Case-control study, meta-analysis, and bouillabaisse: putting the calcium antagonist scare into context
Article Abstract:
A randomized scientific study of the effect of calcium antagonists on heart patients may resolve questions raised by a case-control study and by a meta-analysis. One case-control study concluded that treatment with calcium antagonists increased the risk of heart attack in patients with heart disease. The news media sensationalized this finding and much confusion and fear resulted. Incorrect conclusions may have been drawn from the case-control study, as study subjects may have had conditions other than hypertension that called for the use of calcium antagonists and that predisposed them to heart attacks. Conclusions of a meta-analysis, which is a combination of the results of many smaller scientific studies, may also be flawed because of different characteristics of patient groups or study designs.
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 1995
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Diabetic and hypertensive heart disease
Article Abstract:
Hypertension may be the cause of heart disease in patients with diabetes. Characterized by high blood pressure, hypertension in combination with diabetes mellitus creates a great structural and functional stress on the heart. Patients with both hypertension and diabetes mellitus could suffer from severe heart diseases such as heart attack, congestive heart failure and sudden cardiac death. Controlling arterial pressure and blood sugar levels may improve or prevent heart disease in diabetics with hypertension.
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 1996
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Should a moratorium be placed on sublingual nifedipine capsules given for hypertensive emergencies and pseudoemergencies?
Article Abstract:
It may be time to abandon the use of sublingual nifedipine to treat hypertensive emergencies. This involves putting a nifedipine capsule under the tongue but studies have shown the drug is not well-absorbed this way. Physicians have been using this technique for about 20 years because it can be done very quickly in a physician's office. However, the FDA has never approved nifedipine for this use and there are many reports in the medical literature of serious side effects.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1996
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