The Effect of Nebivolol on Office Blood Pressure of Blacks Residing in Sub-Saharan Africa (A Pilot Study)

Dike Ojji; Boni Maxime Ale; Lamkur Shedul; Ejiroghene Umuerri; Emmanuel Ejim; Chizindu Alikor; Charles Agunyenwa; Uche Njideofor; Helen Eze; Victor Ansa

doi:10.3389/fcvm.2020.613917

The Effect of Nebivolol on Office Blood Pressure of Blacks Residing in Sub-Saharan Africa (A Pilot Study)

Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021 Jan 11:7:613917. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2020.613917. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Dike Ojji^{1

2}, Boni Maxime Ale³, Lamkur Shedul⁴, Ejiroghene Umuerri^{5

6}, Emmanuel Ejim⁷, Chizindu Alikor⁸, Charles Agunyenwa⁷, Uche Njideofor⁹, Helen Eze², Victor Ansa⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Nigeria.
² Cardiovacular Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Abuja and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Nigeria.
³ Holo Healthcare Limited, Nairobi, Kenya.
⁴ Department of Family Medicine, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Nigeria.
⁵ Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
⁶ Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, Nigeria.
⁷ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nigeria and University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
⁸ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Port Harcourt and University of Port Harcourt Teaching, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
⁹ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Calabar and University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.

Abstract

Introduction: There is substantial clinical evidence that monotherapy with beta-blockers are less effective in reducing blood pressure among hypertensive Black patients compared to Whites. The highly selective beta-1 agents like nebivolol and bisoprolol have, however, been reported to be effective in reducing blood pressure in African Americans. However, results in African Americans cannot be extrapolated to native Africans because of genetic admixture and gene-environment interaction. There is, therefore, the need for us to generate data that are applicable to Africans residing in sub-Saharan Africa. We therefore decided to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of highly selective beta-1 agent nebivolol in hypertensive Black patients residing in sub-Saharan Africa. Materials and Methods: The nebivolol study was a multicenter, prospective, observational program among hypertensive patients with 4- and 8-week follow up which was conducted in 5 cities in Nigeria of Abuja, Calabar, Enugu, Oghara, and Port Harcourt. Dosages of nebivolol used in keeping with local prescribing information were 5 and 10 mg once daily each. The effectiveness of treatment was assessed by change from baseline in mean office systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and the proportion of patients achieving the therapeutic goal of <140/90 mmHg. Safety and tolerability of this medication were also assessed. Results: We report the results of the 140 patients studied. The mean age and body mass index were 46.9 ± 7.3 years and 22.3 ± 5.8 kg/m², respectively, and 57.1% were female. Nebivolol reduced SBP and DBP by 7.6 and 6.6 mmHg, respectively, in 4 weeks, and by 11.1 and 8.0 mm Hg, respectively, in 8 weeks. Blood pressure control was achieved in 54.8% of the patients in 4 weeks and increased to 60.4% in 8 weeks. There was no change in metabolic profile between randomization and at 8 weeks, and erectile dysfunction occurred in 1.3% of the study population. Conclusions: Nebivolol 5 and 10 mg appear efficacious in Nigerian Africans with no negative metabolic effect and minimal side effect profile. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, Study Identification: NCT03598673.

Keywords: black patients; efficacy; hypertensive; nebivolol; tolerability.

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03598673