Characteristics of patients with coronary artery disease and hypertension:A report from ENNEST

In all, 22,599 patients with coexisting hypertension and coronary artery di sease (CAD) from around the world are enrolled in the INternational VErapam il SR/trandolapril STudy (INVEST). As a result, much will be learned regard ing the use of treatment strategies using verapamil SR and atenolol with an d without trandolapril and/or hydrochlororthiazide in patients with hyperte nsion and CAD, all of whom are at high risk for adverse cardiovascular outc omes. This trial will provide meaningful data on optimal treatment strategi es for hypertension, especially among patients who are elderly, have diabet es, have left ventricular hypertrophy, or who are dyslipidemic. This trial will be the first to use Joint National Committee on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNCVI) guidelines as blood pressure goals to determine the relative benefits of a calcium antagonist versus a b eta-blocker strategy in reducing morbidity and mortality. In addition, wome n and Hispanic patients participating in INVEST will provide the largest co ntrolled experience in the management of hypertensive patients with CAD, fa cilitating the development of future guidelines.