Fig. 5.

Comparison of the effects of blood pressure-lowering treatment based on angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (a) or angiotensin receptor blockers (b) vs. the same blood pressure lowering based on other pharmacological classes on cardiovascular events and on treatment discontinuations for adverse events. The type of cardiovascular events considered was the composite of stroke and coronary heart disease or the composite of stroke, coronary heart disease and heart failure; or cardiovascular death, as indicated. ACEI angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, ARB angiotensin receptor blockers, BB beta-blockers, CA calcium antagonists, CHD coronary heart disease, CI confidence interval, CV cardiovascular, D diuretics, HF heart failure, RR risk ratio.

Redrawn with permission from Thomopoulos C, Parati G, Zanchetti A. Effects of blood-pressure-lowering treatment in hypertension: 9. Discontinuations for adverse events attributed to different classes of antihypertensive drugs: meta-analyses of randomized trials. J Hypertens. 2016;34(10):1921–32. https://journals.lww.com/jhypertension/pages/default.aspx