| Intervention | Accepted reasons for non-use* |
| ACEI or ARB | Serum creatinine >200 µmol/l; serum potassium >5 mmol/l; symptomatic hypotension; systolic blood pressure <110 mm Hg; documented or suspected bilateral renal artery stenosis |
| Beta blockers | Symptomatic hypotension; systolic blood pressure <110 mm Hg; bradycardia heart rate <60 bpm; 2nd- or 3rd-degree heart block without pacemaker; severe asthma; moderate-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; uncompensated cardiac failure |
| Spironolactone | Serum creatinine >140 µmol/l; creatinine clearance <30 mL/min; serum potassium >5 mmol/l; serum creatinine and potassium monitoring not feasible |
| Salt restriction | Symptomatic hypotension; systolic blood pressure <110 mm Hg |
| Aspirin | Bleed; concurrent warfarin therapy; other antiplatelet therapy |
| Ramipril | serum creatinine >200 µmol/l; serum potassium >5 mmol/l; symptomatic hypotension; systolic blood pressure <110 mm Hg; documented or suspected bilateral renal artery stenosis; patient on ARB if ACEI intolerance documented |
| Statins | Active liver disease; unexplained persistent elevation of serum transaminases (3× normal) |
| Warfarin | Bleed; thrombocytopenia purpura; intracranial haemorrhage; haemorrhagic stroke; leukaemia |
| Bisphosphonate + calcium + vitamin D | Hormone-replacement therapy; raloxifene; serum calcium >2.55 mmol/l or <2.20 mmol/l; creatinine clearance <30 ml/min; delayed oesophageal emptying; inability to sit upright postdosing |
*Allergy, previous adverse drug reaction or intolerance and patient refusal were accepted for all interventions.
ACEI, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker.