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Factors associated with antihypertensive prescribing
M B Nichol1, J E Margolies, M A Gill
1Department of Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90033, USA.
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|February 1, 1997
Summary
Older patients and those with heart failure are more likely to receive combination hypertension therapy. Prescription patterns show a shift towards calcium antagonists and away from diuretics and beta-blockers.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
- Effective hypertension management is crucial for reducing healthcare burden.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate factors influencing hypertension treatment approaches.
- Analyze patient and physician characteristics associated with antihypertensive prescribing patterns.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of three cross-sectional national surveys (1989-1991) of patient-physician encounters.
- Utilized multiple variable logistic regression to identify predictors of antihypertensive prescriptions and combination therapy.
Main Results:
- 69-75% of encounters resulted in antihypertensive prescriptions.
- Prescribing trends shifted from diuretics/beta-blockers to calcium antagonists.
- Older patients (>65 years), those with congestive heart failure (CHF), and specific physician specialties were more likely to receive combination therapy.
Conclusions:
- National prescribing patterns for hypertension align with existing literature.
- Patient age, multiple diagnoses, cardiologist visits, and CHF diagnosis significantly predict combination antihypertensive therapy.