title: A study on prescribing patterns of antihypertensives in geriatric patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypertension is a leading contributor to the global burden of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The main objective of the present study was to assess the prescribing patterns for antihypertensives in geriatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Prospective observational study was carried out for the period of six months in an out-patient department. Elderly patients who have been diagnosed with hypertension as per JNC-7 guidelines and patients receiving or prescribed with antihypertensive drugs were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 100 prescriptions were analyzed during the six-month study period. 72% of the patients were in the age group of 65-67 years and this was found to be higher in men 69%. During the study period 80% of the patients were Pre-Hypertensive systolic (80-89 mmHg) and Diastolic (120-139 mmHg) followed by Stage-I Hypertension and Stage-II Hypertension. The most common drug classes involved in the study was Calcium Channel Blockers 37% followed by Angiotensin II receptor antagonists 21% and the most commonly prescribed drugs in the study population were Amlodipine 37%, Losartan 11% and Telmisartan 10%. The most common anti-hypertensive fixed dose combination therapy involved in the study was Telmisartan + Hydrochlorothiazide 15% and most common two drug combination therapy involved in the study was Amlodipine + Atenolol 7% followed by Metoprolol + Amlodipine 1%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that the most commonly prescribed drug classes involved were Calcium Channel Blockers followed by Angiotensin II receptor antagonists and the anti-hypertensive drug combinations among hypertensive patients were considerable and this practice positively impacted on the overall blood pressure control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharm D, St. Peter's Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kakatiya University, Warangal - 506 001, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Arshad H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mohd
authors.forename: Uday V
authors.initials: UV
authors.lastname: Mateti
authors.forename: Venkateswarlu
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Konuru
authors.forename: Mihir Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Parmar
authors.forename: Buchi R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Kunduru
keywords: Anti-hypertensives; JNC-7; blood pressure; geriatrics