Conclusions
Available data from controlled clinical trials comparing different drug classes seem to indicate a similar benefit in preventing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients. Although some differences in secondary end-points were detected, the overall benefit of various antihypertensive regimens seems to be linked to the extent of BP reduction. The cost of antihypertensive drugs (cost minimisation) is not an overwhelming consideration until cost-benefit analyses are correctly performed. Moreover, although the cost of drugs should be taken into account both for individual patients and for the health provider, cost considerations should not predominate over those of efficacy and tolerability in individual patients.
We therefore believe that liberality of choice among various antihypertensive drugs could offer an appropriate possibility of selecting the right drug for the right patient in order to achieve BP control, a goal which often requires rational combinations of antihypertensive drugs.
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Salvetti, A., Ghiadoni, L., Salvetti, G. (2005). Guidelines for Antihypertensive Treatment: The Debate on the Choice of Antihypertensive Drugs. In: Gulizia, M.M. (eds) Emerging Pathologies in Cardiology. Springer, Milano . https://doi.org/10.1007/88-470-0341-5_7
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