Single-pill combinations to improve blood pressure control

Prof Eoin O’Brien, Professor of Molecular Pharmacology at the Conway Institute, UCD, examines the rationale for increased use of single-pill combinations, which he believes can contribute significantly to achieving BP control in a cost-effective manner. Hypertension has been more thoroughly investigated than most illnesses and well conducted research studies, costing many billions of dollars, have shown unequivocally that the cardiovascular consequences of elevated blood pressure (BP) – most notably stroke and heart attack — can be prevented. Moreover, these research studies have provided cost-effective drugs with relatively few adverse effects capable of restoring normal BP levels in the majority of…