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A large study has refuted claims that taking blood pressure medication in the evening is more beneficial than in the morning.
The study, which involved more than 21,000 patients, found that there was no meaningful difference in rates of hospitalisation for heart attack, stroke and vascular death between people who took their medication in the morning and those who took it in the evening.
The authors of the study say this should reassure patients that they can take their medication when it suits them.
Study used NHS data to deliver the trial at a reduced cost
The TIME trial, the largest study to date on the issue, was supported by the by the British and Irish Hypertension Society and the National Institute for Health Research in the UK, and funded by the British Heart Foundation.
The researchers analysed NHS data from patients taking at least one antihypertensive medication. Participants were recruited via email and asked to provide consent to take part in the study.
The participants were then randomised one-to-one to take their usual antihypertensive medication in the morning or the evening.
The study team compared rates of hospitalisations due to non-fatal heart attack or non-fatal stroke, and vascular death, between the two groups.
One of these events occurred in 362 (3.4%) participants in the evening dosing group (0.69 events per 100 patient years) and 390 (3.7%) in the morning dosing group (0.72 events per 100 patient years). There was therefore no significant difference between the two groups.
Important news for the millions of people in the UK who take blood pressure medication
Professor Williams, who is also President-Elect of the International Society of Hypertension, said the study’s results provide a definitive answer to the much-asked question of whether there is any benefit to taking blood pressure tablets in the evening compared to the morning.
“The answer is no,” he said. “Patients should take their tablets when they are most likely to remember to take them; the timing does not matter.”
Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, which funded the study, said: “This is important news for the millions of people in the UK who take medication to lower their blood pressure.
“High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. We know that effective treatment with blood pressure lowering medication is vital to reduce this risk. These results show that the time of the day people take their blood pressure tablets does not matter and they should take them at the time that suits them best.”