Ho CT, et al. - Researchers used the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan to investigate clinical outcomes in hypertensive patients treated with fixed-dose combinations (FDCs; n=13,176) or free combinations of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors and thiazide diuretic (n=4,392) who were matched in a 3:1 ratio using the propensity score method. In this analysis, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were assessed as the primary end point, and hospitalization of heart failure, new diagnosis of chronic kidney disease, and the initiation of dialysis were evaluated as secondary end points. Improved medication compliance and clinical outcomes were observed in association with the use of FDC of RAS inhibitor and thiazide diuretic vs the free combination regimens in the management of hypertension; this finding was particularly evident in the patients with poor medication adherence. Reduced cardiovascular and renal events in the patients with proportion of days covered < 80% were identified as the primary drivers of outcome benefits of FDC.