Rationale: | |
1. | Monotherapy is not effective at reaching and maintaining BP goal in most patients |
2. | Each difference of 20 mmHg usual SBP or 10 mmHg usual DBP is associated with a two-fold increase in vascular death |
3. | Using lower doses of each agent reduces the likelihood of adverse events experienced with a single agent used at a higher dose |
4. | Patients with comorbidities, such as renal disease, might benefit from the non-BP-lowering benefits of antihypertensive agents with complementary mechanisms of action |
Potential advantages: | |
1. | Simplified treatment regimen, which is particularly relevant in older patients with comorbid diseases requiring complicated polytherapy |
2. | Increased adherence and persistence compared with equivalent free-drug combinations |
3. | Additive effects on BP control of individual components with different, complementary mechanisms of action |
4. | Attenuation of recognised adverse events, such as reduced CCB-induced peripheral oedema and diuretic-induced metabolic changes with RAS blockers |
5. | Lower costs through increased BP reductions |