title: A review on prescribing patterns of antihypertensive drugs.
abstract: Hypertension continues to be an important public health concern because of its associated morbidity, mortality and economic impact on the society. It is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal complications. It has been estimated that by 2025, 1.56 billion individuals will have hypertension. The increasing prevalence of hypertension and the continually increasing expense of its treatment influence the prescribing patterns among physicians and compliance to the treatment by the patients. A number of national and international guidelines for the management of hypertension have been published. Since many years ago, diuretics were considered as the first-line drugs for treatment of hypertension therapy; however, the recent guidelines by the Joint National Commission (JNC8 guidelines) recommend both calcium channel blockers as well as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors as first-line drugs, in addition to diuretics. Antihypertensive drug combinations are generally used for effective long-term management and to treat comorbid conditions. This review focuses on the antihypertensive medication utilization, their cost factors, adherence to treatment by patients, and physicians' adherence to guidelines in prescribing medications in different settings including Indian scenario. The antihypertensive medication prescribing pattern studies help in monitoring, evaluation and necessary modifications to the prescribing habits to achieve rational and cost-effective treatment. Additionally, periodic updating of recommended guidelines and innovative drug formulations, and prescription monitoring studies help in rational use of antihypertensive drugs, which can be tailored to suit the patients' requirements, including those in the developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya.
authors.forename: Noah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jarari
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam, India.
authors.forename: Narasinga
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Quest International University Perak, 227 The Teng Seng Plaza, Level 2, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh, Perak Malaysia.
authors.forename: Jagannadha Rao
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3782-4658
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Peela
authors.affiliation: Libyan Cardiac Society, Department of Cardiology, Benghazi Medical Center, Benghazi University, Benghazi, Libya.
authors.forename: Khaled A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ellafi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Quest International University Perak, 227 The Teng Seng Plaza, Level 2, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh, Perak Malaysia.
authors.forename: Srikumar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shakila
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Quest International University Perak, 227 The Teng Seng Plaza, Level 2, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh, Perak Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abdul R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Said
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Quest International University Perak, Ipoh, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nagaraja Kumari
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Nelapalli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Quest International University Perak, Ipoh, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yupa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Management and Science University, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kin Darli
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Tun
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Syed Ibrahim
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Jamallulail
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, St. Mathews Medical University, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.
authors.forename: Avinash Kousik
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Rawal
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Dr Ambethkar Medical College, Bengaluru, India.
authors.forename: Ranjani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramanujam
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Rangaraya Medical College, Kakinada, India.
authors.forename: Ramesh Naidu
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Yedla
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam, India.
authors.forename: Dhilip Kumar
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kandregula
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India.
authors.forename: Anuradha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Argi
authors.affiliation: Great Eastern Medical School, Srikakualm, India.
authors.forename: Laxmi Teja
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Peela