A Puzzling Blood Pressure Drug Finding

“A study of recommended blood pressure drugs has produced a result even the researchers find hard to explain: Adding a calcium channel blocker to a diuretic was associated with an increase in deaths but not an increase in incidence of stroke or coronary events such as heart attacks.”

I’m not sure why JAMA keeps publishing these second-tier observational studies. All they do is create confusion and hype-based headlines in the media. A couple of points:

1) Again, this is observational data and hardly the type of study to draw firm conclusions. A prospective, randomized trial would be better suited.

2) I have written previously that calcium-channel blockers (i.e. Norvasc, diltiazem, and verapamil) are second-line medications anyways. If the study were to have any influence, it would be further reason to consider options other than this class of drug.

The abstract is found here. Medpundit also opines on the study.

Update:

Dr. Centor with his take.

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