title: Low-dose fixed combination of bisoprolol/hydrochlorothiazide as first line for hypertension: a review of the rationale and clinical evidence.
abstract: Essential hypertension is a heterogeneous multifactorial disease. Data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey and from the World Health Organization have clearly demonstrated that, worldwide, less than 30% of hypertensive patients are adequately controlled by our currently accepted blood pressure goals. Although monotherapy is often unable to achieve blood pressure goals, the use of fixed low-dose combination drugs as alternative treatment seems to be related to a better antihypertensive efficacy and higher response rates in the low range of doses as the result of complementary mechanisms of antihypertensive effects. Indeed clinical trials have shown that initial low-dose combination therapy is superior as compared with treatment by the stepped-care and the sequential monotherapy approach, while recently, low-dose combination therapy for initial antihypertensive therapy instead of the stepped-care approach or of sequential monotherapy has been recommended. This review summarizes the beneficial effect of low-dose bisoprolol/ hydrochlorothiazide combination in the treatment of patients with stage I and II hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Hypertension and Cardiovascular Research Clinic, Georgetown University/Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC 20422, USA. jimpapdoc@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Dimitris P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papademetriou
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017298:Bisoprolol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; D017298:Bisoprolol