Initial hypertension treatment: one combination fits most
Journal of the American Society of Hypertension, 03/22/2011
Clinical Article
Brook RD et al. - Authors outline a novel algorithm of starting initial therapy with a single tablet containing amlodipine + benazepril in most patients with hypertension regardless of stage or comorbidities. This streamlined approach is likely to yield an overall positive risk/benefit ratio.
Methods- Authors reviewed published studies related to the efficacy and efficiency of starting combination antihypertensive treatment versus mono-therapy.
- The evidence supports that initial combination therapy is more effective for many outcomes (ie, reaching blood pressure targets, rapidity of control, patient adherence, and cardiovascular protection assessed by surrogate markers).
- The few available published clinical trials and observational studies support that the amlodipine + an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor combination may be the most effective for reducing cardiovascular events.
