Role and significance of statins in the treatment of hypertensive patients

ABSTRACT

Background: Statins are the first-line drug therapy in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. The beneficial clinical impact of statins on the cardiovascular system results not only from their lipid-lowering action but also from other effects. Recently, it has been suggested that statins can reduce blood pressure, especially in hypertensive patients.

Aim: The role of the hypotensive action of statins and other mechanisms which reduce cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients are discussed in this review.

Methods: Electronic databases searched were [MEDLINE (1966 – February 2009), EMBASE and SCOPUS (1965 – February 2009), DARE (1966 -- February 2009)]. Additionally, abstracts from national and international cardiovascular meetings were studied to identify unpublished studies. The main data search terms were: blood pressure, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and statins.

Findings: At present, it is difficult to unequivocally assess the impact of statins on blood pressure. However, according to most authors, the impact of statins on the decrease in BP is slight, but significant, especially among patients with hypertension.

Key words: :

• Blood pressure
• hypertension
• statins
• treatment

Transparency

Declaration of funding

The authors have not received any payments in relation to the preparation of this review. No pharmaceutical company supported or was involved with the preparation of this article.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

M.S., M.B., A.G., S.E.K., and J.R. have disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships. D.P.M. has disclosed that he has given talks for Merck Sharpe and Dohme (MSD), AstraZeneca and Solvay; that he is a member of an MSD advisory board, and that he has received travel expenses on behalf of MSD, AstraZeneca and Solvay to attend medical meetings both within the UK and outside the UK.

All peer reviewers receive honoraria from CMRO for their review work. Peer Reviewer 1 has disclosed that he/she is a consultant/advisor to AstraZeneca, Schering-Plough and MSD, and that he/she is on the speakers bureau for AstraZeneca, Schering-Plough, Pfizer and MSD. Peer Reviewer 2 has disclosed that he/she has no relevant financial relationships.

Acknowledgments

None.