Table 2.

Effect of drugs on arterial stiffness (adapted from refs. ^119,120)

Agent class	Effect(s) on arterial stiffness	Comments
ACE inhibitors	↓	Likely among the strongest reducers of arterial stiffness
Aldosterone antagonist	↓
α-Blockers	↓
ARB	↓	Likely among the strongest reducers of arterial stiffness
β-Blockers	↔/↓	Heterogenous group of drugs
CCB	↔/↓	? arterial stiffness improvement offset by sympathetic activation
Diuretics	↔/↓	Long-term trials show arterial stiffness reduction
Antihyperglycemics	↔/↓	Thioglitazones, metformin, and SGLT2 inhibitors seem to improve stiffness
Nitrates	↓	Short acting
Statins	↔/↓	Probably have greater destiffening effect on peripheral vs central arteries; seem more effective when inflammation also present

Abbreviations: ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker; CCB, calcium channel blockers; SGLT2, sodium glucose cotransporter 2.