Inequalities in prescription of hydrochlorothiazide for diabetic hypertensive patients in Colombia.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluating differences in the suitable prescription of thiazides in hypertense patients, according to affiliation regime.


METHODS
This was an analytical cross-sectional study. The database from a previous study was used regarding two groups of hypertense patients (subsidised regime and contributory regime) who had attended out-patient consultation between 01-09-2007 and 29-02-2008. Ideal therapy was evaluated in both groups. Univariate and multivariate analysis was carried out.


RESULTS
136 patients (contributory: 41.9 %; subsidised: 58.1 %). Subsidised regime patients were older (mean=68.8±10) than those from the contributory regime (mean=64.1±11.1) (t-test, p=0.0110). Prescribing antihypertensive drugs was ideal in 49/136 of the patients (36.0 %). Ideal prescription accounted for 24/79 (30 %) of the patients in the subsidised regime and 25/57 (43.8 %) in the contributory one (OR=1.79; 95 % CI:0.88-3.64). Older people (aged ≥ 65 yo) were at risk of receiving a non-ideal prescription (OR=2.12; 95 %CI:1.02-4.38) whilst this was not so in the subsidised regime (OR=1.62; 95 % CI:0.78-3.35).


CONCLUSIONS
Ideal prescription of antihypertensive drugs was low in the population being studied. There were differences regarding age ideal prescription but not concerning affiliation regime. It is suggested that a longitudinal study be carried out in the future.
Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, aepinillar@unal.edu.co
Análida
A
Pinilla
Nairo
N
Cano
Carlos
C
Granados
Carol
C
Paez-Canro
Javier
J
Eslava-Schmalbach
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003105:Colombia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000191:economics; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005380:Financing, Government; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009313:National Health Programs; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide