Who is using antihypertensive drugs?: A prescription analysis from Finland

Objective - To analyse the prescribing of antihypertensives in Finland in 1993. Design - A descriptive three-month follow-up study of reimbursed prescriptions for chronic hypertension dispensed in Finnish pharmacies. Setting - The nationwide prescription data base of the Social Insurance Institution covering 80% of Finnish pharmacies. Material - The study material consisted of 479 744 antihypertensive prescriptions from ATC-groups hypotensives (C02), diuretics (C03), beta blocking agents (C07), and potassium (A12B) for 279 435 hypertensive patients. Results - Of all the prescriptions (excluding potassium supplements), 30% were for beta blocking agents, 24% for diuretics, 22% for calcium channel blocking agents, 20% for ACE inhibitors or ACE inhibitor + diuretic combinations, and 4% for other hypotensives. Two thirds of the men received a drug from a hypotensive group, nearly half were prescribed a beta blocking agent, and 27% a diuretic. Among women the distribution of the different drug groups was more even: more than half the women (55%) were prescribed hypotensives while beta blocking agents and diuretics were prescribed for 43% and 44 %, respectively. Due to the different treatment profile between men and women the expenses of treatment also differed. The cost of prescriptions for female patients was, on average, 17% less than that for male patients. Conclusion - The choice of antihypertensive drugs depends on the age and sex of a patient. Prescribing antihypertensive drugs does not fully meet national recommendations. New drugs are gaining ground in the treatment of hypertension. An increase in the cost of treatment will result from this development.