Fifty years of thiazide diuretic therapy for hypertension.
BACKGROUND
The use of thiazide diuretics has decreased over the past 30 years despite data from many well-controlled clinical trials demonstrating that the use of these agents as monotherapy or in combination with other antihypertensive agents will reduce blood pressure and decrease cardiovascular as well as cerebrovascular events.


METHODS
We reviewed clinical and experimental data on thiazide diuretics since their introduction in the late 1950s.


RESULTS
The results of thiazide-based therapy in young and old are consistently positive despite concerns about some metabolic changes, eg, insulin resistance or hypokalemia, that may occur.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that these agents are safe, effective, and well tolerated and should continue to be used either as monotherapy or with other medications in the management of hypertension.
Moser
Marvin
M
Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, 13 Murray Hill Rd, Scarsdale, NY 10583, USA. moserbp@aol.com
Feig
Peter U
PU
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors