World Hypertension Day 17th May: Australian researchers say QUADpill could make all the difference

This year  World Hypertension Day’s theme is ‘Know Your Numbers’, and encourages people to be aware of how high blood pressure can affect your health, and cause conditions like preventable stroke, heart disease and kidney disease.

Hypertension or high blood pressure affects about three million people in Australia. It is also a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke, which are leading causes of death in Australia.

This year  World Hypertension Day’s theme is ‘Know Your Numbers’, and encourages people to be aware of how high blood pressure can affect your health, and that it can cause conditions like preventable stroke, heart disease and kidney disease.

Associate Professor Clara Chow, Acting Director of the Cardiovascular Division at The George Institute for Global Health, says that awareness of hypertension and seeking medical care is essential to keeping hypertension under control.

Hypertension is a condition for which treatment is available, but surveys show approximately 50 to 75% of patients with hypertension do not achieve the recommended healthy blood pressure targets.

“To address the problem, the Institute is doing important research into a new QUADpill, to find out if an ultralow-dose ‘hypertension combination pill’ can provide better blood pressure control with fewer side effects.”

Dr Jay Thakkar, a Cardiology Research Fellow at The George Institute for Global Health and the University of Sydney, is monitoring recruitment for the study and says that the QUADpill could make all the difference in the treatment of hypertension.

“The QUADpill study is looking at a simplified treatment strategy for people who suffer from hypertension.

“The pill includes four common blood pressure lowering medications each at ¼ strength dose encapsulated into a single pill, which could enable patients an easier course of medications to enable them to be consistently treating their hypertension, reducing their risk of preventable heart attack and stroke.”

 

Do you have hypertension which is currently untreated?

We are looking for adults aged 18 years or older in the Western Sydney area diagnosed with Hypertension and not currently on treatment to help us better understand the efficacy and tolerability of a capsule containing ultra-low doses of 4 widely used hypertensive medications.  The study involves 4 visits to a local GP practice, and taking a capsule once a day for 10 weeks. All study related investigations and treatment is free. Patients and referring practitioners are reimbursed as a recognition for their efforts and time.

If you may be interested please email; quadpill@georgeinstitute.org.au

 

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Aaron Wakeley, Senior Media Advisor, Australia

The George Institute for Global Health
P: 0417 249 295
E: awakeley@georgeinstitute.org.au