Single-pill amlodipine/atorvastatin helps patients of diverse ethnicity attain recommended goals for blood pressure and lipids (the Gemini-AALA study).
The Gemini-AALA (Australia, Asia, Latin America, Africa/Middle East) study evaluated the efficacy and safety of single-pill amlodipine/atorvastatin (Caduet) for the treatment of patients of diverse ethnicity with concomitant hypertension and dyslipidaemia. This was a 14-week, open-label study including patients from 27 countries across the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Africa and Latin America. Eight dosage strengths of single-pill amlodipine/atorvastatin (5/10, 10/10, 5/20, 10/20, 5/40, 10/40, 5/80 and 10/80 mg) were titrated to improve blood pressure and lipid control. Blood pressure and lipid goals were determined according to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) and National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (NCEP ATP III) guidelines, respectively (blood pressure, <140/90 or <130/80 mm Hg; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), <4.1 to <2.6 mmol l(-1) (<160 to <100 mgdl(-1))). Overall, 1649 patients received study medication. Most patients (91.4%) had >or=1 cardiovascular risk factor (as defined by NCEP ATP III guidelines) in addition to hypertension/dyslipidaemia, and 61.7% had coronary heart disease/risk equivalent. At baseline, mean blood pressure was 146.6/88.3 mm Hg and LDL-C was 3.4 mmol l(-1) (130.2 mgdl(-1)). At week 14, 55.2% of patients reached both blood pressure and lipid goals, 61.3% reached blood pressure goal and 87.1% reached lipid goal (34.0% were at lipid goal at baseline). Mean blood pressure reduction was 20.2/11.4 mm Hg. For patients who were lipid-lowering drug naive at baseline, mean reduction in LDL-C was 41.0%. Treatment-related adverse events led to the discontinuation of 3.6% of patients. Single-pill amlodipine/atorvastatin therapy was well tolerated and effective for the reduction of blood pressure and lipids to recommended goals in patients from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
Erdine
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Cardiology Department, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. eserdine@superonline.com
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Guindy
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Moller
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D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D017311:Amlodipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D017311:Amlodipine; D000069059:Atorvastatin