Abstract:
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Songling Xuemaikang capsule (SXC) combined with amlodipine among the patients with hypertension in rural areas of Henan Province.
Methods This prospective cohort study recruited 1 000 patients with grade 1 to 2 hypertension from three townships in Bo'ai County, Henan Province. The subjects were divided into the control group (treated with amlodipine alone) or the SXC group (treated with SXC in combination with amlodipine) based on the degree of treatment exposure. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with blood pressure < 130/80 mmHg at 1 year. Secondary endpoints included the proportion of patients with blood pressure <140/90 mmHg, blood pressure values, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), serum homocysteine (Hcy), microalbuminuria (MUA), and composite cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. We used propensity score and inverse probability weighting methods to control confounding.
Results A total of 582 patients were finally included in the SXC group, and 396 patients in the control group. At 1 year, the control rate of blood pressure < 130/80 mmHg in the SXC group was significantly higher than that in the control group (30.2% vs. 8.7%; adjusted OR = 6.13, 95%CI 4.32 to 8.71, P < 0.001). Compared with the control group, the control rate of blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg in the SXC group was higher (86.1% vs. 45.4%, OR= 6.93, 95%CI 5.03 to 9.54, P < 0.001). Mean Systolic blood pressure reduction was greater in the SXC group (−22.44 mmHg vs. −14.56 mmHg; adjusted difference −8.96 mmHg, 95%CI −10.24 to −7.68, P < 0.001). The reduction in diastolic blood pressure was significantly greater in the SXC group (−8.65 mmHg vs. −7.17 mmHg; adjusted difference −1.32 mmHg, 95%CI −2.4 to −0.22, P = 0.006). In addition, the improvements in PHQ, GAD scores, and Hcy levels in the SXC group were better than those in the control group (P < 0.05), and the incidence of composite cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events was similar between the two groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusion SXC combined with amlodipine can improve blood pressure control among residents in rural areas of Henan Province, and no increase in adverse reactions was observed. However, further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.