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This book is aimed at patients with hypertension and health care professionals
who require an update on its current therapeutic management. The book
is nicely illustrated and well referenced. Each chapter contains summaries
and key points are highlighted on each page. It is a helpful read for
pharmacists who are contemplating development of clinical services for
hypertensive patients.
The book opens with an overview covering the epidemiology and aetiology
of the condition together with diagnostic criteria according to current
clinical guidelines. This information is then translated in an abbreviated
section for the lay reader. The next chapter provides a brief overview
of the current treatment options for hypertension and, again, there is
a section directed towards patients although this is situated towards
the end of the book.
The bulk of the text, not surprisingly, focuses on the seven angiotensin
2 receptor antagonists available in the UK. Each chapter follows the
same format and, as a result, is slightly repetitive. Although a glossary
is available, this book is likely to be challenging read for most patients.
All available clinical trial data (phase I to phase IV) are examined
together with tables itemising this information; for losartan alone this
constitutes 27 pages of tables. It may have been more expedient just
to focus on head-to-head trials since the sections on morbidity and mortality
for these are undoubtedly valuable and guide the reader to the place
in therapy of the individual agents.
The last section of the book concentrates on methods to improve clinical
practice, with regard to diagnosis and effective treatment. It has an
accompanying patient section.
Fiona Reid (a primary care pharmacist who runs cardiovascular risk reduction
clinics in Edinburgh) |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal