title: Trends in using beta-blockers and methyldopa for hypertensive disorders during pregnancy in a Canadian population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe trends in and patterns of antihypertensive drug use in a general obstetric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Historical cohort study. A total of 18,117 women who gave birth in a Saskatchewan hospital between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 2005 with a diagnosis of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy were identified and included in the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of treatment with antihypertensive drugs for pregnant women with chronic hypertension rose from 19.94% in 1980-1984 to 37.63% in 2000-2005. There were similar increases in antihypertensive drug use from 1.51% to 14.47% for gestational hypertension/non-severe preeclampsia, and from 1.56% to 20.86% for severe preeclampsia/eclampsia. Methyldopa was the most frequently used drug, followed by beta-blockers, with other antihypertensive drugs accounting for about 18.43% of total uses. The use of both methyldopa and labetalol has increased in recent years while the use of other antihypertensive drugs has decreased. Other antihypertensive drugs were more commonly prescribed in earlier gestation, while methyldopa and labetalol were generally prescribed in later gestation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of antihypertensive drugs in pregnancy is relatively common and is increasing, with the liberal use of methyldopa and (especially) labetalol contributing appreciably to this increase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou Road, Guangzhou 510515, China; OMNI Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8L6; Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Canada K1H 8L6.
authors.forename: Ri-hua
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Yanfang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krewski
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mattison
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nerenberg
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Shi Wu
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Wen
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007741:Labetalol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008750:Methyldopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000188:drug therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012525:Saskatchewan
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D008750:Methyldopa; D007741:Labetalol
keywords: Antihypertensive drugs; Cohort study; Pregnancy