Hypertension trial results: consensus and conflicts.
In severe and accelerated hypertension the benefits of treatment are clearcut. In patients < 60 years of age with mild hypertension the main benefit is reduction of stroke by about 40%. The death rate from stroke is declining in many affluent countries for reasons which can only be partly explained by mass treatment of hypertension. In the MRC trial in patients < 60 years old it took 2500 patient/years of treatment to save one stroke. If the number of strokes is declining for other reasons the number of patient/years to save one stroke may be increasing. In older patients the absolute benefit is greater because they suffer more stroke events and because treatment also reduces coronary events.
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006974:Hypertension, Malignant / Q000188:drug therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents