TY - JOUR T1 - Review: low dose diuretics are the best first line antihypertensive treatment JF - Evidence Based Medicine JO - Evid Based Med SP - 12 LP - 12 DO - 10.1136/ebm.9.1.12 VL - 9 IS - 1 A2 - , Y1 - 2004/01/01 UR - http://ebm.bmj.com/content/9/1/12.abstract N2 - Psaty BM, Lumley T, Furberg CD, et al. Health outcomes associated with various antihypertensive therapies used as first-line agents: a network meta-analysis. JAMA 2003;289:2534–44.OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science 
 
 Q In patients with hypertension, how do low dose diuretics compare with other antihypertensive agents as first line treatment in preventing major cardiovascular disease (CVD) endpoints? Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ Internal medicine ★★★★★☆☆ Cardiology ★★★★★★☆ Data sources: Medline (1995–2002), previous meta-analyses, and journal reviews. Study selection and assessment: randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating major CVD endpoints in hypertensive patients treated with placebo, diuretics, β blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, or α blockers. Outcomes: coronary heart disease (CHD) (fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction and CHD death); fatal and nonfatal stroke; fatal and nonfatal congestive heart failure (CHF); CVD events (CHD, stroke, CHF, and other CVD mortality); and total mortality. Analysis was done using network meta-analysis, which … ER -