Effectiveness of first-line antihypertensive drugs for hypertension at up to 10 years*
| Comparison | Number of studies | Outcomes | Pooled RRR (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| *ACE = angiotensin-converting enzyme. Other abbreviations defined in glossary. | |||
| †Not pooled. | |||
| Thiazides v β-blockers | 5 | Withdrawals because of adverse effects | 31% (24 to 37) |
| Low-dose thiazides v no treatment | 5 | Death | 11% (1 to 19) |
| Stroke | 34% (21 to 44) | ||
| Coronary artery disease | 29% (16 to 40) | ||
| Cardiovascular events | 32% (25 to 38) | ||
| High-dose thiazides v no treatment | 11 | Stroke | 53% (39 to 63) |
| Cardiovascular events | 28% (18 to 37) | ||
| Calcium-channel blockers v no treatment | 1 | Stroke | 39% (13 to 57)† |
| Cardiovascular events | 39% (13 to 43)† | ||
| RRI (CI) | |||
| ACE inhibitors v calcium-channel blockers | 1 | Withdrawals because of adverse effects | 231% (119 to 400)† |