The present and the future of drug treatment of hypertension through fixed combinations.

- "As it has extended the combined therapy, have greatly increased rates of control, because it manages to operate in different systems involved and broadened the spectrum of effectiveness," says Dr. Antonio Coca, coordinator of the Scientific Committee of the Course Cardiovascular Medicine 2009.

- Also fixed combinations are beneficial, they get a 24 percent lower risk of default by the patient, which today is around 50 percent.

- Dr. Bernard Waeber, chief of the Division of Clinical Pathophysiology University Hospital of Lausanne, who at the satellite symposium prior to the course has provided the scientific basis of the association between olmesartán (ARB) and amlodipine (calcium antagonist), has suggested that this association is indicated in any patient with essential hypertension.

"To date, compliance with the proper lifestyle to prevent and treat hypertension (HTA) has been a failure, we have failed to stimulate the patients. On the other hand, the doctor has now drugs to treat it, and although none has proved itself a panacea, combined provide multiple opportunities and effective. " This was revealed Dr. Antonio Coca, head of the Hypertension Unit of the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona and coordinator of the Scientific Committee of the Course of Cardiovascular Medicine 2009, organized by scientific area Menarini. According to doctors gathered at the meeting, nearly 300, the present and the future of drug treatment of hypertension through the combination of antihypertensive treatment in a single tablet. "As has been extended combination therapy, have greatly increased rates of control, because it manages to operate in different systems involved and broadened the spectrum of effectiveness," said Dr. Coca. "It also adds beneficial combinations are also fixed, getting a 24 percent lower risk of default by the patient, which today is around 50 percent."

Control of hypertension

Dr Josep Redon, coordinator of the Hypertension Unit, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, recalled that hypertension is the leading cause of death worldwide and there is still a 50 per cent of people who do not have their numbers controlled blood pressure . "The reasons are that the patient, tired of taking multiple tablets, just not meeting the treatment, also a record low of doctors and finally, the structure of the health system, which sometimes hinders the optimal treatment of these patients" . Redón The doctor has stated that although there are combinations that contribute nothing, as ACE inhibitors and ARBs, they combined with calcium antagonists and diuretics, have demonstrated improvement in compliance and resistance in the long term. His paper concluded: "If the doctor has the right combination for each patient, you can reach very high levels of control that may be around twice the current."

Olmesartán + amlodipine

Dr. Bernard Waeber, chief of the Division of Clinical Pathophysiology University Hospital of Lausanne, who at the satellite symposium prior to the course has provided the scientific basis of the association between olmesartán (ARB) and amlodipine (calcium antagonist), has been suggested that this association is indicated in any patient with essential hypertension. "The effect of antihypertensive olmesartán appears in the first two weeks after starting treatment. This rapid onset of action provides additional benefits as it helps to improve compliance, "he remarked Waeber. Spain Menarini Group will market, from the year 2009, this new partnership in Spain.

Course Objectives

The Course of Cardiovascular Medicine, which took place between Monday and Tuesday in Barcelona, aims to provide relevant training to a group of doctors with more difficulties in accessing training, such as specialists in the Spanish second-level hospitals. During the two days that has lasted the course, has addressed the heart failure, diabetes, antiagregación, the blockade of the renin-angiotensin system and the treatment of hypertensive multifactorial systematic risk.

This is one of the most important training activities organized by scientific area Menarini, the Menarini pharmaceutical entity engaged in health education. Each year, Area Science Menarini organizes more than 1,700 training activities on health in Spain.