Combination therapy for hypertension in a sample patient

A 63-year-old white woman with uncomplicated hypertension, that is, with no history of angina, myocardial infarction, stroke, angioplasty, coronary artery bypass surgery, or congestive heart failure and no diabetes had been taking a calcium channel blocker in combination with a diuretic as antihypertensive medication. She achieved a systolic blood pressure of below 140 mm Hg on these medications. After a follow-up period of 6 years, she had an increased risk of death from cardiovascular causes compared with women with similar characteristics who had been taking diuretics plus angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or diuretics plus beta blockers.