Introduction

Selecting an ARB: How to Make the Difference
Despite the recognized disease burden of hypertension, especially high compared to other diseases and conditions, a substantial gap remains between recommendations and the treatment and control of high blood pressure worldwide. A thorough review of the disease burden and factors contributing to the worrisome gap in appropriate treatment, including physician inertia, was provided in this satellite symposium.
   The failure of the stepped-care approach to drug treatment of hypertension was reviewed, along with the concept of the new therapeutic window in hypertension and a thorough review of the need for combination therapy and a rationale for the selection of drugs for combination therapy. Fixed dose combinations are shown to further enhance compliance and achieved treatment goals. Additional benefits of blood pressure lowering with particular drugs was reviewed, for example, improved renoprotection and other aspects of the cardio-renal continuum.

Introduction A. Zanchetti (Milan, Italy) [WEBCAST]     The gap between recommendations andreal BP control rates N.R. Poulter (London, UK) [WEBCAST] [INTERVIEW]   The proven way of treating patients to BP targets J. Neutel (Tustin, CA, USA) [WEBCAST] [INTERVIEW]   Beyond blood pressure control: Additional benefits with olmesartan L.M. Ruilope (Madrid, Spain) [WEBCAST] [INTERVIEW]