Key result
Multiple drug regimens were the mainstay of therapy (67.69%), with two-drug combinations being the most prevalent (46.92%), followed by monotherapy (32.3%).
Why the study?
The study was conducted to assess prescribing patterns of antihypertensive agents and observe disparities between recommended and actual pharmacological management practices at a tertiary care hospital.
Cross-Sectional (n=390)
No
The study demonstrates that antihypertensive prescribing patterns at a tertiary care hospital in India are rational, predominantly utilizing combination therapy in adherence to JNC VIII guidelines.
Supports guideline-concordant combination therapy in this Indian tertiary setting; leaves open broader generalizability from Level 4 cross-sectional data.
Background: Hypertension is the most common modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, stroke and renal failure. Drug utilization research facilitates the rational use of drugs and provides an insight into the pattern of drug use. As such, the present study was conducted to assess the prescribing patterns of antihypertensive agents and to observe the disparity between the recommended and actual practices for pharmacological management of hypertension at a tertiary care hospital.Methods: A prospective, observational and cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Pharmacology in collaboration with Department of Medicine in a tertiary healthcare hospital. As per inclusion criteria, patients with hypertension visiting Medicine OPD from 1st October 2018 to 31st December 2018 were enrolled in the study.Results: A total of 390 prescriptions were collected. It was observed that majority of the study patients were female (53.84%) and were >60 years of age. Average number of drugs prescribed per prescription was 4.18. Multiple drug regimen (67.69%) was the mainstay therapy in our study. Prevalence of two drug combination was the highest (46.92%) followed by monotherapy (32.3%). Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) (amlodipine) was the most frequently prescribed class in monotherapy (19.23%). In two drug regimens, the combination of CCB with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) (combination of amlodipine and enalapril) was prescribed the most (28.46%) whereas prescription of combination of ACEI, beta-blocker (BB) and CCB (enalapril, atenolol and amlodipine combination) was the highest (13.84%) in three drug regimens.Conclusions: The prescription pattern of antihypertensive drugs was found to be rational and mainly in accordance with Joint National Committee VIII guidelines. All the drugs were prescribed by their generic names which suggests awareness among prescribers regarding WHO policies for generic prescribing.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Mishra et al. (2020) conducted a cross-sectional in Hypertension (n=390). Antihypertensive drugs was evaluated on Prescribing patterns of antihypertensive agents. Multiple drug regimens were the mainstay of therapy (67.69%), with two-drug combinations being the most prevalent (46.92%), followed by monotherapy (32.3%).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: