Among 600 hypertensive patients in private hospitals in Tanzania, the average number of antihypertensives per prescription was 1.6, with diuretics (41%) and beta-blockers (28.5%) most frequently prescribed.
Cross-Sectional (n=600)
Yes
What are the prescribing patterns and costs of antihypertensive drugs in private hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania?
Diuretics are the most commonly prescribed antihypertensives in private hospitals in Dar es Salaam, but drug costs are significantly higher than in government stores, highlighting the need for standard treatment guidelines.
Antihypertensive agents are used to prevent morbidity and mortality related to hypertension. Prescribing patterns and the cost of some antihypertensive were studied for 600 patients attending medical clinics in four private hospitals in Dar es Salaam using the WHO drug use indicator forms. The average number of drugs per prescription ranged from 1.9 to 4.2 while that of antihypertensives varied from 1.3 to 2.1. About 50 % of the prescriptions contained 2 to 3 drugs. The most frequently prescribed antihypertensives were diuretics (41 %), β-blockers (28.5 %), calciumchannel blockers (19.8 %), hydralazine/losartan (18.5 %) and angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors (11.5 %). Antihypertensives prescribed asmonotherapy included atenolol (23.2 %), bendrofluazide (22 %), frusemide (19 %), hydralazine (11.2 %), nifedipine (9.8 %), amlodipine (9.5 %) and enalapril (9.3 %). Among the combination therapy drugs were angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor+diuretic (7 %), β-blocker+diuretic (4 %), calcium channel blocker+losartan (2.3 %), β-blocker+angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (2.2 %), calcium channel blocker+angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (1.8 %) and diuretic+hydralazine (1.7 %). The cost of nifedipine, bendrofluazide and frusemide was about five to six times higher in the private hospitals than at the governmentowned medical stores department. This study reveals a need for continuingeducation and standard treatment guidelines for rational prescribing ofantihypertensive drugs.
Rimoy et al. (Mon,) conducted a cross-sectional in Hypertension (n=600). Antihypertensive prescribing patterns was evaluated on Average number of antihypertensive drugs per prescription. Among 600 hypertensive patients in private hospitals in Tanzania, the average number of antihypertensives per prescription was 1.6, with diuretics (41%) and beta-blockers (28.5%) most frequently prescribed.
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