title: [Is the profile of antihypertensive drug utilization justified?].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Región Sanitaria Costa de Ponent, Catalunya.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Madridejos Mora
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Amado Guirado
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez Rodríguez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torralba Guirao
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sáenz Hernáiz
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rey Abella
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catalán Ramos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aymamí
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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
vernacular_title: Está justificado el perfil de utilización de fármacos antihipertensivos?