What was the outcome of the meta-analysis of the 25 trials of antihypertensive therapy for patients with prevalent CVD?
The meta-analysis of the 25 trials of antihypertensive therapy for patients with prevalent CVD showed that patients receiving antihypertensive medications had a pooled risk ratio (RR) for stroke of 0.77 (95% CI, 0.61 0.98) compared with control subjects. Additionally, the meta-analysis of 13 trials involving 80594 individuals found that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) therapy reduced the risk of a composite primary outcome including stroke by 11%, without variability by base. There was also a significant reduction in fatal and nonfatal strokes (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.86 0.97). Non ACEI/ ARB therapies were allowed, but meta-regression analyses provided evidence that the benefits were not due solely to BP reductions during the trial.