What evidence was available to inform a recommendation on antihypertensive drug treatment for people with cardiovascular disease?
The evidence from previous versions of the guideline was reassessed to look at outcomes for people with cardiovascular disease. Only evidence up to 2010 was re-analysed, because the 2019 update did not review evidence for people with cardiovascular disease. There was no difference in clinically relevant outcomes between people with and without cardiovascular disease. Evidence was limited for people with stroke, transient ischaemic attack, or coronary artery disease. This evidence did not cover enough treatment comparisons to allow the committee to draw any firm conclusions. There are NICE guidelines on acute coronary syndromes and chronic heart failure, and these guidelines make recommendations on drug treatment that overlap with treatment for hypertension.