TRENDS IN ANTIHYPERTENSIVE PRESCRIBING IN THE FRENCH LEAGUE AGAINST HYPERTENSION SURVEY (FLAHS 2002 TO 2009): PP.20.312

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the use of antihypertensive treatments in France in 2009 and study trends in antihypertensive prescribing since 2002. Methods: French League Against Hypertension Survey 2009 (FLAHS) study was performed cross-sectionally on 3838 subjects, part of a sample of 4 500 subjects selected as being representative of the French metropolitan population for age (35 years and above), gender, socioeconomic status, and place of living. 1 025 subjects declared taking an antihypertensive medication and detailed the name of this treatment. The same methodology was used in 2002 and a comparison in prevalence was performed. Results: In 2009, 30% of the population (10.82 millions) was treated with at least one antihypertensive drug as compared to 24% in 2002 (8.19 millions). Table gives percentages for each pharmacological family and for fixed dose combination (FDC).Hypertensives were treated with 1.4 ± 0.7 pills in 2002 and with 1.6 ± 0.9 in 2009. Only one pill was prescribed in 65%, 2 pills in 26% and 3 or more in 9%, however pharmacological monotherapy was prescribed in 47% in 2009 (55% in 2002). If a diuretic was given, it was given under FDC formulation in 58%. If an ARB was given, it was given under FDC in 50%. Conclusion: Changes in the use of antihypertensive medications were observed in France between 2002 and 2009. Recent trends indicated an increase in the prescription of Fixed Dose Combinations containing a diuretic and an ARB.