Prescription of drugs blocking the renin-angiotensin system in Italian children.
Little is known about the prescription pattern of antihypertensive drugs for children with impaired kidney function. We have therefore documented the use of antihypertensive drugs in this patient group by evaluating the Italian pediatric population-based registry of patients with chronic kidney disease on conservative treatment (ItalKid) from 1995 to 2003. In 1995, prescriptions written for antihypertensive drugs for use by children were approximately equally divided among drugs blocking the renin-angiotensin system and calcium channel blockers (38 vs. 43% of all prescriptions), followed by beta-blockers and diuretics (15 and 4%, respectively). During subsequent years the proportion of prescriptions for drugs blocking the renin-angiotensin system increased (2003: 61%; p<0.001) and that of calcium channel blockers decreased (2003: 18%, p<0.001). In 1995, blockers of the renin-angiotensin system were prescribed, either as monotherapy or in combination, in 53% of the patients, but the relative frequency of the patients prescribed these drugs increased up to 83% in 2003 (p<0.0005). In conclusion, physicians caring for Italian children with impaired kidney function are increasingly prescribing drugs blocking the renin-angiotensin system.
Bianchetti
Mario G
MG
Servizio Integrato di Pediatria, Ospedali di Bellinzona e Mendrisio, Svizzera, Milan, Italy.
Ammenti
Anita
A
Avolio
Luigi
L
Bettinelli
Alberto
A
Bosio
Maurizio
M
Fossali
Emilio
E
La Manna
Angela
A
Maringhini
Silvio
S
Pela
Ivana
I
Ratsch
Ilse M
IM
Viganò
Sara
S
Ardissino
Gianluigi
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D012042:Registries; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects*
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004232:Diuretics