From valsartan 80mg/amlodipine 5mg per day to valsartan 160mg/amlodipine 10mg per day orally

As directed by investigator

Valsartan 160mg per day to 320mg per day orally

Combination arm - from valsartan 80mg/hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg per day to valsartan 160mg/hydrochlorothiazide 25mg per day orally

The visit window was from 22 to 36 weeks. If more than one blood pressure measure was available within the specified window, then the one closest to the scheduled visit was used for analysis. If no measure was available within this window, then the last recorded BP post-randomization was used for the endpoint. Analysis of covariance model was used with the factors: baseline blood pressure, treatment and blood pressure target group at randomization.

The absolute cardiovascular risk assessment uses the Framingham Risk Equation to predict risk of a cardiovascular event over the next 5 years. A score of <10% is a low risk, 10 to 15% is a moderate risk, and >15% is a high risk.

A decrease indicates improvement.

The rate of all adverse events by preferred terms as determined by the General Practice investigators to be related to study intervention therapy was reported. Percentage of adverse events was calculated based on the number of participants analyzed. 41 adverse events were not reported as inadequate information was supplied to allow determination of drug treatment at onset.

A comparison of the early responders was made based on the blood pressure measurements taken at the week 6 visit window according to gender and guideline targets. The guideline targets were: patients with renal impairment: 125/75 mmHg; patients with end-organ damage/cardiovascular disease: 130/80 mmHg; others: 140/90 mmHg.

The EQ-5D total indexed score (AUS) measures self-reported quality of life with the following 5 dimensions: mobility (range 1,2,3), self-care (range 1,2,3), usual activity (range 1,2,3), pain/discomfort (range 1,2,3) and anxiety/depression (range 1,2,3), where a 1 indicates no problems, a 2 indicates moderate problems, and a 3 indicates severe problems. The range of possible utility scores are between -0.217 (derived from worse responses from all 5 dimensions with severe problems ie 3,3,3,3,3) and 1.000 (no problems for all 5 dimensions) for each dimension. An increase in EQ-5D indexed score (AUS) indicates improvement.

Patients with depression refers to potential depressive symptoms, not clinically diagnosed depression. The 2 question Arrol screening tool was used to determine if the patient had potential depressive symptoms. The 2 questions are: During the last month have you often been bothered by feeling down, depressed or hopeless? During the past month have you often been bothered by little interest or pleasure in doing things? The presence of potential depressive symptoms was determined by a 'yes' answer to either of these questions.

The CES-D score was from 0 to 30, with a higher score indicating a higher level of depression.

The categories for the score are: 0 to 9 suggests no depression; 10 to 15 suggests mild depression; 16 to 24 suggests moderate depression; 24 or above suggests severe depression.

A patient was considered to have end organ damage with either of the following: 1) proteinuria (dipstick = 1+ or more or protein/creatinine ratio > 30mg/mol or 24h urine protein > 0.3g); 2) no proteinuria, but presence of microalbuminuria (urine albumin/creatinine ratio 3.6 to 25mg/mol(male) or 3.6 to 35mg/mol (female) detected; 3) no proteinuria or microalbuminuria, but presence of macroalbuminuria (urine albumin/creatinine ratio > 25mg/mol(male) or >35mg/mol (female) detected OR 4) ECG evidence of LVH (Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria values >= 38mm).

Baseline potential for end organ damage was calculated in all 1562 randomised patients based on the criteria outlined above. If no investigation/data available, assumed no end-organ damage.

It is important to note that given the limited number of ECGs at 26 weeks, between group comparisons should be limited to the two time points (baseline and 26 weeks).

A modified self-care behavior tool (questionnaire) was used to calculate 2 domain scales: maintenance and confidence. Each domain has a standardized score between 0 and 100. Self-care is best represented by maintenance. Confidence is an important process that moderates the relationship between self-care and outcomes. Higher index score suggests better self-care. A score of 70 or greater can be used as the cut-point to judge self-care adequacy.

The rate of compliance was planned to be estimated from the quantity of unused medication returned at each scheduled visit over the entire follow-up period. Rate of compliance = (tablets supplied - tablets returned)/(tablets for 100% compliance).

Major clinical endpoints measured were all-cause mortality and fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events (e.g. acute myocardial infarction, stroke and heart failure).

Physicians initially utilized single tablet combination products of either valsartan plus hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) or valsartan plus amlodipine for an initial 6 weeks of therapy (based on the treating physician's preference), with dose titrations (if required) every 4 weeks thereafter until week 10. The maximum dose for the HCTZ combination was valsartan 160mg plus HCTZ 25mg per day. The maximum dose for the amlodipine combination was valsartan 160mg plus amlodipine 10mg per day. For patients who were not at blood pressure target at week 14, physicians were requested to consider triple or alternative therapy at their own discretion for the remainder of the study.

Physicians initially utilized single tablet combination products of either valsartan plus hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) or valsartan plus amlodipine for an initial 6 weeks of therapy (based on the treating physician's preference), with dose titrations (if required) every 4 weeks thereafter until week 10. The maximum dose for the HCTZ combination was valsartan 160mg plus HCTZ 25mg per day. The maximum dose for the amlodipine combination was valsartan 160mg plus amlodipine 10mg per day. For patients who were not at blood pressure target at week 14, physicians were requested to consider triple or alternative therapy at their own discretion for the remainder of the study.

Physicians initially utilized single tablet combination products of either valsartan plus hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) or valsartan plus amlodipine for an initial 6 weeks of therapy (based on the treating physician's preference), with dose titrations (if required) every 4 weeks thereafter until week 10. The maximum dose for the HCTZ combination was valsartan 160mg plus HCTZ 25mg per day. The maximum dose for the amlodipine combination was valsartan 160mg plus amlodipine 10mg per day. For patients who were not at blood pressure target at week 14, physicians were requested to consider triple or alternative therapy at their own discretion for the remainder of the study.

Physicians initially utilized single tablet combination products of either valsartan plus hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) or valsartan plus amlodipine for an initial 6 weeks of therapy (based on the treating physician's preference), with dose titrations (if required) every 4 weeks thereafter until week 10. The maximum dose for the HCTZ combination was valsartan 160mg plus HCTZ 25mg per day. The maximum dose for the amlodipine combination was valsartan 160mg plus amlodipine 10mg per day. For patients who were not at blood pressure target at week 14, physicians were requested to consider triple or alternative therapy at their own discretion for the remainder of the study.

Physicians initially utilized single tablet combination products of either valsartan plus hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) or valsartan plus amlodipine for an initial 6 weeks of therapy (based on the treating physician's preference), with dose titrations (if required) every 4 weeks thereafter until week 10. The maximum dose for the HCTZ combination was valsartan 160mg plus HCTZ 25mg per day. The maximum dose for the amlodipine combination was valsartan 160mg plus amlodipine 10mg per day. For patients who were not at blood pressure target at week 14, physicians were requested to consider triple or alternative therapy at their own discretion for the remainder of the study.

Physicians initially utilized single tablet combination products of either valsartan plus hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) or valsartan plus amlodipine for an initial 6 weeks of therapy (based on the treating physician's preference), with dose titrations (if required) every 4 weeks thereafter until week 10. The maximum dose for the HCTZ combination was valsartan 160mg plus HCTZ 25mg per day. The maximum dose for the amlodipine combination was valsartan 160mg plus amlodipine 10mg per day. For patients who were not at blood pressure target at week 14, physicians were requested to consider triple or alternative therapy at their own discretion for the remainder of the study.

Physicians initially utilized single tablet combination products of either valsartan plus hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) or valsartan plus amlodipine for an initial 6 weeks of therapy (based on the treating physician's preference), with dose titrations (if required) every 4 weeks thereafter until week 10. The maximum dose for the HCTZ combination was valsartan 160mg plus HCTZ 25mg per day. The maximum dose for the amlodipine combination was valsartan 160mg plus amlodipine 10mg per day. For patients who were not at blood pressure target at week 14, physicians were requested to consider triple or alternative therapy at their own discretion for the remainder of the study.

Physicians initially utilized single tablet combination products of either valsartan plus hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) or valsartan plus amlodipine for an initial 6 weeks of therapy (based on the treating physician's preference), with dose titrations (if required) every 4 weeks thereafter until week 10. The maximum dose for the HCTZ combination was valsartan 160mg plus HCTZ 25mg per day. The maximum dose for the amlodipine combination was valsartan 160mg plus amlodipine 10mg per day. For patients who were not at blood pressure target at week 14, physicians were requested to consider triple or alternative therapy at their own discretion for the remainder of the study.