ALLHAT

The Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT)

ALLHAT (http://allhat.sph.uth.tmc.edu/) was the largest antihypertensive trial and the second largest lipid-lowering trial and included large numbers of patients over age 65, women, African-Americans, and patients with diabetes, treated largely in community practice settings. A total of 42,418 patients were enrolled between February 23, 1994 and January 31, 1998. A vanguard phase was conducted in the first half of 1994; the full-scale trial began in the fall of 1994 and continued for eight years, until March 31, 2002. The last participant visit was March 31, 2002. The results of the trial were released December 17, 2002.

Main Messages for Clinicians

The JNC7 report states that the most effective ways to better control blood pressure and reduce CVD risk is for clinicians to:

· Help most patients achieve a blood pressure goal of <140/90>

· Encourage and influence patients to make lifestyle changes.

· To prescribe thiazide-type diuretics for most patients diagnosed with Stage 1 hypertension.

· To prescribe thiazide-type diuretics as part of a multi-drug regimen for most patients with Stage 2 hypertension.

· To add a thiazide-type diuretic to the treatment regimens of most patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

MUST READ :
JNC 7 Express - http://allhat.sph.uth.tmc.edu/Documents/jnc7.pdf
JNC 7 Complete Report - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/hypertension/jnc7full.pdf
FAQs for Clinicians - http://allhat.sph.uth.tmc.edu/Health/HealthFAQClinician.aspx?SubSite=Hlth