Hypotensive effect and safety of fixed-dose combination of valsartan and amlodipine in daily clinical practice

Abstract

Background Arterial hypertension is recognized, independent risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. Despite many hypotensive agents, more than 70% of patients with hypertension don’t achieve target values of blood pressure. In many patients treatment of hypertension with one drug is generally ineffective. Using combination of hypotensive agents with different mechanisms of action in the same time gives greater chance for reaching satisfactory hypotensive effect and improves compliance. Moreover, simplification of hypotensive therapy to one pill used once a day improves cooperation and compliance. The goal of the study was to evaluate the degree of reaching therapeutic target by the patients using single-pill dual combination therapy of valsartan 160 mg and amlodipine 10 mg.
Material and methods 3228 of patients with primary hypertension were enrolled to the study. Patients were observed in one group which was administered fixed-dose combination of amlodipine and valsartan in daily dose 10 mg/160 mg during 12 weeks.
Results The therapeutic goal (mean SBP < 140 mm Hg and mean DBP < 90 mm Hg or respectively < 130 mm Hg and < 80 mm Hg in patients with diabetes) was observed in 92.3% of patients. During consecutive visits mean SBP was reduced by 28 mm Hg, mean DBP by 13 mm Hg, and heart rate by 4.3 beats/minute.
Conclusions The results have clearly shown the advantages of using single-pill of amlodipine/valsartan 10/160 mg in patients with hypertension. It significantly increased effectiveness of hypotensive treatment and reaching therapeutic target by patients treated before with one drug or combination of the same substances but in separate pills. Change of previous hypotensive therapy to combined pill of amlodipne/ /valsartan significantly improves cooperation doctor/patient.
Arterial Hypertension 2010, vol. 14, no 4, pages 267-277.