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[THE TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION BY FIXED DRUG COMBINATIONS IN PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED AT THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE].

AIMS
To determine the rate of hypertensive patients hospitalized at the department of medicine who are treated or are candidates for fixed dose drug combinations.


BACKGROUND
Despite the high prevalence of hypertension and rates of awareness, The number of patients treated and well controlled are low. The main reasons for not achieving blood pressure target levels are compliance and persistence with drug therapy.


METHODS
A multicenter, retrospective records review was conducted of hypertensive patients hospitalized at departments of medicine during 2014.


RESULTS
The study group consisted of 803 patients' records from 6 medical centers. Half of the study group were males, mean age 75±12 years. The most frequent comorbidities were hyperlipidemia (60%) and diabetes (49%). The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure at admission were 143±27mmHg and 75+16 mmHg, respectively. Only 48% of the patients had well-controlled blood pressure levels. Beta blockers were the most common drug treatment (54%) and only 7% were treated by fixed drug combinations, mainly including diuretics. A quarter of the subjects were treated with one medication, 36%, 21%, 12% by 2, 3 >4 medications, respectively. The candidates for fixed drug combination therapy are unbalanced patients and those who are treated by/with several medications; under these two conditions, half of the patients in our research were found suitable for the fixed drug combination therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need to increase the use of fixed dose drug combination medications to achieve better blood pressure control.


DISCUSSION
Hospitalization is an opportunity for increasing the use of fixed-dose drug combinations to improve blood pressure control.