The blood pressure arm of the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial (ASCOT) compared treatment with atenolol and bendroflumethiazide against amlodipine and perindopril. This trial has been terminated early due to the emergence of significant benefits in the latter arm. Preliminary data from this trial, presented at the American College of Cardiology's 2005 meeting, are summarised and their implications for UK clinical practice are discussed.
Williams B., Poulter NR, Brown MJ et al. Guidelines for management of hypertension: report of the fourth working party of the British Hypertension Society, 2004-BHS IV. J Hum Hypertens2004;18:139-85.
2.
Primatesta P. , Brookes M., Poulter NRImproved hypertension management and control: results from the health survey for England 1998. Hypertension2001;38:827-32.
3.
Brown MJ, Cruickshank JK, Dominiczak AF et al. Better blood pressure control: how to combine drugs. J Hum Hypertens2003;17:81-6.
4.
National institute for clinical excellence.Hypertension clinical guidelines, 18 August 2004. www.nice.org.uk
5.
Kizer JR, Dahlof B., Kjeldsen SE et al. Stroke reduction in hypertensive adults with cardiac hypertrophy randomized to losartan versus atenolol: the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension study. Hypertension2005;45:46-52.
6.
Petrie J., Kirby M.Too much of a good thing: 2004 guidance from NICE and BHS-IV on hypertension in diabetes. Br J Diabetes Vasc Dis2004;4: 365-8.
7.
Turnbull F.; Blood pressure lowering treatment trialists' collaboration. Effects of different BP lowering regimens on major cardiovascular events: results of prospectively designed overviews of randomised trials. Lancet2003;362:1527-35.
Department of Health.National Service Framework for diabetes: standards. http://www.doh.gov.uk/nsf/diabetes/index.htm
10.
New JP, Mason JM, Freemantle N. et al. Specialist nurse-led intervention to treat and control hypertension and hyperlipidemia in diabetes (SPLINT): a randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Care2003;26:2250-5.
