Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors vs Other Antihypertensives in Hypertensive Blacks: A Meta-Analysis

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors vs other antihypertensive agents on cardiovascular outcomes in hypertensive black patients. The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that compared the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) with calcium channel blockers (CCBs), diuretics, and β-blockers in hypertensive black patients on cardiovascular outcomes. A total of 38,983 patients with a mean age of 60 years and mean follow-up of 4 years were included in our meta-analysis. No significant differences were found in all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and cardiovascular mortality rates among patients treated with RAS inhibitors compared with CCBs, diuretics, and β-blockers. The incidence of stroke was significantly increased in patients treated with RAS inhibitors compared with CCBs (odds ratio, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-1.87 [P<.00001]; I² =0%) and diuretics (odds ratio, 1.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-2.17 [P=.004]; I² =56%) but not β-blockers.