Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39982885›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Comparative efficacy of different antihypertensive drug classes for stroke prevention: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Ding Yu, Jun-Xia Li, Yuan Cheng, Han-Dong Wang, Xin-di Ma, Tao Ding, Zhong-Ning Zhu

Expression of concernAbstract readComparative StudyNetwork Meta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It carries an expression of concern. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Ding YuHeart Center, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Jun-Xia LiDepartment of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Yuan ChengDepartment of Pathology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Luquan, Shijiazhuang, China.
Han-Dong WangDepartment of General Surgery, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Xin-di MaUndergraduate of Clinical Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Tao DingDepartment of Pathology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Luquan, Shijiazhuang, China.
Zhong-Ning ZhuDepartment of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.ORCID 0000-0002-0281-3545

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe study aimed to compare the effectiveness of various antihypertensive drugs in preventing strokes in hypertensive patients.

methodsWe conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the efficacy of antihypertensive drugs in stroke prevention from inception until April 2023. A network meta-analysis in a Bayesian framework was performed using the random-effects model.

resultsThis study included 88 RCTs involving 487,076 patients to investigate the effects of antihypertensive drugs in preventing stroke. Among these trials, 58 RCTs specifically focused on comparing the impact of such drugs on hypertensive subjects. In overall population, Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEIs), Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), Calcium channel blockers (CCBs), and Diuretics (DIs) demonstrated superiority over placebo in in reducing stroke, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality. CCBs and DIs outperformed β adrenergic receptor blockers (BBs), ACEIs, and ARBs in stroke reduction. However, when focusing on hypertensive patients, ACEIs, CCBs, and DIs proved superior to placebo in reducing stroke, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality. ARBs reduced stroke and all-cause mortality but lacked efficacy in reducing cardiovascular mortality. Of the various CCB subclasses, only the Dihydropyridines displayed efficacy in preventing stroke, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality. Among diuretic subclasses, thiazide-type DIs exhibited no efficacy in preventing all-cause mortality. ACEIs+CCBs were more effective than ACEIs or ARBs monotherapy in reducing stroke, more effective than ACEIs, ARBs, CCBs, or DIs monotherapy in reducing all-cause mortality, and more effective than ARBs in reducing cardiovascular mortality.

conclusionThese findings suggest that ACEIs, dihydropyridine CCBs, and thiazide-like diuretics may provide superior prevention against stroke, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality in hypertensive patients. Combinations of ACEIs and CCBs may provide enhanced protection of stroke than ACEIs or ARBs monotherapy.

Indexed as

Antihypertensive AgentsHypertensionStrokeAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme InhibitorsAngiotensin Receptor AntagonistsBayes TheoremCalcium Channel BlockersDiureticsHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme InhibitorsAngiotensin Receptor AntagonistsAntihypertensive AgentsCalcium Channel BlockersDiuretics

Identifiers

PMID39982885
PMCPMC11845040

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.