Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 23, 2026
Author Spotlight: Exploring Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction as an Antihypertensive Drug
Published on: May 17, 2024
A review on prescribing patterns of antihypertensive drugs
Noah Jarari1, Narasinga Rao2, Jagannadha Rao Peela3
1Department of Pharmacology, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya.
Insights
Hypertension management is evolving, with updated guidelines recommending new first-line drugs. This review examines medication use, costs, and adherence to improve rational and cost-effective hypertension treatment globally.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Hypertension is a major global health issue, projected to affect 1.56 billion by 2025.
- It significantly increases risks for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and renal diseases.
- Rising prevalence and treatment costs impact physician prescribing and patient adherence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review antihypertensive medication utilization and associated cost factors.
- To assess patient adherence to treatment and physician adherence to guidelines.
- To analyze prescribing patterns in various settings, including India.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on antihypertensive drug utilization, cost, and adherence.
- Analysis of prescribing patterns and guideline adherence.
- Examination of the Indian healthcare context for hypertension management.
Main Results:
- Diuretics were historically first-line, but current guidelines (e.g., JNC8) include CCBs and ACE inhibitors.
- Antihypertensive drug combinations are common for long-term management.
- Prescribing patterns are influenced by guidelines, costs, and patient adherence.
Conclusions:
- Optimizing antihypertensive medication use requires monitoring prescribing habits and adherence.
- Updating guidelines and promoting rational drug use are crucial for effective, tailored treatment.
- Cost-effectiveness and patient-specific needs must be considered, especially in developing countries.
Abstract:
Hypertension continues to be an important public health concern because of its associated morbidity, mortality and economic impact on the society. It is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal complications. It has been estimated that by 2025, 1.56 billion individuals will have hypertension. The increasing prevalence of hypertension and the continually increasing expense of its treatment influence the prescribing patterns among physicians and compliance to the treatment by the patients. A number of national and international guidelines for the management of hypertension have been published. Since many years ago, diuretics were considered as the first-line drugs for treatment of hypertension therapy; however, the recent guidelines by the Joint National Commission (JNC8 guidelines) recommend both calcium channel blockers as well as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors as first-line drugs, in addition to diuretics. Antihypertensive drug combinations are generally used for effective long-term management and to treat comorbid conditions. This review focuses on the antihypertensive medication utilization, their cost factors, adherence to treatment by patients, and physicians' adherence to guidelines in prescribing medications in different settings including Indian scenario. The antihypertensive medication prescribing pattern studies help in monitoring, evaluation and necessary modifications to the prescribing habits to achieve rational and cost-effective treatment. Additionally, periodic updating of recommended guidelines and innovative drug formulations, and prescription monitoring studies help in rational use of antihypertensive drugs, which can be tailored to suit the patients' requirements, including those in the developing countries.
