Summary

Compliance and 48-hour-drug-holiday were evaluated in 57 Brazilian mild to moderate hypertensives randomized to receive amlodipine (group A; 5 to 10 mg/day, single daily dose) or nifedipine retard (group N; 20 to 40 mg/day, bid). Compliance during follow-up (24 weeks) was monitored electronically (cap microprocessor MEMS-4 – Aprex Corp.) and 48-hour interruption at the end of the study was monitored by ABPM.

Group A was formed by 30 patients aged 52.5 years-old and 77.4% female. Group N was formed by 27 patients aged 53.6 years-old and 75.9% female. Blood pressure control showed no significative difference between groups along the study, yet during and after 48 hours interruption on steady-state group A was able to maintain a better control than group N in terms of many BP variables available in ABPM (p<0.05).

Discontinuation due to side effects was observed in 2 (6.7%) patients in group A, and 6 (22.2%) patients in group N (p NS), and, overall, group A reported 12.9% side effects as compared to group N that reported 27.6% side effects during follow-up.

Overall, compliance was extremely good across both groups, with more than 90% prescription adherence with 1,903 days under surveillance for group A and 1,482 days for group N. Yet, the number of patients with anti-hypertensive coverage below 90% was significantly more frequent in the group prescribed bid medication

Compliance and 48-hour-drug-holiday were evaluated in 57 Brazilian mild to moderate hypertensives randomized to receive amlodipine (group A; 5 to 10 mg/day, single daily dose) or nifedipine retard (group N; 20 to 40 mg/day, bid). Compliance during follow-up (24 weeks) was monitored electronically (cap microprocessor MEMS-4 – Aprex Corp.) and 48-hour interruption at the end of the study was monitored by ABPM.

Group A was formed by 30 patients aged 52.5 years-old and 77.4% female. Group N was formed by 27 patients aged 53.6 years-old and 75.9% female. Blood pressure control showed no significative difference between groups along the study, yet during and after 48 hours interruption on steady-state group A was able to maintain a better control than group N in terms of many BP variables available in ABPM (p<0.05).

Discontinuation due to side effects was observed in 2 (6.7%) patients in group A, and 6 (22.2%) patients in group N (p NS), and, overall, group A reported 12.9% side effects as compared to group N that reported 27.6% side effects during follow-up.

Overall, compliance was extremely good across both groups, with more than 90% prescription adherence with 1,903 days under surveillance for group A and 1,482 days for group N. Yet, the number of patients with anti-hypertensive coverage below 90% was significantly more frequent in the group prescribed bid medication

Compliance and 48-hour-drug-holiday were evaluated in 57 Brazilian mild to moderate hypertensives randomized to receive amlodipine (group A; 5 to 10 mg/day, single daily dose) or nifedipine retard (group N; 20 to 40 mg/day, bid). Compliance during follow-up (24 weeks) was monitored electronically (cap microprocessor MEMS-4 – Aprex Corp.) and 48-hour interruption at the end of the study was monitored by ABPM.

Group A was formed by 30 patients aged 52.5 years-old and 77.4% female. Group N was formed by 27 patients aged 53.6 years-old and 75.9% female. Blood pressure control showed no significative difference between groups along the study, yet during and after 48 hours interruption on steady-state group A was able to maintain a better control than group N in terms of many BP variables available in ABPM (p<0.05).

Discontinuation due to side effects was observed in 2 (6.7%) patients in group A, and 6 (22.2%) patients in group N (p NS), and, overall, group A reported 12.9% side effects as compared to group N that reported 27.6% side effects during follow-up.

Overall, compliance was extremely good across both groups, with more than 90% prescription adherence with 1,903 days under surveillance for group A and 1,482 days for group N. Yet, the number of patients with anti-hypertensive coverage below 90% was significantly more frequent in the group prescribed bid medication