Thiazide and Thiazide-like Diuretics reduce morbidity outcomes and withdrawal symptoms in Hypertension

New research revealed that Thiazide and thiazide-like drugs reduced cardiovascular events, morbidity outcomes, and withdrawal due to various adverse effects compared to beta‐blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, and alpha‐blockers. The study was published in the journal Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 

Different first-line medication classes for patients with hypertension are frequently thought to have comparable efficacy in lowering blood pressure and reducing mortality and morbidity outcomes. When compared to a placebo or no treatment, first-line low-dose thiazide diuretics have previously been proven to have the best mortality and morbidity evidence. So, researchers compared Thiazides and other blood pressure-lowering medication classes side by side to see whether there were any significant differences. The effects of thiazide-diuretic drugs were compared with other classes of antihypertensive drugs on mortality, morbidity, and withdrawals due to adverse effects in patients with hypertension. 

The information specialist for Cochrane Hypertension looked through the trial registers, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Embase up until March 2021. To find other research, references and contacted study authors were also checked. In June 2022, a top-up search of the Specialised Register was conducted. Randomized active comparison trials that lasted at least a year were included. A first-line diuretic (thiazide, thiazide-like, or loop diuretic) was compared to another first-line drug class in clinical trials, such as beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, alpha-adrenergic blockers, angiotensin II receptor blockers, direct renin inhibitors, or other antihypertensive drug classes. The following mortality and morbidity outcomes were measured in studies: