Study of Prescribing Patterns of Antihypertensive Drugs

Hypertension is a growing worldwide problem associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Statistics reveals that many patients with hypertension do not have their blood pressure under control. Poor control of this highly prevalent disease can lead to the development of Ischemic heart disease, Stroke, Chronic renal failure. Treatment pattern of hypertension provide valuable information for health care providers. The aim of the present prospective study was carried out to assess the current trends in prescribing patterns of Antihypertensive drugs in the treatment of hypertension. The current study was carried out in Sathya hospital with following objectives: To study the prevalence of hypertension in patients, to study demographic profile of the patients suffering from hypertension, to study the prescribing pattern of drugs used in the management of hypertension. Patterns of drug use were derived from a careful examination of medications in a prospective study of six months duration in 360 patients at Sathya Hospital (Vanamala Clinic), Warangal. Data for present study were collected by scrutinizing the patients case reports, out-patients cards and laboratory reports. The data collected were analyzed for the Prescribing patterns of antihypertensive drugs and Demographic profile of the patients suffering from hypertension. The patients enrolled in the study were grouped based on the number of antihypertensive drugs prescribed. Out of 360 patients during study period, 59% were male and 41% were female. Maximum number of patients were in the age group of 50-59 years (32.2%).Majority of the patients (42.2%) belonged to Grade 2 (SSLC/PUC).The results of pharmacotherapy revealed that dual therapy was the most preferred choice of treatment in reducing systolic blood pressure with ARBs + β-blockers (P < 0.0011) than ARBs used alone. Whereas in diastolic blood pressure there is a higher percentage of reduction was found with ACEI + CCBs (P < 0.001) compare to ACEI used alone and also the prescribing pattern of antihypertensive drugs follows the standard treatment algorithm as per the JNC VII guidelines for hypertension.