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Receptor Autoradiography Protocol for the Localized Visualization of Angiotensin II Receptors
Published on: June 7, 2016
Tolerability and treatment compliance with angiotensin II receptor antagonists
Giuseppe Mancia1, Gino Seravalle, Guido Grassi
1Clinica Medica, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica, Prevenzione e Biotecnologie Sanitarie, Università Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Milan, Italy. giuseppe.mancia@unimib.it
Insights
Hypertension management has improved cardiovascular outcomes, but blood pressure control remains suboptimal in many patients. New antihypertensive drugs like angiotensin II receptor antagonists offer better tolerability and compliance.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Hypertension-related cardiovascular risk is reducible through blood pressure (BP) lowering.
- Antihypertensive drug treatment significantly decreases cardiovascular events and complications.
- Current population-level BP control is suboptimal, with less than 25% of treated patients achieving target BP <140/90 mm Hg.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current status of BP control in treated hypertensive individuals.
- To examine factors contributing to inadequate BP control, focusing on patient compliance.
- To evaluate the tolerability and compliance of angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARBs).
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies and intervention trials on hypertension management.
- Analysis of factors influencing treatment adherence and drug side effects.
- Assessment of the efficacy and safety profiles of ARBs.
Main Results:
- Despite evidence of improved cardiovascular risk reduction, optimal BP control is not widespread.
- Inadequate compliance, drug intolerance, and underutilization of combination therapy hinder BP control.
- ARBs demonstrate a favorable tolerability and compliance profile.
Conclusions:
- Improving BP control in hypertensive patients is crucial for reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
- Addressing compliance issues and optimizing drug selection, including ARBs, are key strategies.
- ARBs represent a promising therapeutic option for enhancing treatment adherence and achieving BP targets.
Abstract:
Several studies and intervention trials performed during the past 30 years have provided evidence that hypertension-related cardiovascular risk is not irreversible. This is because the reduction in blood pressure (BP) induced by antihypertensive drugs has been shown to be accompanied by a clear-cut decrease in the rate of cardiovascular events and complications. There is also evidence that BP control in the population is far from being optimal, and that no more than one quarter of treated hypertensive patients display BP values <140/90 mm Hg. The reasons for inadequate BP control are multiple, involving a combination of factors such as inadequate compliance with treatment, intolerance to side effects of currently prescribed drugs, and insufficient clinical use of combination drug treatment. This article focuses on three major areas. It first provides an overview of the current status of BP control in treated hypertensive persons. It then examines the factors potentially responsible for this phenomenon, with particular emphasis on the relevance of the so-called "compliance factor." Finally it provides an overview of the tolerability and compliance profile of the angiotensin II receptor antagonists, a new class of antihypertensive drugs characterized by an efficacy and safety profile.
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