Early combination therapy with telmisartan plus amlodipine for rapid achievement of blood pressure goals. Issue 9 (16th August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Neldam, S.; Dahlöf, B.; Oigman, W.; Schumacher, H.
• Is Part Of: International journal of clinical practice. Volume 67:Issue 9(2013)
• Page Start: 843
• Page End: 852
• Publication Date: 2013-08-16
• Subjects: Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1111/ijcp.12180
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-5031

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ijcp12180-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="ijcp12180-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Rapid and sustained blood pressure (BP) goal attainment is important to reduce cardiovascular risk. Initial use of combination therapy may improve BP goal attainment.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijcp12180-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>The Boehringer Ingelheim trial database was searched for randomised, double‐blind studies comparing telmisartan/amlodipine combination therapy with monotherapy. Eight studies were identified. Eight separate analyses were used to compare combination therapy with respective monotherapies at the earliest available time points (weeks 1, 2 and/or 4).</p> </sec> <sec id="ijcp12180-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>In patients initiated on combination therapy, greater systolic BP (SBP)/diastolic BP (DBP) reductions were seen with combination therapy (p < 0.0001); BP (< 140/90 mmHg), SBP (< 140 mmHg) and DBP (< 90 mmHg) goal attainment rates were significantly higher with combination therapy at all time points. In patients uncontrolled by monotherapy, greater SBP/DBP reductions were seen with combination therapy (p < 0.05 in all but one measure), and all goal attainment rates were significantly higher with combination therapy, except in one measure.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijcp12180-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Many people can achieve their BP targets when taking a combination of telmisartan and amlodipine after failing to do so with monotherapy. Furthermore, BP targets can be achieved more rapidly using a combination of telmisartan and amlodipine as initial therapy than with either monotherapy.</p> </sec> </abstract>