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Achieving blood preSsure goals sTudy in uncontrolled hypeRtensive pAtients treated with a fixed-dose combination of

I G Okpechi1, H S Schoeman, B Longo-Mbenza

  • 1Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, South Africa. Ikechi.Okpechi@uct.ac.za

Cardiovascular Journal of Africa
|May 11, 2011
PubMed

Insights

The fixed-dose combination of ramipril/hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) effectively lowers blood pressure in Black Africans. This treatment is well-tolerated and safe for managing hypertension.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Hypertension is a leading global cause of death, necessitating improved management strategies.
  • Observational studies are crucial for understanding real-world hypertension treatment.
  • The ASTRAL study investigated a fixed-dose combination of ramipril/hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of ramipril/HCTZ in achieving blood pressure goals.
  • To assess blood pressure control in hypertensive patients in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • To determine the safety and tolerability of the ramipril/HCTZ combination.

Main Methods:

  • An open-label, multi-centre observational study in five sub-Saharan African countries.
  • Included 449 adult patients with uncontrolled hypertension on monotherapy.
  • Treatment duration was eight weeks with three study visits.

Main Results:

  • Significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were observed (-31.7/-17.9 mmHg at 8 weeks, p < 0.001).
  • 60.2% of non-diabetic patients and 26.5% of diabetic patients achieved blood pressure goals.
  • The treatment demonstrated a good safety profile with minimal adverse events.

Conclusions:

  • Ramipril/HCTZ fixed-dose combination is effective for blood pressure control in Black Africans.
  • The treatment is well-tolerated and possesses a favorable safety profile.
  • This combination offers a viable option for managing hypertension in this population.
Abstract

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