What do systematic reviews say?

Beta‐blockers vs calcium channel blockers

Beta‐blockers probably leads to higher total stroke compared with calcium‐channel blockers (moderate certainty).

• Beta‐blockers for hypertension 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.24 [1.11, 1.4]
  3 studies · 44167 participants
  Moderate

Beta‐blockers vs renin‐angiotensin system inhibitors

Beta‐blockers probably leads to higher total stroke compared with renin‐angiotensin system inhibitors (moderate certainty).

• Beta‐blockers for hypertension 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.3 [1.11, 1.53]
  2 studies · 9951 participants
  Moderate

Beta‐blockers vs placebo

Beta‐blockers may leads to lower total stroke compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Beta‐blockers for hypertension 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.8 [0.66, 0.96]
  4 studies · 23613 participants
  Low

Beta‐blockers vs diuretics

Beta‐blockers showed no clear difference in total stroke compared with diuretics (low certainty).

• Beta‐blockers for hypertension 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.17 [0.65, 2.09]
  4 studies · 18135 participants
  Low

RAS inhibitors vs beta‐blocker

RAS inhibitors may leads to lower total stroke compared with beta‐blockers (low certainty).

• First‐line drugs inhibiting the renin angiotensin system versus other first‐line antihypertensive drug classes for… 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.75 [0.63, 0.88]
  1 study · 9193 participants
  Low

First‐line thiazides vs beta‐blocker

• First‐line diuretics versus other classes of antihypertensive drugs for hypertension 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 18135 participants
  Low