@article{16269,
  author = {Arima Hisatomi and Matsumura K. and Tominaga M. and Ohtsubo T. and Sasaguri T. and Fujii K. and Fukuhara M. and Uezono K. and Morinaga Y. and Ohta Y. and Otonari T. and Kawasaki J. and Kato I. and Tsuchihashi T. and COMFORT Investigators},
  title = {Does a Combination Pill of Antihypertensive Drugs Improve Medication Adherence in Japanese?},
  abstract = {<p>
Background: In order to achieve target blood pressure levels to prevent cardiovascular disease, combination therapy of antihypertensive drugs is often required, although it is thought that requiring a patient to take many different pills would reduce adherence to the medication regimen. Whether antihypertensive treatment with a single pill combining antihypertensive drugs would improve medication adherence and blood pressure control was investigated. Methods and Results: A total of 207 hypertensive subjects were randomly assigned to a combination pill group (losartan 50mg/hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg; n=103) or a control group (an angiotensin receptor blocker and a thiazide diuretic; n=104). Medication adherence was evaluated by pill counts at 1, 3, and 6 months after randomization. The mean adherence rates over 6 months were not different between the 2 groups: 98% in the combination pill group and 98% in the control group. Moreover, the 2 groups included similar numbers of subjects with relatively poor adherence rates (&lt;90%) in each treatment period. The mean blood pressures over the 6-month treatment period were not different between the groups: 131/75mmHg in the combination pill group and 130/75mmHg in the control group (P=0.84/0.96). Conclusions: There were no appreciable effects of the combination pill of antihypertensive drugs on medication adherence or blood pressure control in Japanese patients over a 6-month period. (Circ J 2012; 76: 1415-1422).
</p>
},
  year = {2012},
  journal = {Circulation Journal},
  volume = {76},
  edition = {2012/03/27},
  number = {6},
  pages = {1415-1422},
  isbn = {1347-4820 (Electronic)1346-9843 (Linking)},
  note = {Matsumura, KiyoshiArima, HisatomiTominaga, MitsuhiroOhtsubo, ToshioSasaguri, ToshiyukiFujii, KojiFukuhara, MasayoUezono, KeikoMorinaga, YukiOhta, YukoOtonari, TakatoshiKawasaki, JunyaKato, IsaoTsuchihashi, Takuyafor the COMFORT InvestigatorsCirc J. 2012 May 25;76(6):1415-1422. Epub 2012 Mar 15.},
  language = {Eng},
}