Hypertension and Hypercholesterolemia: is it Time for Anti-«Lipitensive» Therapy?

Abstract

Despite the widespread awareness that hypertension and dyslipidemia are risk factors of prime importance for cardiovascular disease, the prevalence of these risk factors is still high, and the success of their control can hardly be considered satisfactory. The latest European guidelines for the management of hypertension strengthened the position of fixed-dose combinations, the main advantage of which is increased adherence to treatment. The purpose of this review was to discuss the background and the possibility of using fixed-dose combinations containing antihypertensive drugs and a statin in the treatment of patients with hypertension and dyslipidemia. We outlined the theoretical concepts that substantiate the possibility of using such therapy and discussed the results of randomized clinical trials investigating the efficacy of combined administration of antihypertensive and lipidlowering drugs. Illustrated by single pill combination of indapamide, perindopril and rosuvastatin, the requirements for fixed drug combinations are discussed, as well as clinical scenarios when their use is considered justified.