Trends in Pharmacologic Management of Hypertension in the United States

Abstract

Use of calcium antagonists and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in hypertension has increased dramatically in the past 10 years. Without convincing evidence of the advantages of these agents, it is difficult to explain the continued decline in the use of less expensive agents, such as diuretics and beta-blockers, which are the only antihypertensive agents proved to reduce stroke and coronary disease in hypertensive patients.