National utilization of antihypertensive medications from 2000 to 2006 in the Veterans Health Administration: focus on thiazide diuretics.
The authors sought to determine the prescribing practices of clinicians treating veterans with hypertension. A descriptive analysis was performed using a national pharmacy database of patients with a diagnosis of hypertension receiving antihypertensive medication in the fiscal years 2000 to 2006. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were the most frequently prescribed antihypertensive class, with utilization increasing from 56.0% in fiscal year 2000 to 63.2% of patients in 2006. Utilization of thiazide-type diuretics increased from 31.9% of patients in fiscal year 2000 to 42.0% in 2006. When patient comorbidities were taken into consideration, 48.1% of patients defined as having uncomplicated hypertension had at least one prescription for a thiazide diuretic in fiscal year 2006. Utilization by monotherapy and combination therapy were also evaluated. The trends in utilization allowed for identification of areas in which a change in prescribing practices may improve blood pressure control and health outcomes in the Veterans Health Administration.
Furmaga
Elaine M
EM
VHA Pharmacy Benefits Management Services, Hines, IL 60141, USA. elaine.furmaga@va.gov
Cunningham
Francesca E
FE
Cushman
William C
WC
Dong
Diane
D
Jiang
Rong
R
Basile
Jan
J
Katz
Lois A
LA
Rutan
Gale H
GH
Berlowitz
Dan R
DR
Papademetriou
Vasilios
V
Glassman
Peter A
PA
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000145:classification* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016208:Databases, Factual; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors