The treatment of hypertension--an analysis of drug prescription data

Acta Med Scand Suppl. 1976:602:120-3. doi: 10.1111/j.0954-6820.1977.tb07660.x.

Abstract

This paper describes a study of the degree of continuity in the drug treatment of hypertension. An analysis of antihypertensive drugs dispensed to 916 individuals during 1970-74 revealed that 22% of the men and 27% of the women were without treatment for 20-50% of their observation time. A closer examination of 46 patients under 60 years of age showed that between 2 and 20 physicians had been involved in the antihypertensive treatment of the individual patient. The time without treatment in this group of unselected patients varied between 0 and 77% of the observation time, the degree of discontinuity being insignificantly correlated to the resulting blood pressure level. Non-compliance was the cause for discontinuing a drug in at least every fifth case.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antihypertensive Agents / adverse effects
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Evaluation
  • Drug Prescriptions
  • Drug Utilization
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / drug therapy*
  • Middle Aged
  • Sweden

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents