Objective: Our group of 7 reviewers are conducting 10 systematic reviews in order to determine the effects of the major classes of antihypertensive drugs (alpha blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, loop diuretics, thiazide diuretics, nitrates) on blood pressure reduction and withdrawals due to adverse events, in various clinical settings. Similar trial inclusion criteria and methods of analysis are being used to develop these reviews in a concerted fashion. This family of systematic reviews aims to assist clinicians in choosing appropriate pharmacological interventions and doses to lower blood pressure efficiently. Our approach exemplifies the Cochrane principles of collaboration and building on the enthusiasm of individuals.

Methods: At a weekly forum involving all reviewers, methodologies, difficulties and critical issues associated with each review are discussed and resolved by consensus. This process maximizes transparency, openness, and cooperation.

Results: The advantages of being involved in such a collaborative setting are manifold. The reviews have been carried out in a staggered fashion and our methodologies have evolved as new members have joined at different stages. As a group we have developed a common search strategy with higher yield compared with the standard Cochrane search. We have also established appropriate time windows for extracting data from studies, a hierarchy for imputing standard deviations of blood pressure changes, and the necessity of a placebo group in determining the dose-response of individual drugs. Data verification is also streamlined by developing standardized templates and cohesive partnerships.

Conclusions: In a collaborative group setting, performing systematic reviews of different drug classes using the same outcomes is an efficient and beneficial process.