Via practica 5/2022

What can fixed combinations bring as an initial step in the treatment of primary hypertension?

Primary (essential) hypertension is a risk factor for the entire spectrum of cardiovascular diseases and at the same time is a leading risk factor for premature death and disability. Because of its high prevalence and complications, primary hypertension represents a serious global health problem. Despite the evidence that adequate treatment can reduce risk of complications, achieving blood pressure (BP) target values is not satisfactory in the long term, worldwide. The most recent ESC/ESH 2018 Guidelines for the management and treatment of hypertension, aims to reverse this adverse condition and call for the initiation of treatment with a fixed combination of antihypertensive drugs (single pill combination) in most hypertensive patients. Improvement in persistence, and better adherence to treatment are considered as the main advantages of these medications to achieve and maintain the target BP in the long term. Currently, we have a wide range of different single pill combinations of antihypertensives available in Slovakia, which allow tailoring of treatment, as well as rapid and reliable achievement of the target blood pressure, and thus, reduction of morbidity and mortality of this „at-risk“ population.

Keywords: primary hypertension, treatment of hypertension, fixed combination, adherence and persistence to treatment