eng Oriental Scientific Publishing Company Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal 0974-6242 2026-03-20 19 1 661 668 10.13005/bpj/3383 70594 article Fitim Alidema 1 Irena Kostovska 2 Arieta Hasani Alidema 3 Lirim Mustafa 4 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, UBT College, Prishtina, Kosovo Department of Medical and Experimental Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, North Macedonia Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, UBT College, Prishtina, Kosovo Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, UBT College, Prishtina, Kosovo Arterial hypertension remains a major public health challenge that requires long-term pharmacological management; however, antihypertensive therapy may also be associated with metabolic and biochemical alterations. This multicenter retrospective study evaluated the association between antihypertensive drug use and biochemical parameters among primary care patients in Kosovo and compared outcomes across three healthcare centers (Prishtina, Ferizaj, and Gjilan). A total of 900 patients with essential hypertension receiving continuous treatment for at least 12 months were included. Data were extracted from medical records and laboratory registers between January 2024 and January 2025 and comprised demographic variables, treatment regimens (monotherapy or combination therapy), and biochemical parameters, including lipid profile, fasting glucose, renal markers, and electrolytes. Statistical analyses included ANOVA or Kruskal–Wallis tests, chi-square tests, correlation analysis, and multivariate logistic regression. Combination therapy was associated with significantly higher levels of LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and creatinine compared to monotherapy (p < 0.05), while lipid alterations were more prominent among patients treated with beta-blockers and diuretics (p < 0.01). The use of two or more antihypertensive drug classes independently predicted an increased risk of dyslipidemia (OR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2–2.5; p = 0.004). No significant differences were observed in glucose levels between the study centers (p = 0.21). Long-term antihypertensive therapy, particularly polytherapy, is associated with clinically relevant biochemical changes affecting lipid metabolism and renal function, highlighting the necessity for routine laboratory monitoring and individualized treatment optimization in primary care practice. https://biomedpharmajournal.org/vol19no1/antihypertensive-medication-use-and-biochemical-outcomes-in-primary-care-patients-a-multicenter-study-in-kosovo/ Biochemical parameters Cardiovascular disease Hypertension Kosovo Pharmacology Primary care