Further results of the MRC treatment trial for mild hypertension.

17,354 mildly hypertensive adults with diastolic (v) pressures of 90-109 mm Hg took part in a 5 1/2 year trial in which each was randomized to treatment with either bendrofluazide, propranolol, or placebo. The main results of the trial have been published; they showed stroke benefit but no overall reduction in the incidence of coronary events and no effect on all-cause mortality. Further analyses of the data have shown interesting differences between subgroups of the population, with regard to the effects of the two types of treatment on stroke, on coronary events and on ECG changes. These results, and the effects of interaction between cigarette smoking and the efficacy of these drugs, if confirmed in other studies, should influence the choice of drug therapy for mild hypertension.