外来高血圧患者における降圧剤の処方動向

Abstract

The frequency of prescriptions given for various antihypertensive drugs (namely, calcium antagonists, beta-blocking drugs, diuretics, angiotension-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), and alpha-antagonists) for outpatients with hypertension was studied for 1992, and compared with that for 1990 and 1988. In 1988, prescription of calcium antagonists was made most frequently, and further increased in 1990 and again in 1992. Prescription of diuretics decreased and that of ACEI increased in 1990 and again in 1992. The percentage of patients who were medicated by a single drug was 52% in 1988, and further increased in 1990 and again in 1992. Most of the patients were medicated by a single or two drugs in the three periods. In patients medicated by a single drug, prescription of calcium antagonists or ACEI increased in 1992, while that of diuretics decreased in 1992. Patients who received the drug three times a day decreased, and those twice a day increased in 1992. In conclusion, the frequency of the prescription of calcium antagonists and ACEI increased in 1992, and long-acting drugs were more frequently prescribed in the same year.