Meta-Analysis and Bouillabaisse

Letters15 September 1996Meta-Analysis and BouillabaisseWilliam M. Tierney, MDWilliam M. Tierney, MDIndiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-125-6-199609150-00030 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:I read with interest the recent editorial by Dr. Messerli [1]. As both a health services researcher-clinical epidemiologist and a practicing general internist, I have found the controversy about calcium channel blockers to be enlightening and frustrating. I strongly agree with Dr. Messerli that controlled studies documenting the safety and efficacy of calcium channel blockers are desperately needed. (It is interesting that such trials have not been done, and yet billions of dollars are spent each year prescribing and marketing these drugs.)I do, however, disagree with two of his other statements. Messerli correctly states that case–control ...References1. Messerli FH. Case-control study, meta-analysis, and bouillabaisse: putting the calcium antagonist scare into context. Ann Intern Med. 1995; 11:888-9. Google Scholar2. Psaty BM, Heckbert SR, Koepsell TD, Siscovick DS, Raghunathan TE, Weiss NS, et al. The risk of myocardial infarction associated with antihypertensive drug therapies. JAMA. 1995; 274:620-5. Google Scholar3. Joint National Committee on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. The Fifth Report of the Joint National Committee on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC V). Arch Intern Med. 1993; 153:154-83. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByStress echocardiography: the long and winding road from meta-analysis to bedsideConflict of Interest in the Debate over Calcium-Channel Antagonists 15 September 1996Volume 125, Issue 6Page: 519KeywordsCalcium channel blockerDrug safetyDrugsEpidemiologyHypertensionMedical servicesMyocardial infarctionPrimary hypertensionSafety studiesTreatment guidelines Issue Published: 15 September 1996 CopyrightCopyright © 1996 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...