Diuretics are preferred first-line over CCBs to optimize reduction of cardiovascular events .
The review does not distinguish between CCBs , ACE inhibitors or ARBs , but does provide evidence supporting the use of CCBs over beta-blockers .
BACKGROUND Calcium channel blockers ( CCBs ) are a relatively new antihypertensive class .
The effect of first-line CCBs on the prevention of cardiovascular events , as compared with other antihypertensive drug classes , is unknown .
OBJECTIVES To determine whether CCBs used as first-line therapy for hypertension are different from other first-line drug classes in reducing the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events .
Progress report on the Nordic diltiazem study (NORDIL): an outcome study in hypertensive patients.
NORDIL -- the Nordic Diltiazem Study (NORDIL)--is a prospect i ve , r and omized , open blinded-endpoint ( PROBE ) , multicenter , parallel-group morbidity/mortality outcome study in hypertensive patients design ed to compare an intervention strategy based on the calcium antagonist diltiazem with a strategy based on conventional antihypertensive drug treatment ( diuretics or beta-adrenergic blockers ) .  Patient recruitment was started in Norway and Sweden in September 1992 , and ended on December 15 , 1996 , when 10.896 male and female patients , aged 50 - 74 years , with essential hypertension had been r and omized . In this paper we describe the baseline data of the patient cohort and blood pressures achieved in the two treatment groups during the early part of the study . The patient cohort consists of 5294 males and 5602 females with a mean age of 59.6 and 60.3 years , respectively . Concomitant disorders and risk factors in the cohort are : smoking 22 % , ischemic heart disease 3.0 % , previous myocardial infa rct ion ( MI ) 2.0 % , previous stroke 1.5 % , diabetes mellitus 7.0 % , and renal impairment 0.3 % . There were no differences between the treatment groups in these respects . The blood pressure treatment goal is a target diastolic blood pressure of < or = 90 mmHg or a 10 % diastolic blood pressure reduction from the inclusion pressure . In the treatment group r and omized to a diltiazem-based treatment strategy , blood pressure was 174/106 mmHg at baseline and 156/90 mmHg after 12 months of follow-up on active treatment . In the group r and omized to a conventional treatment strategy , baseline blood pressure at r and omization was 173/106 mmHg and 153/90 mmHg after 12 months on active therapy . The NORDIL study will terminate on October 31 , 1999 and the final results should be available by mid-2000
Diuretics are preferred first-line over CCBs to optimize reduction of cardiovascular events .
The review does not distinguish between CCBs , ACE inhibitors or ARBs , but does provide evidence supporting the use of CCBs over beta-blockers .
BACKGROUND Calcium channel blockers ( CCBs ) are a relatively new antihypertensive class .
The effect of first-line CCBs on the prevention of cardiovascular events , as compared with other antihypertensive drug classes , is unknown .
OBJECTIVES To determine whether CCBs used as first-line therapy for hypertension are different from other first-line drug classes in reducing the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events .