Between 2011 and 2024, the number of treated hypertensive patients in the Czech Republic increased by 33% to 2,265,658, with a substantial rise in the use of fixed drug combinations.
Observational (n=2,265,658)
Yes
Nationwide data from the Czech Republic shows a growing prevalence of treated hypertension and an increasing adoption of fixed-dose combination therapies, though monotherapy remains common.
Objective: Arterial hypertension is an important health risk factor. To achieve blood pressure control, most patients require combination therapy of two or more drugs. The aim of this study was to analyse the trends in treatment of arterial hypertension in the Czech Republic during the past one and half decades. Design and method: Nationwide data on all patients treated for arterial hypertension in the period 2011-2024 in the Czech Republic were obtained from the National Registry of Reimbursable Health Services (NRHZS). Patients who received the diagnosis I10 code as primary or secondary diagnosis during hospitalization or outpatient care within this period and were prescribed any antihypertensive drug from selected ATC groups (C02, C03, C07, C08, C09, C10BX) were classified as treated arterial hypertension. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the outcomes. Results: The total number of patients with treated hypertension increased from 1,749,887 in 2011 to 2,265,658 in 2024 (+33%). Number of patients treated per 100,000 inhabitants increased in this period from 16,671 to 20,812 (20.8%). 51% were women, mean age was 69 ± 13 years, 59.8% patients were above 65 years of age. Most antihypertensive drugs (75%) were prescribed by general practitioners, followed by 10% by internists, 10% by cardiologists, and 5% by other specialists. Use of all 4 major groups of antihypertensive drugs increased with time (please see the Figure).23.6% of patients were treated by a single drug. Proportion of fixed drug combinations use substantially increased in ACE-inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (40.1% in 2011 to 59.5% in 2024) and calcium channel blockers (21.4% to 63.3%), but slightly declined in diuretics (69.2% to 66.7%) and remained low in beta-blockers (3.1% to 6.7%). Conclusions: Hypertension is a common and growing problem among the population of the Czech Republic. Proportion of fixed drug combinations use increases, but significant numbers or patients are still being treated by monotherapy.
Václavík et al. (Fri,) conducted a observational in Arterial hypertension (n=2,265,658). Antihypertensive pharmacotherapy was evaluated on Trends in treatment of arterial hypertension. Between 2011 and 2024, the number of treated hypertensive patients in the Czech Republic increased by 33% to 2,265,658, with a substantial rise in the use of fixed drug combinations.