USAFP Headlines 
Last Updated:
06/07/2013
Clinical News You Can Use
HCTZ versus Chlorthalidone for Treating Hypertension
Cohort study from Ontario, Canada. 10,000 patients in the chlorthalidone group and 20,000 in the HCTZ group, all age >65y/o. Followed for five years. Outcomes: composite of death from all causes or hospitalization for HF, CVA or MI.
After five years, composite outcomes no different between groups. However, those treated with chlorthalidone had the following increased adjusted hazard ratios (AHR): hypokalemia - 3.06; hyponatremia - 1.68. Consistent across dosing regimens.
THM (take-home message): patients treated with chlorthalidone need to be monitored for and taught about hypokalemia and hyponatremia more closely than those taking HCTZ.
Ann Intern Med 2013 Mar 19; 158:447.
USAFP Quick Links 
Quick links to pages & features that are of interest to most members...
AHLTA 3.3 Information & FAQ's
Annual Meeting Page
Directory/USAFP Officers & Committees
Newsletter Page
Operational Medicine Section
FamMed Education 
PDA & IM/IT Section
Research Page (including Abstract info)
Residency/Fellowship Page
Submit Address Change
This page © copyright 1997-2013 by the Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians, a non-profit organization. Webmaster: Bob Marshall MD MPH MISM, CAPT USN (Ret). In accordance with regulations covering all websites which are not government websites, the Department of Defense has not approved, endorsed, or authorized this web site.