05 Nov Antihypertensive Medications: Tailoring Treatment
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Jeremy Sussman, MD, MS
Division of General Internal Medicine
University of Michigan
Staff Scientist, Center for Clinical Management Research
Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Healthcare System
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Sussman: We could prevent up to 180,000 more heart attacks and strokes in America every year using less medication overall.
MedicalResearch.com: Were any of the findings unexpected?
Dr. Sussman: The amount of benefit was surprising to us. They will likely be unexpected to many clinicians, because we’re recommending a change in how we use blood pressure-lowering medications, which we all use every day.
MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Sussman: A patient’s risk of having a heart attack or stroke is more useful in deciding to use blood pressure medications than their blood pressure alone. This is because high blood pressure is a risk factor for heart attack and stroke, but only one of many.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Sussman: Helping clinicians and patients follow these concepts would be a substantial change to clinical care. Future research should help understand how we can help people understand how to make their preventive choices more effective.
Citation:
Using Benefit-Based Tailored Treatment to Improve the Use of Antihypertensive Medications
Jeremy Sussman, Sandeep Vijan, and Rod Hayward
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Last Updated on March 19, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD