Might non-pharmacological treatment disadvantage patients with hypertension?

Abstract

Weight reduction, moderate salt restriction and alcohol reduction are effective in lowering blood pressure (BP), and are feasible interventions for long-term management of hypertension. When used in combination these non-pharmacological measures are significantly inferior to drug therapy in anti-hypertensive effect. When they are implemented as a first step in the treatment of mild hypertension, resorting to drug therapy only if non-pharmacological measures fail, anti-hypertensive drugs can be avoided in about 40% of patients. However, BP control is again significantly inferior with this strategy compared with drug therapy without non-pharmacological advice. Those given advice on non-pharmacological measures may therefore have suboptimal protection against cardiovascular complications. This is particularly so when the threshold for drug treatment is set at a DBP of > or = 100 mmHg, as many patients will be left untreated with DBPs between 90 and 99 mm Hg as a result of non-pharmacological measures. Non-pharmacological treatment may thus stand between patients and anti-hypertensive drug therapy, which nowadays is simple, well-tolerated, safe and proven effective in preventing cardiovascular disease. The role of non-pharmacological therapy needs to be reconsidered.

• Authors: L E Ramsay, I U Haq, W W Yeo, P R Jackson
• Journal: Journal of human hypertension (J Hum Hypertens) Vol. 9 Issue 8 Pg. 653-7 (Aug 1995) ISSN: 0950-9240 [Print] England
• PMID: 8523383 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Alcohol Drinking
• Diet, Sodium-Restricted
• Exercise Therapy
• Humans
• Hypertension (diet therapy, drug therapy, therapy)
• Weight Loss