A prospective comparative study to examine the effects of oral diazepam on blood pressure and anxiety levels in patients with acute epistaxis

Objective: To examine the effects of oral diazepam on blood pressure and anxiety in patients with acute epistaxis. Study design and setting: A prospective comparative study in an otorhinolaryngology tertiary referral centre. Participants: Patients with acute epistaxis requiring hospital admission. Intervention: Oral diazepam. Main outcome measures: Anxiety and blood pressure levels. Results: 32 patients received diazepam and 45 did not (control). On average, patients were hypertensive on admission (mean [standard deviation (SD)] systolic blood pressure diazepam group=157 mmHg [26], control=152 mmHg [23]; diastolic blood pressure diazepam group=87 mmHg [16], control=87 mmHg [18]). Both groups showed significant blood pressure reduction on discharge (p