Age, the Number of Medicines Taken and Comorbidities are Associated with Changes of Fasting Blood Glucose Levels in Elderly Diabetics Taking Propranolol and Hydrochlorothiazide

Heverton Alves Peres*, Edso

Abstract

To achieve glycemic control in patients with Diabetes, various medicines are prescribed; however, some may affect blood glucose concentration, requiring dose adjustment. Studies with small sample size, reported that propranolol and hydrochlorothiazide may change glycemic levels but this data are conflicting. The aim this study is evaluating if propranolol and hydrochlorothiazide change glycemic control in elderly hypertensive diabetics compared to diabetics without hypertension. We conducted a cross-section study and included hypertensive diabetics of both genders from 18 yrs to 90 yrs of age, using propranolol and hydrochlorothiazide (DHPH) taken orally either together or separate. The group of diabetics without hypertension was composed of patients of both genders from 18 yrs to 90 yrs of age. Clinical parameters being fasting blood glucose, postprandial glycaemia and glycated hemoglobin from the last six months was collected from medical records. The differences between groups were compared by the Student’s t-test (continuous variables) and the X2-test (categorical variables). Logistic regression analyses were used to compare the influence of variables in glycemic control in both groups. The per capita income (<0.01), age (<0.01), complexity of pharmacotherapy (<0.01), number of medicines taken (<0.01) and comorbidities (<0.01) in the DHPH group was significant. Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that the comorbidities (<0.01), number of drugs taken (<0.01) and age (<0.01), influence fasting blood glucose in the DHPH group. Fasting blood glucose levels of elderly hypertensive diabetics taking propranolol and hydrochlorothiazide are influenced by age, number of medicines taken and number comorbidities.