TY - JOUR T1 - Review: lower dose combination antihypertensive therapy is preferable to standard dose single drug therapy JF - Evidence Based Medicine JO - Evid Based Med SP - 11 LP - 11 DO - 10.1136/ebm.9.1.11 VL - 9 IS - 1 A2 - , Y1 - 2004/01/01 UR - http://ebm.bmj.com/content/9/1/11.abstract N2 - Law MR, Wald NJ, Morris JK, Jordan RE. Value of low dose combination treatment with blood pressure lowering drugs: analysis of 354 randomised trials. BMJ 2003;326:1427–34.OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text 
 
 Q What is the safety and efficacy of different doses and combinations of 5 main categories of blood pressure (BP) lowering drugs? Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ Internal medicine ★★★★★★☆ Data sources: Medline (1966–2000; extended to 2001 for studies of angiotensin II receptor blockers [ARBs]), Cochrane Library, and Web of Science database; bibliographies of relevant studies; and pharmaceutical companies. Study selection and assessment: randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trials that examined change in BP in relation to a specified fixed dose of any thiazide, β blocker, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, ARB, or calcium channel blocker. Studies were excluded if duration was <2 weeks; most participants were black; or patients had heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, or other cardiovascular disorders. Outcomes: BP reductions and adverse effects. 354 trials (median duration 4 wk) met the selection criteria. The trials included 791 treatment groups (219 in crossover and 572 in parallel group … ER -