Co-prescribing of medications used to treat obstructive lung disease, congestive heart failure and depression among users of topical beta blockers: estimates from three US Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the frequency of co-prescribing of medications used to treat obstructive lung disease, congestive heart failure, and depression among US armed service veterans for whom topical beta blockers (TBB) have been prescribed.


METHODS
Prescription data from the computerized medical record systems of three US Veterans Affairs Medical Centers were obtained during Fall 1999 to identify patients for whom active prescriptions existed for TBB and/or drugs commonly used to treat obstructive lung disease, congestive heart failure, and depression.


RESULTS
Among TBB users, the estimated co-prescribing rate of medications used to treat obstructive lung disease is in the range of 7.8-9.7%, of medications used to treat congestive heart failure is in the range of 4.3-25.1%, and of medications used to treat depression is in the range of 8.8-11.7%. The total number of TBB users with a concurrent prescription for one or more of the conditions studied was in the range of 30.2-45.7%.


CONCLUSIONS
Since TBB may cause systemic side-effects and thus potentially cause exacerbations of selected chronic conditions, it is important for researchers and prescribers to be aware of the frequency with which their patients with glaucoma may have other concomitant conditions.
Valuck
R J
RJ
University of Colorado School of Pharmacy, 4200 E. Ninth Ave, C-238, Denver, Colorado 80262-0238, USA. rob.valuck@uchsc.edu
Perlman
J I
JI
Anderson
C
C
Wortman
G I
GI
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists