title: Pattern analysis and variations in the utilization of antihypertensive drugs in Taiwan: a six-year study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the last few years there have been changed in the pattern of consumption of antihypertensive drugs in other countries. Factors causing this variability include differences in the effectiveness of detection, guidelines for the management of hypertension, and differences in national health insurance systems among countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to reveal patterns in the use of antihypertensive drugs in Taiwan over a six year period (2001 to 2006) and compare these results with data from other countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study performed descriptive analysis of data from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan, and compared these findings with similar findings from around the world. Quantities were standardized using the defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID) in accordance with WHO anatomical therapeutic classification and DDD measurement methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total number of DDDs prescribed in Taiwan increased from 0.66 billion in 2001 to 1.08 billion in 2006, representing 80.6 and 129.2 DID in 2001 and 2006, respectively. This indicates a significant increase in the prescription of antihypertensive drugs in Taiwan over this period. The average annual increase ranged from 10.7% for calcium channel blockers (CCBs) to 22.1% for angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). All of these patterns were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The rapid increase in the use of ARBs resulted in its surpassing ACEIs with the second highest DID (21.9) in 2006. Though the proportional use of CCBs and ARBs has increased significantly, the use of thiazide diuretics remains low.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The consumption of antihypertension drugs in Taiwan increased during the period studied and the highest average annual increases were for ARBs and CCBs. Overall consumption of antihypertension drugs also increased in other countries, but differences in the relative increase for each class of drug suggest that further study may be required to clarify the origins and causes.
authors: Division of Health Technology Assessment, Center for Drug Evaluation, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: L-Y
authors: LY
authors: Huang
authors: W-Y
authors: WY
authors: Shau
authors: H-C
authors: HC
authors: Chen
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Su
authors: M-C
authors: MC
authors: Yang
authors: H-L
authors: HL
authors: Yeh
authors: M-S
authors: MS
authors: Lai
mesh_terms: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009313:National Health Programs; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors