Hypertension, a prevalent lifestyle disorder, targets a blood pressure (BP) of less than 140/90 mmHg, with amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker, serving as a first-line treatment. Understanding its usage patterns, effectiveness, and tolerability, particularly in diverse populations with comorbidities, is critical for optimizing therapeutic strategies.
This study aimed to evaluate the treatment patterns, efficacy, and tolerability of amlodipine and its combinations in Indian patients with hypertension, focusing on changes in systolic and diastolic BP and the incidence of adverse effects like pedal edema.
A retrospective, longitudinal study was conducted using anonymized electronic medical records (EMR) of hypertensive patients prescribed amlodipine or its combinations. The primary objective was to analyze usage patterns, while secondary objectives included assessing effectiveness through changes in mean systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) and tolerability via the incidence of pedal edema. Data were collected from multiple visits to evaluate BP changes and adverse events across patient demographics and comorbidities.
The study included a cohort predominantly aged 40–64 years (65.47%), with 52.85% male patients. Dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus were the most common comorbidities. Amlodipine, alone or in combination, led to statistically significant reductions in SBP and DBP from the first to the second visit (p < 0.001), effective across patients with or without comorbidities. Pedal edema, a known side effect, occurred in only 0.91% of patients, significantly lower than the reported range of 1.7%–32% in literature, indicating high tolerability in this population. Usage patterns revealed amlodipine’s widespread application as a monotherapy or in combination, tailored to patient-specific needs.
Amlodipine and its combinations demonstrated robust efficacy in reducing BP among Indian hypertensive patients, regardless of comorbid conditions, with a notably low incidence of pedal edema. These findings underscore amlodipine’s effectiveness and tolerability, supporting its role as a cornerstone therapy in hypertension management and highlighting its suitability for the Indian population. Further studies could explore long-term outcomes and optimal combination strategies.
