[Treatment patterns of hypertension in 1996. Data from the Quebec Family Practice, University of Sherbrooke registry].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the treatment of hypertension, alone or in combination with associated conditions, by a group of general practitioners in the FAMUS network and to compare these treatment patterns to the recommendations of the Canadian Hypertension Society Consensus.


METHODS
Descriptive study based on data collected by 233 physicians in the FAMUS provincial register on hypertensive patients treated in 1996.


METHODS
Developed between 1992 and 1996, the register contains 52,505 patients, 9,094 of whom have high blood pressure. These patients consulted their general practitioners for a complete examination. The data concern the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and include the list of medications prescribed.


METHODS
Evaluation of the proportions in which various classes of medications were prescribed, and the most common combinations in relation to the presence or absence of associated conditions.


RESULTS
Of the 4,049 hypertensive patients seen in 1996, 50.2% were treated with one medication; 32.9% were treated with more than one medication; and 16.9% received no antihypertensive medication. The most frequently prescribed medications were calcium channel blockers (26.1%), followed by diuretics (25.3%), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (24.3%), and beta-blockers (20.0%). Other agents made up the remaining 4.3% of prescriptions. The proportions were similar for patients without complications who received one medication.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this study suggest that the new molecules are widely used and that treatment patterns differ from the recommendations of the Canadian Hypertension Society Consensus, particularly in the absence of associated conditions.
Laplante
P
P
Département de médecine de famille, l'Université de Sherbrooke à Sherbrooke, Qué.
Niyonsenga
T
T
Delisle
E
E
Vanasse
N
N
Vanasse
A
A
Grant
A M
AM
Xhignesse
M
M
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002170:Canada; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011792:Quebec; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004232:Diuretics; D004338:Drug Combinations
Habitudes de traitement de l'hypertension en 1996. Données du registre québécois FAMUS.