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 .
Prospective randomized open blinded end-point (PROBE) study. A novel design for intervention trials. Prospective Randomized Open Blinded End-Point.
A novel design for intervention studies is presented , the so called PROBE study ( Prospect i ve R and omized Open , Blinded End-point ) . This design is compared to the classical double-blind design . Among the advantages of the PROBE design are lower cost and greater similarity to st and ard clinical practice , which should make the results more easily applicable in routine medical care . Since end-points are evaluated by a blinded end-point committee it is obvious that there should be no difference between the two types of trials in this regard
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 .