The 6th Asian Pacific Congress on Hypertension is over, and so is the Adalat® satellite symposium. Over 600 delegates – almost half the APCH participants – attended our symposium.
Two lectures were given on the topic:
Reinforcing the Role of Calcium Channel Blockers in the Management of Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease.
First, Prof. Henry Elliot (UK) talked about recent hypertension guidelines, the important role of CCBs and combined strategies for blood pressure lowering and beyond.
Consistent control of blood pressure over a 24-hour period is optimal using a long-acting, once daily agent (B.H.S / NICE guidelines 2006). The FDA requirement for a long-acting agent is a trough-to-peak ratio of between 50 to 66%. Adalat® GITS (30 & 60mg) offers a trough-to-peak ratio of 100 (for both systolic & diastolic blood pressure as compared to 71 & 68% respectively for Amlodipine 5mg). Prof. Elliot also highlighted the role of combinations of different antihypertensive agents to attain recommended blood pressure targets (NICE guidelines 2006, ESH/ESC guidelines 2007). In his presentation on combined strategies for blood pressure lowering, he drew attention to the NICE combi & the ADVANCE combi studies. It was the first time that Bayer´latest ongoing "TALENT" study (A Multicentre Study Evaluating Efficacy of Nifedipine GITS - Telmisartan Combination in Blood Pressure Control and Beyond: Comparison of Two Treatment Strategies) was discussed in the Asian Pacific region.
The second presentation was given by Prof. Zhongwei Shi (China): One story, two targets, the unique advantage of Adalat® in CAD Treatment.
The recently published Chinese guidelines for the management of chronic stable angina published in the Chinese Journal of Cardiology in March 2007 reinforce the role of CCBs. Patients with CAD & hypertension can use a long-acting calcium antagonist as an initial therapeutic agent. Hypertensive CAD patients benefit from Nifedipine GITS. The ACTION study confirms the safety of CCBs in patients with CAD.
In addition to the satellite symposium, Bayer Schering Pharma also had an exhibition stand at the congress. Reprints and key data on Adalat® GITS were handed out to all customers visiting the stand.
