Prescription of beta-blockers was associated with a higher likelihood of antihypertensive drug discontinuation within 180 days compared to thiazide diuretics (aOR 1.67, P<0.001).
Cohort (n=93,286)
No
Are age, gender, and specific antihypertensive drug classes associated with drug discontinuation in Chinese patients?
Younger age, male gender, and beta-blocker use are associated with higher rates of early antihypertensive drug discontinuation in Chinese patients, highlighting the need for targeted adherence monitoring.
Effect estimate: aOR 1.67
p-value: p=<0.001
BACKGROUND: Antihypertensive drug discontinuation imposes a substantial health services burden but few studies have addressed the factors associated with their discontinuation in Chinese patients. This study evaluated the association between age, gender, and drug classes with antihypertensive discontinuation. METHODS: From clinical databases, we included all adult patients prescribed an antihypertensive medication during January 2004 to June 2007 in one large territory of Hong Kong. We studied the factors associated with drug discontinuation within 180 days after the first prescription date by multivariable regression analysis. RESULTS: From 93,286 eligible patients, 13.2% discontinued their antihypertensive prescriptions. Younger (or=70 years; all P < 0.001) and male patients (aOR = 1.05, P = 0.027) were more likely to have drug discontinuation. When compared with thiazide diuretics, patients prescribed beta-blockers were more likely (aOR = 1.67, P < 0.001) and patients prescribed calcium channel blocker (CCB) (aOR = 0.76, P < 0.001) and combination therapy (aOR = 0.73, P < 0.001) were less likely to have drug discontinuation. Stratified analyses in different age and gender groups reported similar results; except that only elderly male patients (aOR = 1.12, P = 0.002) and younger patients (aOR = 2.43 for patients aged <50 years, P < 0.001) prescribed beta-blocker were more likely to have drug discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS: Discontinuation of antihypertensive drug treatment in ethnic Chinese is more likely to occur in younger, male patients, or those prescribed beta-blockers. These data suggest that more meticulous monitoring of patient adherence is required in patients with these characteristics.
Wong et al. (Thu,) conducted a cohort in Hypertension (n=93,286). Beta-blockers vs. Thiazide diuretics was evaluated on Drug discontinuation within 180 days after the first prescription date (aOR 1.67, p=<0.001). Prescription of beta-blockers was associated with a higher likelihood of antihypertensive drug discontinuation within 180 days compared to thiazide diuretics (aOR 1.67, P<0.001).