title: Isolated systolic hypertension: lowering the risk of stroke in older patients. SHEP Cooperative Research Group.
abstract: The Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP) was the first clinical trial to demonstrate the efficacy of low-dose antihypertensive medication in preventing stroke in older individuals with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH). The trial was multicentered, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled and involved 4,736 men and women, black and white, age 60 and over with ISH. Results showed a highly significant 36% reduction in nonfatal plus fatal stroke over 5 years in the group treated with active medication (low-dose chlorthalidone was step one), compared with the placebo group. Nonfatal plus fatal coronary disease and cardiovascular disease were also significantly reduced with antihypertensive medication, by 27% and 32% respectively, and total mortality was lower by 13%.
authors.affiliation: John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Petrovitch
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Berge
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001262:Atenolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002752:Chlorthalidone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D012110:Reserpine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001262:Atenolol; D012110:Reserpine; D002752:Chlorthalidone