While everyone was posturing around the ENHANCE study another, perhaps more important piece of research was published without any fanfare about treatment of hypertension.
"New data from the Avoiding Cardiovascular Events in Combination Therapy in Patients Living with Systolic Hypertension (ACCOMPLISH) trial were presented today at the American College of Cardiology 2008 Scientific Sessions [1]. They showed that a single-tablet dual-mechanism therapy initiated in high-risk hypertensive patients significantly reduced the risk of morbidity and mortality by 20% compared with conventional therapy.
ACCOMPLISH, a major morbidity and mortality trial, compared the effects of two forms of antihypertensive combination therapies on major fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events. It was stopped early because treatment with antihypertensive combination therapy — the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor benazepril plus the calcium-channel blocker amlodipine — was more effective than treatment with the ACE inhibitor plus diuretic."
As in more effective than a diuretic alone or a diuretic in combo with something else. As in ALLHAT, the foundation for Jerry Avorn's campaign to become FDA commissioner and the so-called gold standard of comparative effectiveness research....
"If you use the combination of a calcium-channel blocker with an ACE inhibitor, you get exquisite blood-pressure control," said Jamerson, who added that similar control was observed with the ACE inhibitor and diuretic. Despite the similar blood pressure, the combination with the calcium-channel blocker and ACE inhibitor reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality 20%.
During a press conference announcing the results, Jamerson told the media that the findings are "paradigm-shifting" and the data are a clear win with a clear message. He said the ACCOMPLISH findings challenge the guidelines, especially in terms of starting with a one-drug strategy and the use of diuretics in combination with ACE inhibitors."
This will be an acid test to see just how evidence-based people who are pulling the comparative effectiveness bandwagon really are....Will such studies be rejected if they are not conducted or approved as "kosher" by a Comparative Effectiveness Institute? Will patients have to wait months or years to get access to better or tailored therapies while a bunch of economists sit in judgment?
Science moves way too fast for such an institute to have any real relevance. There are better ways to produce better medical information....A look back without looking ahead means retreating into the past as disease advances...
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/572341
"New data from the Avoiding Cardiovascular Events in Combination Therapy in Patients Living with Systolic Hypertension (ACCOMPLISH) trial were presented today at the American College of Cardiology 2008 Scientific Sessions [1]. They showed that a single-tablet dual-mechanism therapy initiated in high-risk hypertensive patients significantly reduced the risk of morbidity and mortality by 20% compared with conventional therapy.
ACCOMPLISH, a major morbidity and mortality trial, compared the effects of two forms of antihypertensive combination therapies on major fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events. It was stopped early because treatment with antihypertensive combination therapy — the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor benazepril plus the calcium-channel blocker amlodipine — was more effective than treatment with the ACE inhibitor plus diuretic."
As in more effective than a diuretic alone or a diuretic in combo with something else. As in ALLHAT, the foundation for Jerry Avorn's campaign to become FDA commissioner and the so-called gold standard of comparative effectiveness research....
"If you use the combination of a calcium-channel blocker with an ACE inhibitor, you get exquisite blood-pressure control," said Jamerson, who added that similar control was observed with the ACE inhibitor and diuretic. Despite the similar blood pressure, the combination with the calcium-channel blocker and ACE inhibitor reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality 20%.
During a press conference announcing the results, Jamerson told the media that the findings are "paradigm-shifting" and the data are a clear win with a clear message. He said the ACCOMPLISH findings challenge the guidelines, especially in terms of starting with a one-drug strategy and the use of diuretics in combination with ACE inhibitors."
This will be an acid test to see just how evidence-based people who are pulling the comparative effectiveness bandwagon really are....Will such studies be rejected if they are not conducted or approved as "kosher" by a Comparative Effectiveness Institute? Will patients have to wait months or years to get access to better or tailored therapies while a bunch of economists sit in judgment?
Science moves way too fast for such an institute to have any real relevance. There are better ways to produce better medical information....A look back without looking ahead means retreating into the past as disease advances...
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/572341
