Why the study?
Do angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) provide superior stroke prevention compared to other antihypertensive agents?
Do angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) provide superior stroke prevention compared to other antihypertensive agents?
ARBs may offer vascular protective effects beyond blood pressure lowering, making them a promising option for stroke prevention.
Should not yet change antihypertensive choices for stroke prevention; leaves open need for RCTs confirming ARB benefits beyond BP lowering.
The importance of blood pressure control in stroke prevention is supported by a large body of clinical evidence. However, it is not known which antihypertensive agents are most effective in preventing stroke. As stroke is characterised by vascular remodelling and dysfunction and by effects on the cerebral circulation, selecting an agent that has a direct vascular protective effect beyond blood pressure control may be desirable. Results with the angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in clinical trials (LIFE and SCOPE) support the findings in animal models that ARBs may be a promising therapeutic option for prevention of stroke and possibly, cognitive decline.
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Shokei Kim (2003) studied this question.
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