Efficacy of nitroglycerin vs labetalol in hypertensive emergency among patients with a history of coronary artery disease

Table 1 Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population, n (%)/mean ± SD

Variable	Nitroglycerin (n = 282)	Labetalol (n = 281)	P value
Age (years)	64.79 ± 10.25	64.52 ± 9.80	0.718
Male	176 (62.4)	178 (63.3)	0.847
South Asian	268 (95.0)	269 (95.7)	0.719
History of MI	109 (38.7)	118 (42.0)	0.454
History of PCI/CABG	94 (33.3)	85 (30.2)	0.469
History of HF	70 (24.8)	57 (20.3)	0.233
LVEF (%)	45.09 ± 9.84	45.07 ± 9.79	0.978
History of stroke/TIA	51 (18.1)	45 (16.0)	0.545
PAD	27 (9.6)	21 (7.5)	0.413
AF	58 (20.6)	60 (21.4)	0.833
DM	154 (54.6)	142 (50.5)	0.372
eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2)	69.48 ± 20.45	71.86 ± 18.85	0.162
Baseline SBP (mmHg)	199.20 ± 20.03	198.54 ± 21.33	0.727
Baseline DBP (mmHg)	111.21 ± 14.60	110.22 ± 15.54	0.462
Baseline HR (bpm)	90.45 ± 14.11	90.08 ± 15.12	0.771
Chest pain	103 (36.5)	127 (45.2)	0.039
Dyspnea	92 (32.6)	75 (26.7)	0.138
Neurological deficit	52 (18.4)	45 (16.0)	0.494
Initial creatinine (mg/dL)	1.19 ± 0.52	1.19 ± 0.55	0.999
Initial troponin (ng/mL)	0.51 ± 0.32	0.53 ± 0.30	0.399
ST changes on ECG	82 (29.1)	91 (32.4)	0.443
Home antihypertensives	205 (72.7)	187 (66.5)	0.124
Home antiplatelets	174 (61.7)	166 (59.1)	0.559
Home statins	154 (54.6)	142 (50.5)	0.372

P values were calculated using independent t-tests for continuous variables and χ² or Fisher’s exact tests for categorical variables. MI: Myocardial infarction; PCI: Percutaneous coronary intervention; CABG: Coronary artery bypass grafting; HF: Heart failure; LVEF: Left ventricular ejection fraction; TIA: Transient ischemic attack; PAD: Peripheral artery disease; AF: Atrial fibrillation; DM: Diabetes mellitus; eGFR: Estimated glomerular filtration rate; SBP: Systolic blood pressure; DBP: Diastolic blood pressure; HR: Heart rate; ECG: Electrocardiogram.

Table 2 Comparison of clinical outcomes and healthcare utilization, n (%)/mean ± SD

Outcome	Nitroglycerin (n = 282)	Labetalol (n = 281)	P value
Time to target BP (minute)	30.38 ± 5.16	25.14 ± 4.92	< 0.0001
Achievement of target BP	245 (86.9)	246 (87.5)	0.9124
SBP reduction (mmHg)	50.78 ± 9.45	45.20 ± 10.46	< 0.0001
DBP reduction (mmHg)	29.86 ± 8.63	28.02 ± 7.74	0.0079
MACE	27 (9.6)	35 (12.5)	0.3384
All-cause mortality	12 (4.3)	20 (7.1)	0.199
Non-fatal MI	9 (3.2)	17 (6.0)	0.1571
Non-fatal stroke	14 (5.0)	6 (2.1)	0.1128
Urgent revascularization	2 (0.7)	8 (2.8)	0.1094
Hypotension	14 (5.0)	8 (2.8)	0.2806
Bradycardia	5 (1.8)	28 (10.0)	< 0.0001
New/worsening HF	11 (3.9)	19 (6.8)	0.1857
AKI	17 (6.0)	19 (6.8)	0.8546
Intensive care unit LOS (days)	2.99 ± 1.04	3.54 ± 1.02	< 0.0001
Hospital LOS (days)	6.92 ± 1.93	7.99 ± 2.06	< 0.0001
30-day readmission	20 (7.1)	36 (12.8)	0.0335
Delta troponin (ng/mL)	0.10 ± 0.05	0.21 ± 0.10	< 0.0001
Delta NT-proBNP (pg/mL)	191.42 ± 101.72	287.63 ± 149.26	< 0.0001

P values were calculated using independent t-tests for continuous variables and χ² tests for categorical variables. BP: Blood pressure; SBP: Systolic blood pressure; DBP: Diastolic blood pressure; MACE: Major adverse cardiovascular events; MI: Myocardial infarction; HF: Heart failure; AKI: Acute kidney injury; LOS: Length of stay; NT-proBNP: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide.