[Is the profile of antihypertensive drug utilization justified?].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the use of drugs to combat hypertension and to assess prescription in function of their counterindications to diuretics and beta blockers.


METHODS
A descriptive cross-sectional study by means of an outside audit of clinical records.


METHODS
11 urban Health Districts opened before 1991.


METHODS
326 histories of adult hyperintense patients under pharmacological treatment were chosen at random (June-December, 1994).


RESULTS
Data were gathered on age, sex, present and former medication, reason for change, and counter-indications to diuretic or beta blocker treatments. Average age was 64.7 (SD 11.6); 66% were women. 437 active principles (AP) were used, of which Enalapril (68 patients) and Captopril (67) were the most common. 203 patients (62.3%; Cl 95%, 57.0-67.5) took one AP; 90 (27.6%; Cl 95%, 22.8-32.5) took two APs; 30 (9.2%), three APs; and 3 (0.9%), four APs. 47.8% of monotherapy was performed with ACE inhibitors; 27.6% with calcium antagonists; 15.3% with diuretics; 7.9% with beta blockers and 1.5% with alpha inhibitors. Diuretics were the drugs most commonly used in association.


CONCLUSIONS
There is little use of diuretics and beta blockers, but two-thirds of the prescription of other treatments are justified by a counter-indication to first-choice drugs.
Madridejos Mora
R
R
Región Sanitaria Costa de Ponent, Catalunya.
Amado Guirado
E
E
Pérez Rodríguez
M
M
Torralba Guirao
M
M
Sáenz Hernáiz
I
I
Rey Abella
M E
ME
Catalán Ramos
A
A
Aymamí
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002216:Captopril / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000075202:Contraindications; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004656:Enalapril / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain; D014505:Urban Population
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004232:Diuretics; D004656:Enalapril; D002216:Captopril
Está justificado el perfil de utilización de fármacos antihipertensivos?