Diuretic therapy for mild hypertension: the "real" cost of treatment.

The benefit of any medical intervention, particularly drug therapy, must be weighed against its cost. These costs are not only dollar expenditures but effects on lifestyle and overall health. Diuretic therapy for hypertension has been in use long enough to allow long-term clinical evaluation. It is clear from the numerous prospective drug intervention trials involving hypertensive patients that diuretic therapy is not free of "costs." Aside from the fact that 15 to 20% of diuretic-treated patients reportedly drop out of trials because of side effects, including exertional dyspnea, fatigability, lethargy and impotence, numerous metabolic derangements have been reported with these drugs, i.e., potassium, uric acid, lipid, sodium, glucose and magnesium alterations. Perhaps most important are the changes in lipid fractions, which may be responsible for the failure of antihypertensive therapy to decrease the risk of coronary heart disease. Thus, although diuretics are somewhat less expensive than other antihypertensive drugs in terms of dollars, their overall costs are high. The major alternatives, such as the alpha-blocker prazosin or the central nervous system agent clonidine, are preferable, do not impair a patient's lifestyle and are recommended to be used along with changes in diet and an exercise program for control of mild to moderate hypertension.