Influence of initial angiotensin receptor blockers on treatment persistence in uncomplicated hypertension: A nation-wide population-based study

We identified 55 504 uncomplicated, treatment-naïve hypertensive patients who started angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) in 2012 from national claims data. The proportion of patients remaining on any hypertension treatment at 12 months and the adherence rate were similar between the losartan cohort (66.82% and 68.25%) and the nonlosartan ARB cohort (67.48% and 69.01%). After adjusting for confounding factors, there was no difference in persistence (aHR 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95-1.01) on hypertension treatment between losartan and nonlosartan ARB cohort. Post hoc analysis showed that patients initially prescribed eprosartan, irbesartan (both, aHR 1.33), and telmisartan (aHR 1.11) were more likely to discontinue the initial drug, whereas valsartan initiators (aHR 0.96) were less likely compared with losartan initiators.