New requirements and perspectives in initial drug selection for hypertension

The initial choice of an antihypertensive drug therapy must be made carefully in order to improve upon the currently inadequate management of hypertension. At the same time, the choices should be based on the strongest objective evidence, which is primarily data from large-scale placebo-controlled randomized trials. The recommendations offered in the sixth report of the U.S. Joint National Committee and the 1999 World Health Organization - International Society of Hypertension Guidelines appear to meet the current criteria for correct choices of initial therapy.