Olmesartan‐based monotherapy vs combination therapy in hypertension: A meta‐analysis based on age and chronic kidney disease status

Antihypertensive monotherapy is often insufficient to control blood pressure (BP). Several recent guidelines advocate for initial combination drug therapy in many patients. This meta‐analysis of seven randomized, double‐blind studies (N = 5888) evaluated 8 weeks of olmesartan medoxomil (OM)–based single‐pill dual‐combination therapy (OM+amlodipine/azelnidipine or hydrochlorothiazide) vs OM monotherapy in adults with hypertension. BP‐lowering efficacy, goal achievement, and adverse events were assessed in the full cohort and subgroups (elderly/nonelderly and patients with and without chronic kidney disease). In the full cohort at week 8, for dual therapy vs monotherapy, seated BP was lower (137.5/86.1 mm Hg vs 144.4/89.9 mm Hg), and the mean change from baseline in BP and BP goal achievement (<140/90 mm Hg) were greater (−22.7/−15.0 mm Hg vs −16.0/−11.3 mm Hg and 51.2% vs 34.7%, respectively). Adverse events were similar between groups. BP‐lowering efficacy among subgroups mirrored the findings in the full cohort whereby changes were significantly greater following OM dual‐combination therapy vs OM monotherapy.