Which short-acting dihydropyridine CCB has been shown to increase cardiac risk?

Nifedipine, a short-acting dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (CCB), has been associated with increased cardiac risk, particularly when used for the treatment of hypertension. This concern arises from how short-acting formulations can cause rapid fluctuations in blood pressure. Specifically, when blood pressure drops significantly, the compensatory mechanisms of the cardiovascular system can lead to reflex tachycardia and myocardial ischemia, increasing the potential for adverse cardiovascular events such as heart attacks.

In addition, studies have indicated that the use of short-acting nifedipine can lead to an increased risk of mortality compared to long-acting agents. Long-acting CCBs, like amlodipine, generally provide a more stable blood pressure control with fewer adverse cardiovascular effects.

While other options represent either long-acting antihypertensive agents or different classes of CCBs, they do not share the same profile of increased cardiac risk as observed with short-acting nifedipine.