US recommendations: treatment of hypertension in the prevention and management of IHD

This scientific statement is from the American Heart Association Council for High Blood Pressure Research and the Councils on Clinical Cardiology and Epidemiology and Prevention. It summarises the published data relating to the treatment of hypertension in the context of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) prevention and management. The authors pose a number of significant questions relating to the treatment of hypertension to reduce coronary artery disease (CAD), including appropriate target BP levels in different patients, whether effects on blood pressure alone are the most important factor, whether any drug types have particular efficacy in specific circumstances, and which drugs should be used in patients with established CAD. It attempts, on the basis of the best available evidence, to develop guidance that will be appropriate for both blood pressure reduction and the management of CAD in adults, and its main recommendations are summarised in tabular form.

Circulation, published early online 14 May 2007; doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.183885 (link to full text, available free at time of posting)