Reductions in blood pressure and lipid parameters are generally lower than those previously projected , though substantial heterogeneity of results exists .
Fixed-dose combination therapy is associated with modest increases in adverse events compared with placebo , single drug active component , or usual care but may be associated with improved adherence to a multidrug regimen .
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide , yet CVD risk factor control and secondary prevention rates remain low .
A fixed-dose combination of blood pressure and cholesterol lowering and antiplatelet treatments into a single pill , or polypill , has been proposed as one strategy to reduce the global burden of CVD by up to 80 % given its potential for better adherence and lower costs .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of fixed-dose combination therapy on reducing fatal and non-fatal CVD events and on improving blood pressure and lipid CVD risk factors for both primary and secondary prevention of CVD .
We also aim ed to determine discontinuation rates , adverse events , health-related quality of life , and costs of fixed-dose combination therapy .
Variation of some inflammatory markers in hypertensive patients after 1 year of olmesartan/amlodipine single-pill combination compared with olmesartan or amlodipine monotherapies.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate a fixed olmesartan/amlodipine combination on blood pressure control , lipid profile , insulin sensitivity , and some inflammatory markers compared with single-drug monotherapy . A total of 276 hypertensive patients were r and omly assigned to olmesartan 20 mg , amlodipine 10 mg , or a single pill containing olmesartan/amlodipine combination 20/5 mg for 12 months . We evaluated the following at baseline and after 6 and 12 months : body weight , body mass index , systolic ( SBP ) and diastolic blood pressures ( DBP ) , fasting plasma glucose ( FPG ) , fasting plasma insulin ( FPI ) , lipid profile , tumor necrosis factor-α ( TNF-α ) , retinol binding protein-4 ( RBP-4 ) , and interleukins 6 and 7 ( IL-6 and IL-7 ) . At baseline , and after 6 and 12 months , patients underwent an  euglycemic , hyperinsulinemic clamp . The olmesartan/amlodipine combination provided a greater decrease of SBP and DPB compared with amlodipine and olmesartan monotherapies . The olmesartan/amlodipine combination  decreased FPG after 12 months compared with amlodipine monotherapy . The combination decreased FPI and homeostasis model assessment index and increased M value both compared with baseline and with olmesartan and amlodipine monotherapies . Olmesartan/amlodipine  decreased IL-7 , but not IL-6 , compared with single drug components . The olmesartan/amlodipine combination is effective and safe in reducing blood pressure and has some additive effects not shown by single drugs , such as an improvement of IL-7
Reductions in blood pressure and lipid parameters are generally lower than those previously projected , though substantial heterogeneity of results exists .
Fixed-dose combination therapy is associated with modest increases in adverse events compared with placebo , single drug active component , or usual care but may be associated with improved adherence to a multidrug regimen .
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide , yet CVD risk factor control and secondary prevention rates remain low .
A fixed-dose combination of blood pressure and cholesterol lowering and antiplatelet treatments into a single pill , or polypill , has been proposed as one strategy to reduce the global burden of CVD by up to 80 % given its potential for better adherence and lower costs .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of fixed-dose combination therapy on reducing fatal and non-fatal CVD events and on improving blood pressure and lipid CVD risk factors for both primary and secondary prevention of CVD .
We also aim ed to determine discontinuation rates , adverse events , health-related quality of life , and costs of fixed-dose combination therapy .