Possibilities of antihypertensive therapy in correction of cognitive impairment in hypertensive patients

Abstract

Data regarding possibilities of antihypertensive therapy to reduce a risk of the development of new cases of cognitive impairment are contradictory. So, the purpose of the study was to analyze the effect of antihypertensive therapy onto the dynamics of cognitive functions in hypertensive patients. We examined 90 patients with stage 1 and 2 hypertension, 2-3 degrees (middle age of patients was 49,66 ± 8,74 years). Clinical and anamnestic examination, laboratory and instrumental methods of examination were done to all patients. Neuropsychological tests, as GPCOG, MMSE, Schulte tables were used to study cognitive functions. Cognitive impairment were observed in 36 patients (40%). The combination of inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzymes (іАCE) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) + calcium channel blocker (CCB) was used as antihypertensive therapy.  While using this therapy not only the decrease and normalization of blood pressure but also improvement of cognitive functions were noticed. Particularly, in 61,29% cases patients gained obviously more points in the retesting  MMSE(p=0,003) and GPCOG(p=0,01) and almost all patients (96,77%) needed less time to fulfill tasks by Schulte tables (p=0,0001). The total sum of points by MMSE scale increased by 3,66% (p=0,003), the total score by GPCOG scale increased by 22,24% (p=0,01), and in the control execution of Schulte test patients used less time by 14,39 % in comparison with initial results (p=0,0001).