Heterogeneity was present for several outcomes and was partly related to the class of antihypertensive drugs used ; angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and diuretics separately , and especially together , reduced vascular events , while beta-receptor antagonists had no discernable effect .
Evidence from r and omized controlled trials supports the use of antihypertensive agents in lowering blood pressure for the prevention of vascular events in patients with previous stroke or transient ischemic attack .
Vascular prevention is associated positively with the magnitude by which blood pressure is reduced
BACKGROUND High blood pressure is a risk factor for stroke recurrence .
We assessed the effectiveness of lowering blood pressure in preventing recurrent vascular events in patients with previous stroke or transient ischemic attack .
Randomised trial of treatment of hypertension in elderly patients in primary care.
A r and omised trial of the treatment of hypertension in 884 patients aged 60 to 79 years at the onset showed a reduction of 18/11 mm Hg in blood pressure over a mean follow up period of 4.4 years . The principal antihypertensive agents were atenolol and bendrofluazide . There was a reduction in the rate of fatal stroke in the treatment group to 30 % of that in the control group ( 95 % confidence interval 11 - 84 % , p less than 0.025 ) . The rate of all strokes ( fatal and non-fatal ) in the treatment group was 58 % of that in the control group ( 95 % confidence interval 35 - 96 % , p less than 0.03 ) . The incidence of myocardial infa rct ion and total mortality was unaffected by treatment . Question naires completed by the patients and their relatives failed to identify any differences in symptoms that were likely to be due to treatment
Heterogeneity was present for several outcomes and was partly related to the class of antihypertensive drugs used ; angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and diuretics separately , and especially together , reduced vascular events , while beta-receptor antagonists had no discernable effect .
Evidence from r and omized controlled trials supports the use of antihypertensive agents in lowering blood pressure for the prevention of vascular events in patients with previous stroke or transient ischemic attack .
Vascular prevention is associated positively with the magnitude by which blood pressure is reduced
BACKGROUND High blood pressure is a risk factor for stroke recurrence .
We assessed the effectiveness of lowering blood pressure in preventing recurrent vascular events in patients with previous stroke or transient ischemic attack .