title: A population-based European cohort study of persistence in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients.
abstract: This study assessed the percentage of patients after 1 year who persisted on initially prescribed antihypertensive therapy. Medical records of 2416 patients with newly diagnosed hypertension who were prescribed initial antihypertensive monotherapy by general practitioners in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom were evaluated. Comparisons were made among the angiotensin II receptor antagonist (AIIRA) irbesartan, all other antihypertensive classes (including AIIRAs other than irbesartan), and the AIIRA losartan. Patients initiated on the AIIRA irbesartan scored highest with a persistence rate of 60.8%, followed by patients who received all other AIIRA agents with a persistence rate of 51.3%. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, and losartan were associated with comparable persistence rates, between 42.0% and 49.7%. Patients who received diuretics scored lowest with a persistence rate of 34.4%. Persistence has emerged as an essential factor for blood pressure control. Prescribing an antihypertensive agent that provides a favourable efficacy and tolerability profile may provide greater persistence with therapy and hence a higher level of blood pressure control.
authors.affiliation: Department for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany. has@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hasford
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mimran
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Simons
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000077405:Irbesartan; D019808:Losartan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019233:Retreatment; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000077405:Irbesartan; D019808:Losartan