PRINCIPLES FOR CLINICAL EVALUATION OF NEW ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS
GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF EFFICACY
The primary basis of assessment of efficacy of antihypertensive drugs is the effect of
the drug on systolic and diastolic blood pressures. In...
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PRINCIPLES FOR CLINICAL EVALUATION OF NEW ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS
GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF EFFICACY
The primary basis of assessment of efficacy of antihypertensive drugs is the effect of
the drug on systolic and diastolic blood pressures. In the past the primary endpoint
of most studies was diastolic blood pressure. Although all drugs to date have reduced
both systolic and diastolic blood pressures, the recognition of isolated or predominant
systolic hypertension as a significant and remediable risk factor demands explicit
evaluation of the effect of a drug on systolic blood pressure. Many clinical trials of
many interventions (including low and high dose diuretics, reserpine, and betablockers, usually as part of combination therapy) have shown consistent beneficial
effects on long-term mortality and morbidity, most clearly on stroke and less
consistently on cardiovascular events. Whether some drugs or combinations have
better effects than others on overall outcomes or o
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