Do not treat mild hypertension with low risk for heart disease
New Delhi: Wednesday, 21 November 2012: The benefit from antihypertensive therapy is unproven in patients with mild hypertension and no preexisting cardiovascular disease said Padma Shri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal President heart Care Foundation of India.
A meta-analysis combined four placebo-controlled trials adding together 8912 patients with mild hypertension and no preexisting cardiovascular disease.
Up to 5 years of follow-up, antihypertensive therapy resulted in lower rates of mortality and stroke but higher rates of heart attacks.
Low-risk patients with mild hypertension and no preexisting cardiovascular disease who fail to reduce their blood pressure with lifestyle modification should receive antihypertensive therapy.