Single-Pill, Triple Antihypertensive Therapy in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa: Preliminary Experience

Worldwide, arterial hypertension is the foremost preventable and modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. In addition to lifestyle changes, recent international guidelines recommend single-pill, low-dose combinations as initial treatment strategy. We investigated whether this approach is feasible in a rural sub-Saharan Africa setting. Diagnosis of hypertension was established over three sets of blood pressure measurements, performed according to the European Society of Hypertension recommendations by trained personnel, using a validated, automated, oscillometric device OMRON M7 IT-HEM-7322-E. In 98 individuals with arterial hypertension, a once-daily, single-pill combination of olmesartan, amlodipine, and hydrochlorothiazide was prescribed at an appropriate dose. Patients were instructed on its administration and potential side effects and encouraged towards lifestyle modifications. The treatment regimen was adjusted, if needed, at each outpatient clinic scheduled after 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Seventy-nine patients (aged 61 [53–70] years; median and interquartile range) strictly adhered to the treatment schedule, while 19 individuals (70 [65–80] years) dropped out. Blood pressure was < 140/90 mmHg after 4 weeks in 44 (56