Skip to main content
Log in

ARB-Based Single-Pill Platform to Guide a Practical Therapeutic Approach to Hypertensive Patients

  • Position Paper
  • Published:
High Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Prevention Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 29 March 2014

Abstract

Hypertension is a major modifiable risk for the development of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal diseases. Thus, effective treatment of high blood pressure is an important strategy for reducing disease burden; however, in spite of the availability of numerous effective therapies only 30–40 % of patients with hypertension achieve the recommended blood pressure goals of <140/90 mmHg. Lack of adherence to therapy and reluctance to intensify therapy are cited frequently to explain the discrepancy between potential and attained outcomes. Adherence is closely related to the tolerability, effectiveness and complexity of therapy. Therapeutic inertia may be influenced by concerns over tolerability, as well as the lack of clear preferences for therapies when managing patients with risk factors and comorbidities. Effective and well-tolerated single pill combination therapies are now available that improve adherence and simplify treatment. The combination of a renin-angiotensin system blocker with a calcium channel blocker and a diuretic improves adherence to therapy. We have devised a practical tool for orienting the application of well-tolerated single pill 2/3 drug fixed dose combination therapies in clinical situations commonly encountered when treating hypertensive patients. This approach employs the angiotensin receptor blocker olmesartan alone or in combinations with amlodipine and/or hydrochlorothiazide. This platform is based on clinical evidence, guidelines, best practice, and clinical experience where none of these is available. We believe it will increase the percentage of hypertensive patients who achieve blood pressure control when applied as part of an integrative approach that includes regular follow-up and instruction on lifestyle changes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lawes CM, Vander Hoorn S, Rodgers A, et al. Global burden of blood-pressure-related disease, 2001. Lancet. 2008;371(9623):1513–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Lewington S, Clarke R, Qizilbash N, et al. Age-specific relevance of usual blood pressure to vascular mortality: a meta-analysis of individual data for one million adults in 61 prospective studies. Lancet. 2002;360(9349):1903–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Jafar TH, Stark PC, Schmid CH, et al. Progression of chronic kidney disease: the role of blood pressure control, proteinuria, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition: a patient-level meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2003;139(4):244–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Law MR, Morris JK, Wald NJ. Use of blood pressure lowering drugs in the prevention of cardiovascular disease: meta-analysis of 147 randomised trials in the context of expectations from prospective epidemiological studies. BMJ. 2009;19(338):b1665.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Kotseva K, Wood D, De Backer G, et al. Cardiovascular prevention guidelines in daily practice: a comparison of EUROASPIRE I, II, and III surveys in eight European countries. Lancet. 2009;373(9667):929–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Banegas JR, López-García E, Dallongeville J, et al. Achievement of treatment goals for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in clinical practice across Europe: the EURIKA study. Eur Heart J. 2011;32(17):2143–52.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Corrao G, Parodi A, Nicotra F, et al. Better compliance to antihypertensive medications reduces cardiovascular risk. J Hypertens. 2011;29(3):610–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Faria C, Wenzel M, Lee KW, et al. A narrative review of clinical inertia: focus on hypertension. J Am Soc Hypertens. 2009;3(4):267–76.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Frieden TR, King SM, Wright JS. Protocol-based treatment of hypertension: a critical step on the pathway to progress. JAMA. 2013. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.282615.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Mancia G, Fagard R, Narkiewicz K, et al. 2013 ESH/ESC Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension: the Task Force for the management of arterial hypertension of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). J Hypertens. 2013;31(7):1281–357.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Jaffe MG, Lee GA, Young JD, Sidney S, Go AS. Improved blood pressure control associated with a large-scale hypertension program. JAMA. 2013;310(7):699–705.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Sever PS, Messerli FH. Hypertension management 2011: optimal combination therapy. Eur Heart J. 2011;32(20):2499–506.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Makani H, Bangalore S, Romero J, et al. Effect of renin-angiotensin system blockade on calcium channel blocker-associated peripheral edema. Am J Med. 2011;124(2):128–35.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Bangalore S, Kamalakkannan G, Parkar S, et al. Fixed-dose combinations improve medication compliance: a meta-analysis. Am J Med. 2007;120(8):713–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Gupta AK, Arshad S, Poulter NR. Compliance, safety, and effectiveness of fixed-dose combinations of antihypertensive agents: a meta-analysis. Hypertension. 2010;55(2):399–407.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Byrd JB, Zeng C, Tavel HM, et al. Combination therapy as initial treatment for newly diagnosed hypertension. Am Heart J. 2011;162(2):340–6.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Egan BM, Bandyopadhyay D, Shaftman SR, et al. Initial monotherapy and combination therapy and hypertension control the first year. Hypertension. 2012;59(6):1124–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Task Force on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Peripheral Artery Diseases of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). ESC Guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral artery diseases: document covering atherosclerotic disease of extracranial carotid and vertebral, mesenteric, renal, upper and lower extremity arteries. Eur Heart J. 2011;32(22):2851–906.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Verbeke F, Lindley E, Van Bortel L, et al. A European Renal Best Practice (ERBP) position statement on the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Blood Pressure in Non-dialysis-dependent Chronic Kidney Disease: an endorsement with some caveats for real-life application. Nephrol Dial Transpl. 2013. doi:10.1093/ndt/gft321.

  20. Inzucchi SE, Bergenstal RM, Buse JB, et al. Management of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes: a patient-centered approach: position statement of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). Diabetes Care. 2012;35(6):1364–79.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Task Force for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation. Eur Heart J 2010;31(19):2369–429.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Task Force Members, Montalescot G, Sechtem U, Achenbach S, et al. 2013 ESC guidelines on the management of stable coronary artery disease: the Task Force on the management of stable coronary artery disease of the European Society of Cardiology. Eur Heart J. 2013;34(38):2949–3003. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/eht296.

  23. European Stroke Organisation (ESO) Executive Committee; ESO Writing Committee. Guidelines for management of ischaemic stroke and transient ischaemic attack 2008. Cerebrovasc Dis. 2008;25(5):457–507.

    Google Scholar 

  24. The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Heart Failure 2012 of the European Society of Cardiology. Developed in collaboration with the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC. ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure 2012. Eur Heart J. 2012;33(14):1787–847.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Elliott WJ, Meyer PM. Incident diabetes in clinical trials of antihypertensive drugs: a network meta-analysis. Lancet. 2007;369(9557):201–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Tocci G, Paneni F, Palano F, et al. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers and diabetes: a meta-analysis of placebo-controlled clinical trials. Am J Hypertens. 2011;24(5):582–90.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Noto H, Goto A, Tsujimoto T, et al. Effect of calcium channel blockers on incidence of diabetes: a meta-analysis. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2013;26(6):257–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Omboni S, Malacco E, Mallion JM, et al. Antihypertensive efficacy and safety of olmesartan medoxomil and ramipril in elderly mild to moderate essential hypertensive patients with or without metabolic syndrome: a pooled post hoc analysis of two comparative trials. Drugs Aging. 2012;29(12):981–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Teramoto T, Kawamori R, Miyazaki S, et al. Relationship between achieved blood pressure, dietary habits and cardiovascular disease in hypertensive patients treated with olmesartan: the OMEGA study. Hypertens Res. 2012;35(12):1136–44.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Hsueh WA, Shojaee A, Maa JF, et al. Efficacy of amlodipine/olmesartan medoxomil ± HCTZ in obese patients uncontrolled on antihypertensive monotherapy. Curr Med Res Opin. 2012;28(11):1809–18.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Zhang Y, Zhang X, Liu L, et al. Is a systolic blood pressure target <140 mmHg indicated in all hypertensives? Subgroup analyses of findings from the randomized FEVER trial. Eur Heart J. 2011;32(12):1500–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Beckett N, Peters R, Tuomilehto J, et al. Immediate and late benefits of treating very elderly people with hypertension: results from active treatment extension to Hypertension in the Very Elderly randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2011;4(344):d7541.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Hackam DG, Quinn RR, Ravani P, et al. The 2013 Canadian Hypertension Education Program recommendations for blood pressure measurement, diagnosis, assessment of risk, prevention, and treatment of hypertension. Can J Cardiol. 2013;29(5):528–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Sander GE, Giles TD. What is the blood pressure goal for the elder patient 75 years of age or older? Curr Cardiol Rep. 2011;13(6):485–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Mallion JM, Heagerty A, Laeis P. Systolic blood pressure reduction with olmesartan medoxomil versus nitrendipine in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension. J Hypertens. 2007;25(10):2168–77.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Lithell H, Hansson L, Skoog I, et al. The Study on Cognition and Prognosis in the Elderly (SCOPE): principal results of a randomized double-blind intervention trial. J Hypertens. 2003;21(5):875–86.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Lithell H, Hansson L, Skoog I, et al. The Study on COgnition and Prognosis in the Elderly (SCOPE); outcomes in patients not receiving add-on therapy after randomization. J Hypertens. 2004;22(8):1605–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Malacco E, Omboni S, Volpe M, Auteri A, Zanchetti A, ESPORT Study Group. Antihypertensive efficacy and safety of olmesartan medoxomil and ramipril in elderly patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension: the ESPORT study. J Hypertens. 2010;28(11):2342–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Zanchetti A, Bond MG, Hennig M, et al. Absolute and relative changes in carotid intima-media thickness and atherosclerotic plaques during long-term antihypertensive treatment: further results of the European Lacidipine Study on Atherosclerosis (ELSA). J Hypertens. 2004;22(6):1201–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Zanchetti A, Rosei EA, Dal Palù C, et al. The Verapamil in Hypertension and Atherosclerosis Study (VHAS): results of long-term randomized treatment with either verapamil or chlorthalidone on carotid intima-media thickness. J Hypertens 1998;16(11):1667–76.

  41. Williams B, Lacy PS, Thom SM, et al. Differential impact of blood pressure-lowering drugs on central aortic pressure and clinical outcomes: principal results of the Conduit Artery Function Evaluation (CAFE) study. Circulation. 2006;113(9):1213–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Fagard RH, Celis H, Thijs L, et al. Regression of left ventricular mass by antihypertensive treatment: a meta-analysis of randomized comparative studies. Hypertension. 2009;54(5):1084–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Schneider MP, Hua TA, Böhm M, et al. Prevention of atrial fibrillation by Renin-Angiotensin system inhibition a meta-analysis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2010;55(21):2299–307.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Wachtell K, Lehto M, Gerdts E, et al. Angiotensin II receptor blockade reduces new-onset atrial fibrillation and subsequent stroke compared to atenolol: the Losartan Intervention For End Point Reduction in Hypertension (LIFE) study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005;45(5):712–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Okin PM, Wachtell K, Devereux RB, et al. Regression of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy and decreased incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertension. JAMA. 2006;296(10):1242–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Kunz R, Friedrich C, Wolbers M, et al. Meta-analysis: effect of monotherapy and combination therapy with inhibitors of the renin angiotensin system on proteinuria in renal disease. Ann Intern Med. 2008;148(1):30–48.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Lv J, Perkovic V, Foote CV, et al. Antihypertensive agents for preventing diabetic kidney disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;12:CD004136.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Bakris GL, Sowers JR, Glies TD, et al. Treatment of hypertension in patients with diabetes–an update. J Am Soc Hypertens. 2010;4(2):62–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Patel A; ADVANCE Collaborative Group, MacMahon S, et al. Effects of a fixed combination of perindopril and indapamide on macrovascular and microvascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (the ADVANCE trial): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2007;370(9590):829–40.

  50. Reboldi G, Gentile G, Angeli F, et al. Effects of intensive blood pressure reduction on myocardial infarction and stroke in diabetes: a meta-analysis in 73,913 patients. J Hypertens. 2011;29(7):1253–69.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Menne J, Izzo JL Jr, Ito S, et al. Prevention of microalbuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. J Hypertens. 2012;30(4):811–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Chrysant SG, Izzo JL Jr, Kereiakes DJ, et al. Efficacy and safety of triple-combination therapy with olmesartan, amlodipine, and hydrochlorothiazide in study participants with hypertension and diabetes: a subpopulation analysis of the TRINITY study. J Am Soc Hypertens. 2012;6(2):132–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Ram CV, Sachson R, Littlejohn T, et al. Management of hypertension in patients with diabetes using an amlodipine-, olmesartan medoxomil-, and hydrochlorothiazide-based titration regimen. Am J Cardiol. 2011;107(9):1346–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Nesbitt SD, Shojaee A, Maa JF, et al. Efficacy of an amlodipine/olmesartan treatment algorithm in patients with or without type 2 diabetes and hypertension (a secondary analysis of the BP-CRUSH study). J Hum Hypertens. 2013;27(7):445–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Disertori M, Lombardi F, Barlera S, et al. Clinical characteristics of patients with asymptomatic recurrences of atrial fibrillation in the Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell’Infarto Miocardico-Atrial Fibrillation (GISSI-AF) trial. Am Heart J. 2011;162(2):382–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Manolis AJ, Rosei EA, Coca A, et al. Hypertension and atrial fibrillation: diagnostic approach, prevention and treatment. Position paper of the Working Group ‘Hypertension Arrhythmias and Thrombosis’ of the European Society of Hypertension. J Hypertens. 2012;30(2):239–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Lv J, Ehteshami P, Sarnak MJ, et al. Effects of intensive blood pressure lowering on the progression of chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. CMAJ. 2013;185(11):949–57.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Blacklock CL, Hirst JA, Taylor KS, et al. Evidence for a dose effect of renin-angiotensin system inhibition on progression of microalbuminuria in Type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis. Diabet Med. 2011;28(10):1182–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Bakris GL, Sarafidis PA, Weir MR, et al. Renal outcomes with different fixed-dose combination therapies in patients with hypertension at high risk for cardiovascular events (ACCOMPLISH): a prespecified secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2010;375(9721):1173–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Volpe M, Tocci G, Sciarretta S, et al. Angiotensin II receptor blockers and myocardial infarction: an updated analysis of randomized clinical trials. J Hypertens. 2009;27(5):941–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Gueyffier F, Boissel JP, Boutitie F, et al. Effect of antihypertensive treatment in patients having already suffered from stroke. Gathering the evidence. The INDANA (INdividual Data ANalysis of Antihypertensive intervention trials) Project Collaborators. Stroke. 1997;28(12):2557–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Turnbull F, Blood Pressure Lowering Treatment Trialists’ Collaboration. Effects of different blood-pressure-lowering regimens on major cardiovascular events: results of prospectively-designed overviews of randomised trials. Lancet. 2003;362(9395):1527–35.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Lawes CM, Bennett DA, Feigin VL, et al. Blood pressure and stroke: an overview of published reviews. Stroke. 2004;35(4):1024.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Rashid P, Leonardi-Bee J, Bath P. Blood pressure reduction and secondary prevention of stroke and other vascular events: a systematic review. Stroke. 2003;34(11):2741–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Xu J, Zhao X, Wang Y, et al. Impact of a better persistence with antihypertensive agents on ischemic stroke outcomes for secondary prevention. PLoS One. 2013;8(6):e65233.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Tocci G, Sciarretta S, Volpe M. Development of heart failure in recent hypertension trials. J Hypertens. 2008;26(7):1477–86.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Sciarretta S, Palano F, Tocci G, Baldini R, Volpe M. Antihypertensive treatment and development of heart failure in hypertension: a Bayesian network meta-analysis of studies in patients with hypertension and high cardiovascular risk. Arch Intern Med. 2011;171(5):384–94.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Garg R, Yusuf S. Overview of randomized trials of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on mortality and morbidity in patients with heart failure. Collaborative Group on ACE Inhibitor Trials. JAMA. 1995;273(18):1450–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Flather MD, Yusuf S, Køber L, et al. Long-term ACE-inhibitor therapy in patients with heart failure or left-ventricular dysfunction: a systematic overview of data from individual patients. ACE-Inhibitor Myocardial Infarction Collaborative Group. Lancet. 2000;355(9215):1575–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Chatterjee S, Biondi-Zoccai G, Abbate A, et al. Benefits of β blockers in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: network meta-analysis. BMJ. 2013;16(346):f55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  71. Nasr IA, Bouzamondo A, Hulot JS, et al. Prevention of atrial fibrillation onset by beta-blocker treatment in heart failure: a meta-analysis. Eur Heart J. 2007;28(4):457–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Raphael CE, Whinnett ZI, Davies JE, et al. Quantifying the paradoxical effect of higher systolic blood pressure on mortality in chronic heart failure. Heart. 2009;95(1):56–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Hypertension: the clinical management of primary hypertension in adults. London 2011. http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG127/Guidance. Accessed October 2013.

Download references

Acknowledgements

M.V. has received honoraria for lectures and advisory board participation from Daiichi Sankyo, Menarini international, Guidotti and Malesci.

A.S. has received honoraria for participation in sponsored lectures and/or advisory boards from Abbott, Daiichi-Sankyo, MSD, and Menarini.

R.K. has received honoraria for lectures and advisory board participation from Bayer HealthCare, Berlin-Chemie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Daiichi Sankyo, and Menarini.

S.L. has received honoraria for lectures, advisory board participation, and research grants from Daiichi Sankyo, Menarini, Novartis, Recordati, and Servier.

A.J.M. has received honoraria for lectures and advisory board participation from Abbott, Menarini, Recordati, Bayer, Ferrer, Berlin Chemie.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Massimo Volpe.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Volpe, M., de la Sierra, A., Kreutz, R. et al. ARB-Based Single-Pill Platform to Guide a Practical Therapeutic Approach to Hypertensive Patients. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 21, 137–147 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40292-014-0043-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40292-014-0043-6

Keywords

Navigation