title: Slovak trial on cardiovascular risk reduction following national guidelines with CaDUET® (the STRONG DUET study).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The efficacy and safety of single-pill amlodipine/atorvastatin for reducing blood pressure (BP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), and predicted 10-year cardiovascular (CV) risk have been demonstrated in low CV risk countries. The Slovak Trial on Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Following National Guidelines with CaDUET® (amlodipine besylate/atorvastatin calcium; Pfizer, Morrisville, PA, USA; STRONG DUET) study evaluated its clinical utility in Slovakia, one of the highest CV risk regions in Europe.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a two-phase study involving 100 outpatient cardiologist and internist departments in Slovakia. Phase 1 assessed BP control and CV risk profiles in adults with treated hypertension, and phase 2 was an open-label, multicenter, observational study. In the phase 2 study, patients with treated but uncontrolled hypertension and three or more coronary heart disease risk factors received single-pill amlodipine/atorvastatin (5/10 or 10/10 mg) for 12 weeks. Major outcomes were the percentage of patients achieving target BP (≤140/90 mmHg) and/or LDL-C (≤3 mmol/L) and reductions in predicted 10-year CV risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 4,672 phase 1 patients, 80.8% had uncontrolled hypertension and 61.4% had dyslipidemia. Of the 1,406 phase 2 patients, 90.3% of patients achieved target BP at week 12, 66.3% achieved target LDL-C, and 60.7% achieved both. The mean 10-year CV risk was reduced by 49% (P < 0.0001); treatment was well-tolerated and safe.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single-pill amlodipine/atorvastatin was associated with significant improvements in BP, LDL-C target attainment, and 10-year CV risk in patients with uncontrolled hypertension in Slovakia. The treatment was well-tolerated and safe. Use of single-pill amlodipine/atorvastatin in high CV-risk countries could lead to significant improvements in CV risk management.
authors: First Department Of Internal Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University and Louis Pasteur University Hospital, Košice, Slovakia. janfedacko@hotmail.com
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Fedacko
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Pella
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Jarcuska
authors: Frantisek
authors: F
authors: Sabol
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Kmec
authors: Tomas
authors: T
authors: Lopuchovsky
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Merkovska
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Jedlickova
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Janicko
authors: Matej
authors: M
authors: Sajty
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017311:Amlodipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D018154:Slovakia; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D011758:Pyrroles; C487936:amlodipine, atorvastatin drug combination; D017311:Amlodipine