INCIDENCE OF COUGH WITH FOSINOPRIL IN PATIENTS HAVING COUGH WITH CAPTOPRIL - A CROSS - OVER STUDY

Abstract

Background: Cough is a group side effect of all angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Although it is known to be a group effect, there are claims about different compounds having low incidence of cough compared to others. Objective: To assess the severity and frequency of cough with ACE inhibitor forsinopril in hypertensive patients with ACE inhibitor captopril associated cough. Methods: 10 patients who developed cough while taking captopril (generic preparation) for hypertension were studied. The patients who were taking captoril were crossed over to fosinopril. Results: There were 10 patients, 3 male and 7 female. The mean age of all patients was 53.69 + 10.40 years. These patients were followed up for a mean period of 7.3 weeks. The mean systolic blood pressure at start of the study was 161.6 + 18.19 mmHg and at the end was 142.4 + 11.94, showing a reduction of 19.2 mmHg (11.88 %). The diastolic blood pressure at the beginning of tile study was 96.2 + 10.02 mmHg and at the end of the study was 84.0 + 9.12 mmHg, showing a reduction of 12.2 mmHg (12.68%). The mean heart rate at the start of the study was 82.6 + 18.05 and at the end of the study was 74.2 + 10.18 beats /minute. The cough profile at the end of the study showed no cough in 6 patients and reduced severity and frequency in 4 patients. Conclusion: Hypertensive patients with previous ACE inhibitor captopril associated cough reported significantly less frequent cough with fosinopril.