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[[Hypertension treatment of elderly men in Iceland]
V Sigurthardóttir1, B Einarsson, N Sigfússon
1Islands Universitet, Reykjavík.
Insights
This study on elderly Icelandic men found diuretics and beta-blockers were the most common antihypertensive drugs. Diuretics showed better results, suggesting their use in this age group for medical and economic reasons.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Context:
- Antihypertensive drug usage patterns in Iceland were previously unknown.
- A study investigated drug use among elderly men (70-84 years) in Iceland.
Purpose:
- To determine the extent and distribution of antihypertensive drug classes used in elderly Icelandic men.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of different antihypertensive drug classes and combinations.
Summary:
- Out of 834 participants, 429 had hypertension. 157 were on medication, with most using single-drug therapy (95) or two-drug therapy (49).
- Diuretics and beta-blockers were the most frequently used drugs. Diuretics appeared more effective, and the combination of beta-blockers and diuretics was most common.
- Other common combinations included ACE inhibitors with diuretics, and beta-blockers with calcium channel blockers.
Impact:
- Findings suggest diuretics are a preferred choice for hypertension management in this elderly population due to medical and economic factors.
- This research provides valuable data for public health strategies and clinical guidelines concerning hypertension treatment in older adults.
Abstract:
Until recently neither the extent of antihypertensive drug usage in Iceland nor its distribution among drug classes was known. Of the 1,145 men aged 70-84 years alive in 1991, 834 participated in a study carried out by Hjartnavernd, the Heart Association. A history of hypertension or the presence of high blood pressure when measured at the Associations institute were found in 429 men, of whom 157 were on medication for hypertension alone: 95 on single drug treatment, 49 on two drugs, and five on three drugs, no information being available for the remaining eight. The most widely used drugs were diuretics or beta-blockers, of which diuretics apparently yielded better results. Of combined regiments, that of beta-blockers and diuretics was by far the most common, followed by ACE- (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors and diuretics, and beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers. Thus, both medical and economic factors suggest that diuretics should be used in this age group.