Meta-Analysis and Bouillabaisse

Letters15 September 1996Meta-Analysis and BouillabaisseWilliam A. Ghali, MD, MPH and Warren Y. Hershman, MD, MPHWilliam A. Ghali, MD, MPHBoston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118Search for more papers by this author and Warren Y. Hershman, MD, MPHBoston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-125-6-199609150-00029 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:In his thoughtful editorial on the recent controversy over calcium channel blockers [1], Dr. Messerli correctly points out that the research methods used in two recent studies on this topic [2, 3] are prone to various biases. Although we agree with the general comments made in the editorial, we make three points about the case–control study by Psaty and colleagues [2].Dr. Messerli states that this study may have been subject to selection bias and that hypertensive patients with coronary artery disease may have been more likely to be treated with calcium antagonists than with diuretics. Psaty ...References1. Messerli FH. Case-control study, meta-analysis, and bouillabaisse: putting the calcium antagonist scare into context [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 1995; 123:888-9. 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. Furberg CD, Psaty BM, Meyer JV. Nifedipine. Dose-related increase in mortality in patients with coronary heart disease. Circulation. 1995; 92:1326-31. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: William A. Ghali, MD, MPH; Warren Y. Hershman, MD, MPHAffiliations: Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byConflict of Interest in the Debate over Calcium-Channel Antagonists 15 September 1996Volume 125, Issue 6 Page: 518-519 Keywords Calcium Calcium channel blocker Cardiovascular diseases Computers Diuretics Myocardial infarction Patient advocacy Stable coronary artery disease ePublished: 15 August 2000 Issue Published: 15 September 1996 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1996 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...