Initial antihypertensive therapy: What are the current drugs of choice?

The goal of antihypertensive treatment, in addition to lowering blood pressure, is to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Until recently, however, only conventional treatment with diuretics and β-blockers had been studied in terms of cardiovascular end points. In this article, Dr Yeun reviews the results of recent trials comparing these agents with other classes of antihypertensive drugs. She examines the confounding elements in the trials, provides an interpretation of study results, and suggests a practical approach to initial treatment of uncomplicated hypertension.