Cardiologia Croatica, Vol. 13 No. 1-2, 2018.
Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2018.66
What does fixed-dose triple-combination treatment for arterial hypertension bring us?
Sonja Frančula-Zaninović
orcid.org/0000-0002-7726-0500
; Health Care Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH) is still high. Hypertension is the most important changeable cardiovascular (CV) risk factor and is significantly associated with high morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular (CBV) diseases. AH thus represents a significant healthcare problem. It is multifactorial, and the treatment approach is based on combination treatment. Combination treatment consist of two or more antihypertensives of different groups with different mechanisms, which results in faster achievement of target blood pressure (BP) values. According to the guidelines for the treatment of arterial hypertension published by the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), it is recommended to introduce the combination therapy already in the first stage of the disease as the first line of treatment in case of high CV risk and comorbidity or in case of failed treatment with a single medication. Unfortunately, prescribing multiple tablets to be taken during the day reduces treatment adherence. The goal of modern AH treatment is to use fixed-dose combinations of antihypertensives with complementary and synergistic effects in order to achieve the most effective treatment. Management of BP is significantly improved even at smaller doses of the active components in the combination, which also reduces the incidence of side-effects. Receiving a treatment which is effective, does not burden the patient, and is taken once per day significantly increases patient adherence. The ultimate goal of such successful treatment of AH is the reduction of CV and CBV morbidity and mortality. According to the ESH/ESC guidelines for the treatment of hypertension, the optimal combination is that of three groups of antihypertensives: renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, calcium channel antagonists, and diuretics.
Keywords
arterial hypertension; fixed antihypertensive combinations; adherence
Hrčak ID:
198776
URI
Publication date:
28.2.2018.
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