Prescription pattern of antihypertensive drugs: An experience from a secondary care hospital in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the prescription pattern of antihypertensive drugs used in a secondary care hospital in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: It was a prospective, observational study carried out in 588 adult hypertensive patients presenting to medicine outpatient and inpatient departments of Dibba Hospital, Fujairah, UAE. The study was conducted for a period of 6 months from December 2017 to May 2018. Demographic and clinical data were collected from electronic patient case records and documented. Prescriptions were studied overall for drug use details and for specific types of antihypertensive drugs. The World Health Organization Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Dose methodology was further used to calculate utilization. Statistical analysis of data was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 24.0. Findings: Of the 588 study participants, majority of the patients were on two-drug combination antihypertensive therapy ( n = 210, 35.5%) followed by monotherapy ( n = 188, 32.1%) and three-drug combination ( n = 136, 23.1%). Calcium channel blockers were the most frequently (51%) prescribed class both in monotherapy and in combination therapy while angiotensin receptor blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (55.9%) were the most preferred agents for monotherapy. Among individual antihypertensive drugs, amlodipine was prescribed the most (266 prescriptions), irrespective of monotherapy or combination therapy. Conclusion: Our study represents the current prescribing trends of antihypertensive drugs in a secondary care hospital in the UAE. The use of antihypertensive drugs largely conforms to international guidelines, but still, there is room for improvement in terms of rational drug utilization.

Indian Clinician’s Perspective on the Approach to the Management of Hypertension: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…This is per a meta-analysis conducted by Anchala et al in 2014 [ 6 ]. The most common comorbidities in the study population were dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity, which is supported by the findings of the study by Alkaabi et al (2019) [ 15 ]. As per the literature, insulin resistance and obesity play a central role in causing HTN and dyslipidemia [ 16 ].…”

Prescribing patterns of antihypertensive medications: A systematic review of literature between 2010 and 2020

“…, 48. , 49 Other studies were conducted in Japan (n = 2), 25 , 26 Nigeria (n = 2), 14 , 15 Saudi Arabia (n = 2), 19 , 50 Egypt (n = 1), 22 Jordan (n = 1), 51 Pakistan (n = 1), 24 Bahrain (n = 1), 16 Kenya (n = 1), 27 Australia (n = 1), 34 Cyprus (n = 1), 35 Ireland (n = 1), 52 United Arab Emirates (n = 1), 18 Taiwan (n = 1), 53 and Mexico (n = 1). 17 …”

“… 15 , 16 , 19 , 24 , 25 , 30 , 34 , 35 , 38 , 45 , 52 Ten studies adopted a prospective study design. 18 , 20 , 23 , 28 , 29 , 32 , 40 , 41 , 46 , 48 Two studies were based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) 21 , 43 and one study was qualitative using semi-structured interviews. 50 …”

“…The majority of studies included adult hypertensive patients aged 18 years and above ( n = 25), 14 , 15 , 17 , 18 , 19. , 20.…”

Research Letter: Unmet Need for Hypertension Treatment in India: Evidence from Hypertension Drugs Market Data

“…For the few single molecule drugs where WHO-DDD was not available, the most frequently sold strength was considered the DDD. Studies have shown that, with the exception of beta blockers, for all classes of antihypertensive drugs the prescribed daily dose (PDD) is consistently greater than DDD, and almost double for angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) [ 6 7 ]. Using the IQVIA data, the estimated number of patients on antihypertensive treatment were calculated based on a conservative prescription scenario of (PDD:DDD = 1.2) for single molecule drugs and (PDD:DDD = 1) for fixed-dose combinations (FDC) and the unmet need for treatment inferred.…”