title: Prescription of drugs blocking the renin-angiotensin system in Italian children.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Servizio Integrato di Pediatria, Ospedali di Bellinzona e Mendrisio, Svizzera, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bianchetti
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ammenti
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Avolio
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bettinelli
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bosio
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fossali
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Manna
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maringhini
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pela
authors.forename: Ilse M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Ratsch
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viganò
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ardissino
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004232:Diuretics