Diuretics Best for Hypertension and Metabolic Syndrome

HealthDay, January, 2008 by Robert Preidt

Diuretics appear to be as good or better than other blood pressure drugs for treating hypertension in patients with metabolic syndrome, especially black patients, according to a U.S. study.

People with hypertension and metabolic syndrome are at high risk for complications of cardiovascular disease.

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Cases Medical Center in Cleveland analyzed data from the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT).

It included 42,418 people with hypertension and at least one other risk factor for cardiovascular disease who were randomly assigned to take either the diuretic chlorthalidone (15,255), the calcium channel blocker amlodipine besylate (9,048), the alpha-blocker...