Učinkovitost i sigurnost kombinacije atorvastatina/amlodipina u jednoj tableti kod bolesnika s arterijskom hipertenzijom i dislipidemijom

The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of a single-pill combination of atorvastatin/amlodipine in patients with arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia and moderate to high cardiovascular risk. This prospective study included 243 patients with arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia and moderate to high cardiovascular risk, mean age 63.3±9.8 years. All patients were prescribed a treatment with one of the following doses of a single-pill combination of atorvastatin/amlodipine: 10/5, 10/10, 20/5 or 20/10 mg daily. The follow-up period was 3 months. The mean baseline values of the systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 155.7±16.2 and 92.0±9.2 mm Hg, respectively. At month 3, the respective mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were 136.9±26.9 and 80.6±5.1 mm Hg. The mean baseline values of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were 6.6±1.2 and 4.4±1.1 mmol/L, respectively. At month 3, the respective mean values of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were 5.1±0.9 and 2.9±1.0 mmol/L. Treatment was discontinued in 9 (3.7%) patients due to adverse events. In conclusion, treatment with the single-pill combination of atorvastatin/amlodipine was effective and well tolerated by the patients with arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia and moderate to high cardiovascular risk.Cilj ovoga istraživanja je bio ocijeniti učinkovitost kombinacije atorvastatina/amlodipina u jednoj tableti kod bolesnika s arterijskom hipertenzijom, dislipidemijom i umjerenim do visokim kardiovaskularnim rizikom. Ovo prospektivno istraži­vanje obuhvatilo je 243 bolesnika s arterijskom hipertenzijom, dislipidemijom i umjerenim do visokim kardiovaskularnim rizikom, srednje dobi od 63,3±9,8 godina. Bolesnicima je propisana terapija jednim od sljedećih režima doziranja kombinacije atorvastatina/amlodipina u jednoj tableti: 10/5, 10/10, 20/5 ili 20/10 mg na dan. Razdoblje praćenja bilo je 3 mjeseca. Srednje početne vrijednosti sistoličkog i dijastoličkog tlaka bile su 155,7±16,2 i 92,0±92,0 mm Hg. Krajem 3. mjeseca vrijednosti sistoličkog i dijastoličkog tlaka bile su 136,9±26,9 i 80,6±5,0 mg Hg. Srednje početne vrijednosti ukupnog kolesterola i kolesterola niske gustoće bile su 6,6±1,2 i 4,4±1,1 mmol/L. Krajem 3. mjeseca vrijednosti ukupnog kolesterola i kolesterola niske gustoće bile su 5,1±0,9 i 2,9±1,0 mmol/L. Terapija analiziranom kombinacijom lijekova prekinuta je kod 9 (3,7%) bolesnika zbog neželjenih nuspojava. U zaključku, terapija kombinacijom atorvastatina/amlodipina u jednoj tableti visoko je učinkovita i dobro ju podnose bolesnici s arterijskom hipertenzijom, dislipidemijom i umjerenim do visokim kardiovaskularnim rizikom

Efficacy and Safety of a Single-Pill Combination of Atorvastatin/Amlodipine in Patients with Arterial Hypertension and Dyslipidemia

The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of a single-pill combination of atorvastatin/amlodipine in patients with arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia and moderate to high cardiovascular risk. This prospective study included 243 patients with arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia and moderate to high cardiovascular risk, mean age 63.3±9.8 years. All patients were prescribed a treatment with one of the following doses of a single-pill combination of atorvastatin/amlodipine: 10/5, 10/10, 20/5 or 20/10 mg daily. The follow-up period was 3 months. The mean baseline values of the systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 155.7±16.2 and 92.0±9.2 mm Hg, respectively. At month 3, the respective mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were 136.9±26.9 and 80.6±5.1 mm Hg. The mean baseline values of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were 6.6±1.2 and 4.4±1.1 mmol/L, respectively. At month 3, the respective mean values of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were 5.1±0.9 and 2.9±1.0 mmol/L. Treatment was discontinued in 9 (3.7%) patients due to adverse events. In conclusion, treatment with the single-pill combination of atorvastatin/amlodipine was effective and well tolerated by the patients with arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia and moderate to high cardiovascular risk

Pericardial Effusion in Obstructive Sleep Apnea without Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Daily Hypoxemia - is it Unusual?

Background: Pericardial effusion in chronic hypoxemic lung diseases, such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome, usually occurs after the development of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. However, data about the frequency of pericardial effusions in Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome without pulmonary arterial hypertension and/or daytime hypoxemia are still scarce, and their pathogenesis is unclear. Aims: To assess the prevalence of pericardial effusions and their volume and location in patients with obesity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome without pulmonary arterial hypertension and/or hypoxemia. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: We included 279 consecutive patients (162 males) with newly diagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome having a mean age of 42.8±12.4 years and a mean body mass index of 37.3±7.8 kg/m2. Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome was confirmed by polysomnography. Main exclusion criteria were concomitant inflammatory diseases, thyroid dysfunction, daytime hypoxemia, nephrotic syndrome, left ventricular systolic dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Results: Pericardial effusion was found in 102 (36.56%) -all of them with moderate to severe obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome. The mean effusion volume was mild to moderate (up to 250 mL). In 36 patients (35.3%) the pericardial effusion was diffuse, in 42 (41.2%), the pericardial effusion was located in front of the right atrium and the right ventricle, and in 24 (23.5%) the pericardial effusion was situated in front of the right cardiac cavities and the left atrium. We found a significant positive correlation between the presence of pericardial effusion and apnea-hypopnea index (r=0.374, p<0.001), body mass index (r=0.473, p<0.001), and desaturation time during sleep (r=0.289, p<0.001). Conclusion: Pericardial effusion in patients with obesity and moderate to severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome without daily hypoxemia and/or pulmonary hypertension is a relatively common finding. The occurrence of pericardial effusions is dependent mostly on the grade of Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome, degree of obesity, and duration of sleep desaturation