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  • Diltiazem was as effective as diuretics or β blockers, or both, at preventing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity

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Therapeutics
Diltiazem was as effective as diuretics or β blockers, or both, at preventing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ebm.6.1.11

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    (2000) Lancet 356, 359. Hansson L, Hedner T, Lund-Johansen P. , et al, for the NORDIL Study Group.. Randomised trial of effects of calcium antagonists compared with diuretics and b-blockers on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertension: the Nordic Diltiazem (NORDIL) study.. Jul 29;. :. –65. .
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 QUESTION: In middle aged patients with hypertension, is diltiazem, a non-dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, as effective as diuretics, β blockers, or both at preventing cardiovascular (CV) events?

    Design

    Randomised (allocation concealed*), blinded (outcome assessors),* controlled trial with mean follow up of 4.5 years (Nordic Diltiazem [NORDIL] study).

    Setting

    1032 primary healthcare centres in Norway and Sweden.

    Patients

    10 881 patients (mean age 60 y, 51% women) who had hypertension (diastolic blood pressure [BP] ≥100 mm Hg on 2 occasions) and were aged 50 to 69 years (extended to 74 y during the study). Follow up was >99%.

    Intervention

    Patients were allocated to diltiazem (n=5410) or to diuretics or β blockers, or both (n=5471). If hypertension persisted, the regimen was intensified. Diltiazem was started at 180 to 360 mg/day, with stepped addition of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, a diuretic or α blocker, and any other antihypertensive drug. In the other group, a thiazide diuretic or β blocker was started with stepped addition of the other drug, an ACE inhibitor or α …

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    Footnotes

    • Source of funding: Pharmacia.

    • For correspondence: Professor L Hansson, Department of Public Health and Social Sciences, University of Uppsala, PO Box 609, S-751 25 Uppsala, Sweden. Fax +46 18 611 79 73.

    • ↵* See glossary.