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How effective is spironolactone for treating resistant hypertension?
EVIDENCE SUMMARY
A 2017 meta-analysis of 4 RCTs (869 patients) evaluated the effectiveness of prescribing spironolactone for patients with resistant hypertension, defined as above-goal blood pressure (BP) despite treatment with at least 3 BP-lowering drugs (at least 1 of which was a diuretic).1 All 4 trials compared spironolactone 25 to 50 mg/d with placebo. Follow-up periods ranged from 8 to 16 weeks. The primary outcomes were systolic and diastolic BPs, which were evaluated in the office, at home, or with an ambulatory monitor.
Spironolactone markedly lowers systolic and diastolic BP
A statistically significant reduction in SBP occurred in the spironolactone group compared with the placebo group (weighted mean difference [WMD] = −16.7 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval [CI], −27.5 to −5.8 mm Hg). DBP also decreased (WMD = −6.11 mm Hg; 95% CI, −9.34 to −2.88 mm Hg).
Because significant heterogeneity was found in the initial pooled results (I2 = 96% for SBP; I2 = 85% for DBP), investigators performed an analysis that excluded a single study with a small sample size. The re-analysis continued to show significant reductions in SBP and DBP for spironolactone compared with placebo (SBP: WMD = −10.8 mm Hg; 95% CI, −13.16 to −8.43 mm Hg; DBP: WMD = −4.62 mm Hg; 95% CI, −6.05 to −3.2 mm Hg; I2 = 35%), confirming that the excluded trial was the source of heterogeneity in the initial analysis and that spironolactone continued to significantly lower BP for the treatment group compared with controls.
Add-on treatment with spironolactone also reduces BP
A 2016 meta-analysis of 5 RCTs with a total of 553 patients examined the effectiveness of add-on treatment with spironolactone (25-50 mg/d) for patients with resistant hypertension, defined as failure to achieve BP < 140/90 mm Hg despite treatment with 3 or more BP-lowering drugs, including one diuretic.2 Spironolactone was compared with placebo in 4 trials and with ramipril in the remaining study. The follow-up periods were 8 to 16 weeks. Researchers separated BP outcomes into 24-hour ambulatory systolic/diastolic BPs and office systolic/diastolic BPs.
The 24-hour ambulatory BPs were significantly lower in the spironolactone group compared with the control group (24-hour SBP: WMD = −10.5 mm Hg; 95% CI, −12.3 to −8.71 mm Hg; 24-hour DBP: WMD = −4.09 mm Hg; 95% CI, −5.28 to −2.91 mm Hg). No significant heterogeneity was noted in these analyses.
Office-based BPs also were markedly reduced in spironolactone groups compared with controls (office SBP: WMD = −17 mm Hg; 95% CI, −25 to −8.95 mm Hg); office DBP: WMD = −6.18 mm Hg; 95% CI, −9.3 to −3.05 mm Hg). Because the office-based BP data showed significant heterogeneity (I2 = 94% for SBP and 84.2% for DBP), 2 studies determined to be of lower quality caused by lack of detailed methodology were excluded from analysis, yielding continued statistically significant reductions in SBP (WMD = −11.7 mm Hg; 95% CI, −14.4 to −8.95 mm Hg) and DBP (WMD = −4.07 mm Hg; 95% CI, −5.6 to −2.54 mm Hg) compared with controls. Heterogeneity also decreased when the 2 studies were excluded (I2 = 21% for SBP and I2 = 59% for DBP).
How spironolactone compares with alternative drugs
A 2017 meta-analysis of 5 RCTs with 662 patients evaluated the effectiveness of spironolactone (25-50 mg/d) on resistant hypertension in patients taking 3 medications compared with a control group—placebo in 3 trials, placebo or bisoprolol (5-10 mg) in 1 trial, and an alternative treatment (candesartan 8 mg, atenolol 100 mg, or alpha methyldopa 750 mg) in 1 trial.3 Follow-up periods ranged from 4 to 16 weeks. Researchers evaluated changes in office and 24-hour ambulatory or home BP and completed separate analyses of pooled data for spironolactone compared with placebo groups, and spironolactone compared with alternative treatment groups.
Continue to: Investigators found a statistically significant...
Investigators found a statistically significant reduction in office SBP and DBP among patients taking spironolactone compared with control groups (SBP: WMD = −15.7 mm Hg; 95% CI, −20.5 to −11 mm Hg; DBP: WMD = −6.21 mm Hg; 95% CI, −8.33 to −4.1 mm Hg). A significant decrease also occurred in 24-hour ambulatory home SBP and DBP (SBP: MD = −8.7 mm Hg; 95% CI, −8.79 to −8.62 mm Hg; DBP: WMD = −4.12 mm Hg; 95% CI, −4.48 to −3.75 mm Hg).
Patients treated with spironolactone showed a marked decrease in home SBP compared with alternative drug groups (WMD = −4.5 mm Hg; 95% CI, −4.63 to −4.37 mm Hg), but alternative drugs reduced home DBP significantly more than spironolactone (WMD = 0.6 mm Hg; 95% CI, 0.55-0.65 mm Hg). Marked heterogeneity was found in these analyses, and the authors also noted that reductions in SBP are more clinically relevant than decreases in DBP.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The 2017 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology evidence-based guideline recommends considering adding a mineralocorticoid receptor agonist to treatment regimens for resistant hypertension when: office BP remains ≥ 130/80 mm Hg; the patient is prescribed at least 3 antihypertensive agents at optimal doses including a diuretic; pseudoresistance (nonadherence, inaccurate measurements) is excluded; reversible lifestyle factors have been addressed; substances that interfere with BP treatment (such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and oral contraceptive pills) are excluded; and screening for secondary causes of hypertension is complete.4
The United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) evidence-based guideline recommends considering spironolactone 25 mg/d to treat resistant hypertension if the patient’s potassium level is 4.5 mmol/L or lower and BP is higher than 140/90 mm Hg despite treatment with an optimal or best-tolerated dose of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker plus a calcium-channel blocker and diuretic.5
Editor’s takeaway
The evidence from multiple RCTs convincingly shows the effectiveness of spironolactone. Despite the SOR of C because of a disease-oriented outcome, we do treat to blood pressure goals, and therefore, spironolactone is a good option.
1. Zhao D, Liu H, Dong P, et al. A meta-analysis of add-on use of spironolactone in patients with resistant hypertension. Int J Cardiol. 2017;233:113-117.
2. Wang C, Xiong B, Huang J. Efficacy and safety of spironolactone in patients with resistant hypertension: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Heart Lung Circ. 2016;25:1021-1030.
3. Liu L, Xu B, Ju Y. Addition of spironolactone in patients with resistant hypertension: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Exp Hypertens. 2017;39:257-263.
4. Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA Guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Hypertension. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYP.0000000000000065. Accessed June 6, 2019.
5. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management. Clinical guideline [CG127]. August 2011. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg127/chapter/1-guidance#initiating-and-monitoring-antihypertensive-drug-treatment-including-blood-pressure-targets-2. Accessed June 6, 2019.
EVIDENCE SUMMARY
A 2017 meta-analysis of 4 RCTs (869 patients) evaluated the effectiveness of prescribing spironolactone for patients with resistant hypertension, defined as above-goal blood pressure (BP) despite treatment with at least 3 BP-lowering drugs (at least 1 of which was a diuretic).1 All 4 trials compared spironolactone 25 to 50 mg/d with placebo. Follow-up periods ranged from 8 to 16 weeks. The primary outcomes were systolic and diastolic BPs, which were evaluated in the office, at home, or with an ambulatory monitor.
Spironolactone markedly lowers systolic and diastolic BP
A statistically significant reduction in SBP occurred in the spironolactone group compared with the placebo group (weighted mean difference [WMD] = −16.7 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval [CI], −27.5 to −5.8 mm Hg). DBP also decreased (WMD = −6.11 mm Hg; 95% CI, −9.34 to −2.88 mm Hg).
Because significant heterogeneity was found in the initial pooled results (I2 = 96% for SBP; I2 = 85% for DBP), investigators performed an analysis that excluded a single study with a small sample size. The re-analysis continued to show significant reductions in SBP and DBP for spironolactone compared with placebo (SBP: WMD = −10.8 mm Hg; 95% CI, −13.16 to −8.43 mm Hg; DBP: WMD = −4.62 mm Hg; 95% CI, −6.05 to −3.2 mm Hg; I2 = 35%), confirming that the excluded trial was the source of heterogeneity in the initial analysis and that spironolactone continued to significantly lower BP for the treatment group compared with controls.
Add-on treatment with spironolactone also reduces BP
A 2016 meta-analysis of 5 RCTs with a total of 553 patients examined the effectiveness of add-on treatment with spironolactone (25-50 mg/d) for patients with resistant hypertension, defined as failure to achieve BP < 140/90 mm Hg despite treatment with 3 or more BP-lowering drugs, including one diuretic.2 Spironolactone was compared with placebo in 4 trials and with ramipril in the remaining study. The follow-up periods were 8 to 16 weeks. Researchers separated BP outcomes into 24-hour ambulatory systolic/diastolic BPs and office systolic/diastolic BPs.
The 24-hour ambulatory BPs were significantly lower in the spironolactone group compared with the control group (24-hour SBP: WMD = −10.5 mm Hg; 95% CI, −12.3 to −8.71 mm Hg; 24-hour DBP: WMD = −4.09 mm Hg; 95% CI, −5.28 to −2.91 mm Hg). No significant heterogeneity was noted in these analyses.
Office-based BPs also were markedly reduced in spironolactone groups compared with controls (office SBP: WMD = −17 mm Hg; 95% CI, −25 to −8.95 mm Hg); office DBP: WMD = −6.18 mm Hg; 95% CI, −9.3 to −3.05 mm Hg). Because the office-based BP data showed significant heterogeneity (I2 = 94% for SBP and 84.2% for DBP), 2 studies determined to be of lower quality caused by lack of detailed methodology were excluded from analysis, yielding continued statistically significant reductions in SBP (WMD = −11.7 mm Hg; 95% CI, −14.4 to −8.95 mm Hg) and DBP (WMD = −4.07 mm Hg; 95% CI, −5.6 to −2.54 mm Hg) compared with controls. Heterogeneity also decreased when the 2 studies were excluded (I2 = 21% for SBP and I2 = 59% for DBP).
How spironolactone compares with alternative drugs
A 2017 meta-analysis of 5 RCTs with 662 patients evaluated the effectiveness of spironolactone (25-50 mg/d) on resistant hypertension in patients taking 3 medications compared with a control group—placebo in 3 trials, placebo or bisoprolol (5-10 mg) in 1 trial, and an alternative treatment (candesartan 8 mg, atenolol 100 mg, or alpha methyldopa 750 mg) in 1 trial.3 Follow-up periods ranged from 4 to 16 weeks. Researchers evaluated changes in office and 24-hour ambulatory or home BP and completed separate analyses of pooled data for spironolactone compared with placebo groups, and spironolactone compared with alternative treatment groups.
Continue to: Investigators found a statistically significant...
Investigators found a statistically significant reduction in office SBP and DBP among patients taking spironolactone compared with control groups (SBP: WMD = −15.7 mm Hg; 95% CI, −20.5 to −11 mm Hg; DBP: WMD = −6.21 mm Hg; 95% CI, −8.33 to −4.1 mm Hg). A significant decrease also occurred in 24-hour ambulatory home SBP and DBP (SBP: MD = −8.7 mm Hg; 95% CI, −8.79 to −8.62 mm Hg; DBP: WMD = −4.12 mm Hg; 95% CI, −4.48 to −3.75 mm Hg).
Patients treated with spironolactone showed a marked decrease in home SBP compared with alternative drug groups (WMD = −4.5 mm Hg; 95% CI, −4.63 to −4.37 mm Hg), but alternative drugs reduced home DBP significantly more than spironolactone (WMD = 0.6 mm Hg; 95% CI, 0.55-0.65 mm Hg). Marked heterogeneity was found in these analyses, and the authors also noted that reductions in SBP are more clinically relevant than decreases in DBP.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The 2017 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology evidence-based guideline recommends considering adding a mineralocorticoid receptor agonist to treatment regimens for resistant hypertension when: office BP remains ≥ 130/80 mm Hg; the patient is prescribed at least 3 antihypertensive agents at optimal doses including a diuretic; pseudoresistance (nonadherence, inaccurate measurements) is excluded; reversible lifestyle factors have been addressed; substances that interfere with BP treatment (such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and oral contraceptive pills) are excluded; and screening for secondary causes of hypertension is complete.4
The United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) evidence-based guideline recommends considering spironolactone 25 mg/d to treat resistant hypertension if the patient’s potassium level is 4.5 mmol/L or lower and BP is higher than 140/90 mm Hg despite treatment with an optimal or best-tolerated dose of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker plus a calcium-channel blocker and diuretic.5
Editor’s takeaway
The evidence from multiple RCTs convincingly shows the effectiveness of spironolactone. Despite the SOR of C because of a disease-oriented outcome, we do treat to blood pressure goals, and therefore, spironolactone is a good option.
EVIDENCE SUMMARY
A 2017 meta-analysis of 4 RCTs (869 patients) evaluated the effectiveness of prescribing spironolactone for patients with resistant hypertension, defined as above-goal blood pressure (BP) despite treatment with at least 3 BP-lowering drugs (at least 1 of which was a diuretic).1 All 4 trials compared spironolactone 25 to 50 mg/d with placebo. Follow-up periods ranged from 8 to 16 weeks. The primary outcomes were systolic and diastolic BPs, which were evaluated in the office, at home, or with an ambulatory monitor.
Spironolactone markedly lowers systolic and diastolic BP
A statistically significant reduction in SBP occurred in the spironolactone group compared with the placebo group (weighted mean difference [WMD] = −16.7 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval [CI], −27.5 to −5.8 mm Hg). DBP also decreased (WMD = −6.11 mm Hg; 95% CI, −9.34 to −2.88 mm Hg).
Because significant heterogeneity was found in the initial pooled results (I2 = 96% for SBP; I2 = 85% for DBP), investigators performed an analysis that excluded a single study with a small sample size. The re-analysis continued to show significant reductions in SBP and DBP for spironolactone compared with placebo (SBP: WMD = −10.8 mm Hg; 95% CI, −13.16 to −8.43 mm Hg; DBP: WMD = −4.62 mm Hg; 95% CI, −6.05 to −3.2 mm Hg; I2 = 35%), confirming that the excluded trial was the source of heterogeneity in the initial analysis and that spironolactone continued to significantly lower BP for the treatment group compared with controls.
Add-on treatment with spironolactone also reduces BP
A 2016 meta-analysis of 5 RCTs with a total of 553 patients examined the effectiveness of add-on treatment with spironolactone (25-50 mg/d) for patients with resistant hypertension, defined as failure to achieve BP < 140/90 mm Hg despite treatment with 3 or more BP-lowering drugs, including one diuretic.2 Spironolactone was compared with placebo in 4 trials and with ramipril in the remaining study. The follow-up periods were 8 to 16 weeks. Researchers separated BP outcomes into 24-hour ambulatory systolic/diastolic BPs and office systolic/diastolic BPs.
The 24-hour ambulatory BPs were significantly lower in the spironolactone group compared with the control group (24-hour SBP: WMD = −10.5 mm Hg; 95% CI, −12.3 to −8.71 mm Hg; 24-hour DBP: WMD = −4.09 mm Hg; 95% CI, −5.28 to −2.91 mm Hg). No significant heterogeneity was noted in these analyses.
Office-based BPs also were markedly reduced in spironolactone groups compared with controls (office SBP: WMD = −17 mm Hg; 95% CI, −25 to −8.95 mm Hg); office DBP: WMD = −6.18 mm Hg; 95% CI, −9.3 to −3.05 mm Hg). Because the office-based BP data showed significant heterogeneity (I2 = 94% for SBP and 84.2% for DBP), 2 studies determined to be of lower quality caused by lack of detailed methodology were excluded from analysis, yielding continued statistically significant reductions in SBP (WMD = −11.7 mm Hg; 95% CI, −14.4 to −8.95 mm Hg) and DBP (WMD = −4.07 mm Hg; 95% CI, −5.6 to −2.54 mm Hg) compared with controls. Heterogeneity also decreased when the 2 studies were excluded (I2 = 21% for SBP and I2 = 59% for DBP).
How spironolactone compares with alternative drugs
A 2017 meta-analysis of 5 RCTs with 662 patients evaluated the effectiveness of spironolactone (25-50 mg/d) on resistant hypertension in patients taking 3 medications compared with a control group—placebo in 3 trials, placebo or bisoprolol (5-10 mg) in 1 trial, and an alternative treatment (candesartan 8 mg, atenolol 100 mg, or alpha methyldopa 750 mg) in 1 trial.3 Follow-up periods ranged from 4 to 16 weeks. Researchers evaluated changes in office and 24-hour ambulatory or home BP and completed separate analyses of pooled data for spironolactone compared with placebo groups, and spironolactone compared with alternative treatment groups.
Continue to: Investigators found a statistically significant...
Investigators found a statistically significant reduction in office SBP and DBP among patients taking spironolactone compared with control groups (SBP: WMD = −15.7 mm Hg; 95% CI, −20.5 to −11 mm Hg; DBP: WMD = −6.21 mm Hg; 95% CI, −8.33 to −4.1 mm Hg). A significant decrease also occurred in 24-hour ambulatory home SBP and DBP (SBP: MD = −8.7 mm Hg; 95% CI, −8.79 to −8.62 mm Hg; DBP: WMD = −4.12 mm Hg; 95% CI, −4.48 to −3.75 mm Hg).
Patients treated with spironolactone showed a marked decrease in home SBP compared with alternative drug groups (WMD = −4.5 mm Hg; 95% CI, −4.63 to −4.37 mm Hg), but alternative drugs reduced home DBP significantly more than spironolactone (WMD = 0.6 mm Hg; 95% CI, 0.55-0.65 mm Hg). Marked heterogeneity was found in these analyses, and the authors also noted that reductions in SBP are more clinically relevant than decreases in DBP.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The 2017 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology evidence-based guideline recommends considering adding a mineralocorticoid receptor agonist to treatment regimens for resistant hypertension when: office BP remains ≥ 130/80 mm Hg; the patient is prescribed at least 3 antihypertensive agents at optimal doses including a diuretic; pseudoresistance (nonadherence, inaccurate measurements) is excluded; reversible lifestyle factors have been addressed; substances that interfere with BP treatment (such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and oral contraceptive pills) are excluded; and screening for secondary causes of hypertension is complete.4
The United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) evidence-based guideline recommends considering spironolactone 25 mg/d to treat resistant hypertension if the patient’s potassium level is 4.5 mmol/L or lower and BP is higher than 140/90 mm Hg despite treatment with an optimal or best-tolerated dose of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker plus a calcium-channel blocker and diuretic.5
Editor’s takeaway
The evidence from multiple RCTs convincingly shows the effectiveness of spironolactone. Despite the SOR of C because of a disease-oriented outcome, we do treat to blood pressure goals, and therefore, spironolactone is a good option.
1. Zhao D, Liu H, Dong P, et al. A meta-analysis of add-on use of spironolactone in patients with resistant hypertension. Int J Cardiol. 2017;233:113-117.
2. Wang C, Xiong B, Huang J. Efficacy and safety of spironolactone in patients with resistant hypertension: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Heart Lung Circ. 2016;25:1021-1030.
3. Liu L, Xu B, Ju Y. Addition of spironolactone in patients with resistant hypertension: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Exp Hypertens. 2017;39:257-263.
4. Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA Guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Hypertension. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYP.0000000000000065. Accessed June 6, 2019.
5. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management. Clinical guideline [CG127]. August 2011. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg127/chapter/1-guidance#initiating-and-monitoring-antihypertensive-drug-treatment-including-blood-pressure-targets-2. Accessed June 6, 2019.
1. Zhao D, Liu H, Dong P, et al. A meta-analysis of add-on use of spironolactone in patients with resistant hypertension. Int J Cardiol. 2017;233:113-117.
2. Wang C, Xiong B, Huang J. Efficacy and safety of spironolactone in patients with resistant hypertension: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Heart Lung Circ. 2016;25:1021-1030.
3. Liu L, Xu B, Ju Y. Addition of spironolactone in patients with resistant hypertension: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Exp Hypertens. 2017;39:257-263.
4. Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA Guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Hypertension. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYP.0000000000000065. Accessed June 6, 2019.
5. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management. Clinical guideline [CG127]. August 2011. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg127/chapter/1-guidance#initiating-and-monitoring-antihypertensive-drug-treatment-including-blood-pressure-targets-2. Accessed June 6, 2019.
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER:
Very effective. Spironolactone reduces systolic blood pressure (SBP) by 11 to 17 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by up to 6 mm Hg in patients with resistant hypertension taking 3 or more medications (strength of recommendation [SOR]: C, meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials [RCTs] of disease-oriented evidence).
