Association of antihypertensive agents and blood lipids in a population-based survey.

Clinical trials indicate that many antihypertensive medications alter blood lipids. These lipid changes may be of sufficient magnitude to influence subsequent coronary heart disease rates. We examined this association in a large population sample (N = 15,918, ages 25-74, 12% on antihypertensive medication) surveyed cross-sectionally from 1980 to 1986. Subjects taking antihypertensive medication had a mean serum total cholesterol 4.0 mg per dl higher than those not taking these medications after we adjusted for age, sex, weight, smoking, alcohol, blood pressure, and exercise. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower in the medicated group by 2.5 mg per dl. There was no evidence that the length of medication use was related to lipid levels.