An overview of candesartan in clinical practice

Abstract

Hypertension is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure and renal disease. The Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure 7 defined hypertension as a blood pressure of more than 140/90 mmHg and recommended to initiate treatment with a two-drug combination for stage 2 hypertension (blood pressure of 160–179/100–109 mmHg). The need for drug combinations is clear from a patient and physician perspective as they provide more effective blood pressure lowering, reduce pill burden, improve compliance and decrease hypertension-related morbidity and mortality. Angiotensin II receptor blocker therapy has been proven to be well tolerated and effective in the management of hypertension, chronic heart failure with left ventricular dysfunction and the prevention and progression of diabetic renal disease. Blockers of the renin–angiotensin system are an important component of antihypertensive combination therapy. Thiazide-type diuretics are usually added to increase the blood pressure lowering efficacy. Fixed drug–drug combinations of both principles, such as candesartan/hydrochlorothiazide, are highly effective in lowering blood pressure while providing improved compliance, a good tolerability and largely neutral metabolic profile. In this article, we review the literature for the role of candesartan-based therapy for hypertension, stroke, diabetes mellitus and heart failure.

Keywords::

• candesartan
• heart failure
• hypertension

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Christopher S Wilcox has been a paid consultant for AstraZeneca concerning a product other than candesartan. This study was supported by grants to Christopher S Wilcox from the NIDDK (DK-036079 and DK-049870) and from the NHLBI (HL-68686) and by funds from the George E Schreiner Chair of Nephrology. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.