2010, Volume 17, Supplement 2: Are all angiotensin receptors blockers the same?

This supplement is based on the proceedings of a one-day round-table meeting held on 20th February 2010 to debate whether angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) have a class effect or whether they show different efficacy and safety profiles and so should be selected and used on an individual basis. The round-table meeting was initiated and funded by Takeda UK Ltd....

Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are a class of pharmaceutical agents that modulate the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), which is responsible for blood pressure (BP) regulation and fluid and electrolyte homeostasis....

High blood pressure (BP) is one of the leading health risk factors for global mortality, being a higher risk factor than tobacco use, high cholesterol and under-nutrition in both developed and developing regions.1 The estimated total number of adults around the world with hypertension in the year 2000 was 972 million but this figure is predicted to rise by approximately 60% by 2025 to a total of 1.56 billion, due to an ageing population2 and the adverse impact of several aspects of development (figure 1)....

Heart failure epidemiology The incidence of heart failure (HF) increases with age and its prevalence is increasing due to an ageing population.1 Although some HF patients can live for many years, absolute survival rates are poor in both sexes, with 50% of men dead at 2.3 years (range: 1.3–2.3 years) and 50% of women dead at 1.7 years (range: 1.32–1.79 years).2 Recent reports, however, suggest that the prognosis has substantially improved in the UK, thought to be related to better treatment and monitoring.3,4...

Diabetic nephropathy is estimated to affect up to 40% of patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetic nephropathy is characterised by proteinuria, hypertension, progressive decline in renal function and increased mortality (up to 12% per year in patients with increased creatinine levels)....

National Health Service (NHS) costs in England grew from about £40 billion in the year 2000 to £100 billion today. That is, they have approximately doubled in real terms within a decade. However, the current economic climate in the UK has led to increasing cost awareness in the NHS. NHS managers have been charged with making £15–20 billion efficiency savings by 2015.1 Although the health service will not lose funding, GPs are under pressure to prescribe low-cost generic medicines wherever possible.2...