Is a fixed-dose combination of candesartan and rosuvastatin effective at managing hypertension and high cholesterol?

This study investigated if a combination of candesartan (Atacand) and rosuvastatin (Crestor) is effective in treating hypertension and high blood cholesterol. 

They found that this combination was effective in these patients. 

Hypertension or high blood pressure (BP) is common condition. If untreated it can lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Another factor that can lead to CVD is hyperlipidemia (HLP). HLP is a condition where there are high levels of fats (cholesterol) in the blood. HLP can lead to blockages in the arteries. To reduce the risk of CVD, patients may take medication to reduce BP and treat HLP. 

Candesartan is a drug that blocks the angiotensin receptor. This leads to a reduction in BP. Rosuvastatin is a drug used to treat HLP. It lowers the level of fats by blocking an enzyme involved in the production of ‘bad’ fats. Fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) of drugs can be used to improve treatment adherence. It is unclear if a FDC of candesartan/rosuvastatin (CND-RSV) is effective in treating patients with hypertension and HLP.

This study included 219 patients with hypertension and HLP. Patients were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups. The groups were CND alone, RSV alone, or CND/RSV. Patients were assessed after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were measured. Blood samples were taken to measure fat levels and enzymes. 

At 8 weeks, the levels of cholesterol were reduced in all patients treated with RSV. CND/RSV treatment reduced LDL levels,  similar to RSV alone (-49.8% vs. -48.6%). CND/RSV treatment reduced SBP level, similar to CND alone (-13.5% vs. -15.9%). The rates of side effects were similar across the groups – CND/RVS (19.7%), RSV (15.1%) and CND (21.9%).

The authors concluded that CND/RVS was effective in reducing BP and cholesterol levels.

The patients in this study were recruited with specific criteria. This means that the findings may not extend to the general population. The number of patients in the study was relatively small.