement in the parameters of the speed of propagation of the pulse wave in the aorta and the time of propagation of the reflected wave was recorded only in persons receiving antidepressant. In group 1, there was a regression of ADD, as well as a significant improvement in CF. Conclusions. The use of sertraline as part of a combination antihypertensive therapy in patients with AH and ADD contributed to a more rapid achievement of target BP values, a significant improvement in ABPM (especially at night), vascular wall stiffness and CAP. It is also important that the appointment of sertraline was accompanied by a regression of anxiety-depressive symptoms, an improvement in CF.