Abstract
Purpose: To assess changes in the prescribing pattern of antihypertensive drugs and lifestyle factors associated with hypertensive patients in Dhaka, Bangladesh.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 50 hypertensive patients in various heart disease hospitals and the consulting rooms of 10 cardiologists in the city of Dhaka to determine changes in prescribing patterns of antihypertensive drugs. Respondents were distributed more or less equally between males and the females.Results: Female patients aged 30 to 40 years (8 %) as well as male patients aged 50 to 60 years (54 %) and 60 to 70 years (12 %) were prone to hypertension. However, patients of both sexes whose age ranged from 40 to 50 (40 %) and 50 to 60 (36 %) were more prone to hypertension. It was observed that 46 % of the patients were overweight. A majority of the patients had diabetes with hypertension (28 %). Moreover, most of the patients (80 %) did not indulge in any physical exercise and were non-smokers but had a family history of hypertension. Combined antihypertensive drugs, especially thiazide diuretics with angiotensin II receptor blockers, calcium antagonists, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors were the first choice of drugs by physicians. The prescribing rate of β-blockers (28.36 %) and combined antihypertensive preparations (40 %) was higher than that of older antihypertensives, viz loop diuretics, propranolol and enalapril.Conclusion: Combination therapy is favored by all doctors who compared with the past prescribing practice of a single medication for hypertension.Keywords: Hypertension, Prescribing pattern, Antihypertensive drugs, Lifestyle factors, Family history
Highlights
Blood pressure (BP) is considered as the most effective measurable marker of the potential level of cardiovascular risk [1], and continuous systolic/diastolic blood pressure higher than accepted normal values is designated as hypertension [2]
The objective of the present study was to determine the change in prescribing patterns of antihypertensive drug in time and to evaluate lifestyle factors associated with hypertensive patients
Changing dietary and lifestyle patterns can control blood pressure and reduce the risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases, i.e., ischemic heart disease, stroke; drug therapy may prove the necessities in patients for whom lifestyle pattern changes have proved to be ineffective or insufficient [19]
Summary
Blood pressure (BP) is considered as the most effective measurable marker of the potential level of cardiovascular risk [1], and continuous systolic/diastolic blood pressure higher than accepted normal values is designated as hypertension [2]. In 2003 American Heart Association (AHA) classified hypertension and defined systolic and diastolic pressure into distinctive range [6]. Called high blood pressure, may be caused by another medical condition or medication [8]. It is the condition in which blood pressure increases to an extent where clinical benefit is obtained from blood pressure lowering [9]. Persistent hypertension is one of the prime reasons for several types of cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and arterial aneurysm as well as chronic kidney dysfunction [10] Other than these, it may cause vision disorders, confusion, headache, drowsiness, chest pain, nausea, and vomiting which are collectively referred to as hypertensive encephalopathy [11]
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