Combination therapy in hypertension: an Asia-Pacific consensus viewpoint

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Hypertension presents a substantial healthcare challenge in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Suboptimal blood pressure (BP) treatment and control rates are prevalent across Asia-Pacific countries.
• A growing burden of hypertension necessitates regional strategies for improved patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the escalating issue of hypertension within the Asia-Pacific region.
• To establish consensus-based recommendations for standardized hypertension care.
• To focus on combination therapy as a key strategy for achieving BP control.

Main Methods:

• Convened a consensus meeting of Asia-Pacific hypertension experts in Hanoi, Vietnam.
• Reviewed existing hypertension management guidelines from the USA, Europe, and Asia-Pacific nations.
• Developed a treatment matrix proposing preferred combination antihypertensive regimens.

Main Results:

• Identified that most hypertension patients require two or more drugs for BP control.
• Emphasized that combination therapy with complementary mechanisms is more effective than monotherapy.
• Proposed preferred combination therapy regimens for diverse patient populations, with and without compelling indications.

Conclusions:

• Recommends initiating therapy with free drug combinations at the lowest effective dose.
• Suggests transitioning to single-pill combinations once BP targets are achieved.
• A unified regional guideline can enhance treatment consistency and improve BP control, reducing hypertension-related morbidity and mortality.