Antihypertensive Effect of Switching to a Fixed Perindopril/Amlodipine Combination in Patients Ineffectively Treated by Free Sartan-Containing Combinations. Results of the AVANGARD Study

Finding the best options for combined antihypertensive therapy is one of the main tasks to be solved for achieving target blood pressure (BP) and, accordingly, reduction of the risk of complications in patients with arterial hypertension (AH).Purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the perindopril arginine/amlodipine fixed combination in patients with 1-2 degree hypertension not achieving BP control on previous therapy with sartan-containing free combinations.In the multicenter open uncontrolled observational program AVANGARD 203 doctors in 53 cities of the Russian Federation included 658 patients who had not achieved target BP on therapy with two drugs, one of which was sartan (sartan with diuretic, calcium antagonist, β-blocker, or moxonidine in 49%, 33%, 17%, and 1% of cases, respectively). This therapy was replaced with a fixed combination of perindopril arginine/amlodipine. Duration of observation was 3 months.On therapy with perindopril arginine/amlodipine, BP decreased 159.9±8.5/92.1±7.4 to 125.8±7.1/77.4±5.5 mm Hg. Target BP <140/90 mm Hg was achieved in 93.5% of patients (office measurement); target BP <135/85 mm Hg - in 83.5% of patients (home measurement). Mean 24-hour BP variability decreased from 4.4±2.9/3.0±2.0 to 3.0±2.2/2.2±1.7 mm Hg (p<0.01). Number of patients complaining of headache decreased by 2.9 times, dizziness - by 2.8 times, fatigue - by 2.3 times, irritability - by 3.0 times, sleep disturbances - by 2.3 times, dyspnea - by 3.8 times, palpitations - by 2.7 times, angina pectoris attacks - by 4.6 times. Dose of perindopril arginine/amlodipine was 10/5 mg in 36.6%, and 10/10 mg in 28.3% of cases, respectively. Number ofparticipants who dropped out ofthe study prematurely was 11 (1.6%) (1 because of adverse event). Adverse events were observed in 4 more patients (2 [0.14%] - edema of lower extremities, and 2 [0.14%] -cough), but they did not require the withdrawal of therapy.In case of ineffective combination therapy containing sartans, transfer of patients to a fixed combination of perindopril and amlodipine should be considered.