ASCOT: a tale of two treatment regimens: Don't lose your head over ASCOT

doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7523.1022

BMJ 2005;331:1022 (29 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7523.1022

Letter

ASCOT: a tale of two treatment regimens

Don't lose your head over ASCOT

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—McDougall et al reviewed the evidence from ASCOT(the Anglo Scandinavian cardiac outcomes trial).¹ For patientswith hypertension and for the clinicians helping to manage theirblood pressure this must be the best of times and the worstof times. The best of times—currently we have a wealthof clinical trials on the management of blood pressure, givingus a mass of data, statistics and information to absorb. Theworst of times—whenever a new trial is published, theheadlines are presented as though the paper gives the missingclue to a previously unsolvable riddle. Often the media arealerted, and unhelpful and simplistic messages are broadcastto the nation.

ASCOT merely adds to our understanding of the importance ofmanaging blood pressure effectively. It does not cancel outthe key trials of the past. In the same way ALLHAT gives anindication of the benefit of diuretics in . . . [Full text of this article]

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David G Phizackerley, prescribing team manager

Western Sussex Primary Care Trust, Chichester PO19 6FX david.phizackerley@wsx-pct.nhs.uk