Findings seen in patients with no preexisting history of stroke or cardiovascular disease in subgroup analyses<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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FRIDAY, June 21, 2024 (HealthDay News) — For patients with hypertension, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are associated with a reduced incidence of epilepsy compared with other antihypertensive medications, according to a study published online June 17 in JAMA Neurology<\/em>.<\/p>\n Xuerong Wen, Ph.D., from the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, and colleagues conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine the association between ARB use and epilepsy incidence in subgroups of U.S. patients with hypertension. Patients who received ARBs were propensity score (PS)-matched to those who received angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), \u00ce\u00b2-blockers, calcium channel blockers (CCBs), or a combination of these medications. Of the participants, 309,978 received ARBs, 807,510 received ACEIs, 695,887 received \u00ce\u00b2-blockers, and 448,589 received CCBs; the 1:1 PS-matched subgroups included 619,858 patients for ARB versus ACEI, 619,828 patients for ARB versus \u00ce\u00b2-blocker, and 601,002 patients for ARB versus CCB.<\/p>\n The researchers found that the incidence of epilepsy was reduced with use of ARBs versus ACEs, \u00ce\u00b2-blockers, and a combination of other antihypertensive classes (adjusted hazard ratios, 0.75, 0.70, and 0.72, respectively). In subgroup analyses, the investigators observed a significant association between ARB use (mainly losartan) and epilepsy incidence in patients with no preexisting history of stroke or cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n “Further pharmacological studies, including randomized clinical trials, are needed to establish antiepileptogenic properties of antihypertensive medications,” the authors write.<\/p>\n Two authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n