Cardiovascular Disease
Hypertension
Confusing Messages from the Hypertension Treatment Trials: Whom and What Should
You Believe?
Several major controversial issues impact the physician's approach to the management of hypertension (HTN). This symposium will review and critique some of these.
The use of beta blockers (BBs) in the management of hypertension (HTN) has been questioned. Placebo-controlled data suggest that the use of these agents lowers blood pressure and reduces stroke. Head-to-head trials suggest that they do so but to a lesser degree than other antihypertensive agents. BBs are less effective than diuretics or agents that interfere with the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the elderly, but they clearly reduce morbidity/mortality in patients with angina, coronary heart disease, or chronic heart failure. Should BBs continue to be included as initial monotherapy in national recommendations? learn more
