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.