OBJECTIVES: To compare blood pressure (BP) goal achievement associated with the use of valsartan-based single pill combination (SPC) vs. ARB-based free combination (FC) among adult hypertension patients in South Central region (TX, AL, MS, LA, KS, TN, MO, AR & OK). METHODS: Data were collected from physician-administered chart review of adult hypertension patients.  All patients had uncontrolled BP before initiating one of the index therapies (SPC: valsartan+amlodipine or valsartan+HCTZ, FC: ARB+CCB or ARB+HCTZ) between 07/2008 and 06/2009.  Up to 3 BPs were collected starting from 45 days after the therapy initiation. BP goal was <130/80 mmHg for patients with diabetes, chronic renal disease or coronary heart disease; or <140/90mmHg for patients without these comorbidities. Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test was used to compare rates of BP goal achievement associated with SPC vs. FC over time.  Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the likelihood of BP goal achievement associated with SPC vs. FC, controlling for demographics, baseline BP, hypertension history, comorbidities, prior and concurrent use of anti-hypertensive medications, and physician specialty. RESULTS: The chart review included 813 patients: 415 on SPC (210 valsartan+amlodipine and 205 valsartan+HCTZ) and 398 on FC (200 ARB+CCB and 198 ARB+HCTZ).  In FCs, the most commonly used ARB and CCB were valsartan (29.1%) and amlodipine (81.5%), respectively. The rates of BP goal achievement were higher among SPC vs. FC patients over time (p=0.007): 30.5% vs. 28.3% at month 3 and 63.4% vs. 53.8% at month 6. Cox regression confirmed that SPC patients were more likely to achieve BP goal (HR=1.22; p=0.047).  Similar trend was observed in the subgroup analyses comparing SPC valsartan+amlodipine vs. FC ARB+CCB and SPC valsartan+HCTZ vs. FC ARB+HCTZ separately. CONCLUSIONS: Patients using valsartan-based SPC were more likely to achieve BP goal than those treated with ARB-based FC.