Int'l webcast on enhancing blood pressure control held

MANILA, Philippines - At least two-thirds of patients do not achieve guideline-recommended blood pressure (BP) targets, often due to poor treatment adherence. Moreover, most patients with hypertension require two or more blood pressure-lowering drugs to achieve BP goals.

“Studies show that treatment adherence and persistence are critical to helping achieve BP targets. As such, single-pill combinations (SPCs) offer a potential solution for better BP control,” said Dr. Francis Domingo, chief scientific officer of Novartis Healthcare Philippines.

“Single-pill combinations simplify the daily treatment regimen of hypertension, which promotes treatment adherence and persistence,” said Thomas Weigold, country president and managing director of Novartis Healthcare Philippines.

Last Feb. 2, research-based Swiss healthcare company Novartis held a live webcast that will examine the benefits of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system-based SPCs.

Entitled “Time for change: redefining the future of blood pressure management with single-pill combinations,” the live webcast also provided a forum for physicians to dicuss the utility of SPCs with dual and triple components in helping improve patient compliance and achieve BP control.

The scientific discussion was held in the United Kingdom and broadcast live over the Internet in Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan, Western Australia, and the Philippines.

It was chaired by Dr. Bryan Williams, professor of medicine of the University of Leicester, and Dr. Gordon McInnes, professor of clinical pharmacology of the University of Glasgow.

Williams spoke on “Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade: laying the foundation for a modern treatment regimen” while Prof. McInnes discussed “Single-pill combinations — a new era in hypertension management.”

After the presentations, an open forum was held to allow doctors participating in the live webcast to ask questions from the resource speakers as well as share their comments. 

To help address gaps in hypertension treatment compliance, Novartis developed a pill that combines three proven blood pressure-lowering medicines. Amlodipine + valsartan + hydrochlorothiazide works in different ways to lower blood pressure.

Amlodipine belongs to a class of anti-hypertension drugs called calcium channel blockers, which act on the muscles cells in the walls of arteries, relaxing and widening the arteries, thus lowering blood pressure.

Valsartan belongs to a class of anti-hypertension drugs called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). Angiotensin II is a natural substance in the body that affects the cardiovascular system in many ways, such as by narrowing the blood vessels. This narrowing can increase blood pressure and force the heart to work harder.

Angiotensin II also initiates the release of a hormone (aldosterone) that increases the amount of sodium and water in the body, which can lead to elevated blood pressure. It can also thicken and stiffen the walls of the blood vessels and heart.

Valsartan blocks the action of angiotensin II, thus allowing blood vessels to dilate (widen). It is the only ARB with four indications approved by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA): hypertension, post myocardial infarction (heart attack), heart failure, and delay progression of diabetes in patients with impaired glucose tolerance.

Hydrochlorothiazide belongs to a class of anti-hypertension drugs called diuretics, more commonly known as water pills.

By acting on the kidneys, diuretics help the body get rid of salt (sodium) and water, thus decreasing the amount of fluid flowing through the blood vessels, which reduces the pressure on the walls of arteries.