title: Hypertension, the changing pattern of drug usage.
abstract: Gradually the pattern of use of antihypertensive drug agents has changed, from prime use of diuretics and beta-blockers, to preference for the inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system and the calcium channel blockers. In assessing the value of potentially conflicting evidence, attention should be paid to the hierarchy of evidence, which works its way up through 10 steps from isolated case reports to integrated knowledge.
authors.affiliation: Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Department of Medicine, Chris Barnard Building, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory. Lionel.Opie@uct.ac.za
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Opie
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013019:South Africa; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004232:Diuretics