title: First-choice antihypertensive drug use in the Glasgow Blood Pressure Clinic.
abstract: The evolution of antihypertensive drug use in the Glasgow Blood Pressure Clinic between 1969 and 1986 was determined, from computerized data, by extracting percentages of new patients prescribed different drugs at their first clinic visit. Prescribing of adrenergic neuron blockers and centrally acting drugs (methyldopa and clonidine) was common in the early years but declined rapidly until, after 1975 and 1980, respectively, it remained at 10% or less. Diuretics, mainly thiazides, were prescribed for 20% of patients in 1969 to a peak of 55% in 1980. beta-Blockers were first used during the early 1970s and their use peaked in 1980, when they were prescribed for over 60% of new patients. They remained a first-choice treatment in more than 40% of patients. Calcium channel blockers were first used in 1980 and by 1986 were prescribed for 15% of new patients. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were used from 1982 and in 1986 were prescribed for 7% of new patients. These two classes of drugs are more expensive than older drugs. However, because of their low usage, this did not greatly influence treatment costs up to 1986, as beta-blockers and thiazides remained widely used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Curzio
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Howie
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Reid
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D006830:Hydralazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008750:Methyldopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011224:Prazosin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012606:Scotland
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D006830:Hydralazine; D008750:Methyldopa; D003000:Clonidine; D011224:Prazosin