Table 2.
Efficacy: average reductions* in blood pressure over 24 hours (treated minus placebo) according to category of drug and dose
|
Fall in blood pressure (mm Hg) (95% CI)
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category of drug† | Half standard dose | Standard dose | Twice standard dose | Half standard v standard: proportional difference (%) |
| Systolic blood pressure | ||||
| Category: | ||||
| Thiazides | 7.4 (6.6 to 8.2) | 8.8 (8.3 to 9.4) | 10.3 (9.4 to 11.2) | 16 |
| β blockers | 7.4 (6.6 to 8.3) | 9.2 (8.6 to 9.9) | 11.1 (10.2 to 12.0) | 20 |
| ACE inhibitors | 6.9 (6.1 to 7.8) | 8.5 (7.9 to 9.0) | 10.0 (9.5 to 10.4) | 19 |
| Angiotensin II receptor antagonists | 7.8 (7.1 to 8.6) | 10.3 (9.9 to 10.8) | 12.3 (11.7 to 12.8) | 24 |
| Calcium channel blockers | 5.9 (5.2 to 6.6) | 8.8 (8.3 to 9.2) | 11.7 (11.0 to 12.3) | 33 |
| All categories: average | 7.1 (6.8 to 7.5) | 9.1 (8.8 to 9.3) | 10.9 (10.7 to 11.2) | 22 |
| Diastolic blood pressure | ||||
| Category: | ||||
| Thiazides | 3.7 (3.2 to 4.2) | 4.4 (4.0 to 4.8) | 5.0 (4.4 to 5.7) | 16 |
| β blockers | 5.6 (5.0 to 6.2) | 6.7 (6.2 to 7.1) | 7.8 (7.1 to 8.4) | 16 |
| ACE inhibitors | 3.7 (3.2 to 4.2) | 4.7 (4.4 to 5.0) | 5.7 (5.4 to 6.0) | 21 |
| Angiotensin II receptor antagonists | 4.5 (4.2 to 4.8) | 5.7 (5.4 to 6.0) | 6.5 (6.2 to 6.8) | 21 |
| Calcium channel blockers | 3.9 (3.5 to 4.4) | 5.9 (5.6 to 6.2) | 7.9 (7.5 to 8.3) | 34 |
| All categories: average | 4.4 (4.2 to 4.6) | 5.5 (5.4 to 5.7) | 6.5 (6.3 to 6.7) | 20 |
ACE=angiotensin coverting enzyme.
*
Estimates are average over 24 hours from combining separate peak and trough estimates.
†
Examples of standard daily dose of one drug in each category: bendroflumethazide 2.5 mg, atenolol 50 mg, lisinopril 10 mg, valsartan 80 mg, amlodipine 5 mg. See www.smd.qmul.ac.uk/wolfson/bpchol for standard doses of all drugs.