Changes in the usage of antihypertensive drugs: implications and prospects

Abstract

In their paper [1], Cheung and colleagues describe changes in antihypertensive drug usage over 8 years at a university hospital in Hong Kong. The quantitative analysis of usage frequency is supplemented by estimates of the percentage of patients with blood pressure at target levels. Their findings prompt a number of questions, about patterns of drug usage in different populations worldwide, the possible influences on these patterns and how these might change over the next few years. Of course, such detailed information is not available everywhere, so some comparisons are likely to remain speculative. In this particular case there are apparently no specific Hong Kong or Chinese national guidelines which are applicable, unlike the USA or Europe [2–4]: it would indeed be very interesting to establish how far such guidelines do actually modify prescribing practice in countries where they are supposed to be applicable. Regardless of that, Cheung's paper can serve as a focus for several current issues of interest and debate.