Key result
Older patients aged 70 years or above were significantly more likely to switch from beta-blockers to another antihypertensive drug within 180 days compared to patients under 50 years (AOR 1.82).
Cohort (n=19,177)
Yes
Odds Ratio: 1.82 (95% CI 1.46–2.26)
Absolute Event Rate: 5% vs 3%
p-value: p=<0.001
Older age and being a new clinic visitor are significant predictors of early switching from beta-blockers to other antihypertensive agents in Chinese primary care patients.
May warrant closer monitoring for older patients starting beta-blockers; leaves open whether age-targeted strategies improve persistence.
BACKGROUND: Beta-blocker drugs are commonly used in family practice and studies showed that they were the most popularly prescribed medications among all antihypertensive agents. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with medication switching from a beta-blocker to another antihypertensive drug among Chinese patients. METHODS: We used a validated database which consisted of the demographic and clinical information of all Chinese patients prescribed a beta-blocker from any public, family practice clinics between 01 Jan 2004 to 30 June 2007 in one large Territory of Hong Kong. The proportion of patients switched from beta-blockers to another antihypertensive agent 180 days within their first prescription was studied, and the factors associated with medication switching were evaluated by using multivariate regression analyses. RESULTS: From 19,177 eligible subjects with a mean age of 59.1 years, 763 (4.0%) were switched from their beta-blockers within 180 days of commencing therapy. A binary logistic regression model used medication switching as the outcome variable and controlled for age, gender, socioeconomic status, clinic setting (general out-patient clinics, family medicine specialist clinic or staff clinics), district of residence, visit type (new vs. follow-up attendance), the number of concomitant co-morbidities, and the calendar year of prescription. It was found that older patients (age 50-59 years: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.38, 95% C.I. 1.12-1.70; p = 0.002; age 60-69 years: AOR 1.63 95% C.I. 1.30-2.04, p < 0.001; age ≥ 70 years: AOR 1.82, 95% C.I. 1.46-2.26, p < 0.001; referent age < 50 years) and new visitors (AOR 0.57, 95% C.I. 0.48-0.68, p < 0.001) were more likely to have their medication switched. CONCLUSIONS: Closer monitoring of the medication taking behavior among the older patients and the new clinic visitors prescribed a beta-blocker is warranted. Future studies should evaluate the reasons of drug switching.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Wong et al. (2011) conducted a cohort in Hypertension (n=19,177). Age ≥ 70 years vs. Age < 50 years was evaluated on Medication switching from a beta-blocker to another antihypertensive drug within 180 days (AOR 1.82, 95% CI 1.46-2.26, p=<0.001). Older patients aged 70 years or above were significantly more likely to switch from beta-blockers to another antihypertensive drug within 180 days compared to patients under 50 years (AOR 1.82).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: