Prescribing Patterns of Antihypertensive Drugs in Uncomplicated Hypertension

University Hospital, Caen3,325,032 enrolled

Overview

Hypertension incurs substantial cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, particularly in primary prevention settings. General practitioners (GPs) play a pivotal role in the management of hypertension in primary care, yet variations exist among GPs. The determinants shaping GPs' antihypertensive medication (AD) prescription patterns in the setting of hypertension remain ambiguous. This investigation sought to elucidate how GPs' characteristics and professional activities influence AD prescriptions. A cross-sectional study utilizing a sample of 2,165 GPs was conducted in Normandy, France, in 2019. The ratio of AD prescriptions to overall prescription volume was computed for each practitioner. GPs were classified as 'low' or 'high' AD prescribers based on the median of this ratio. The ratio was examined in relation to GPs' demographic and professional variables such as age, gender, practice setting, years of experience, consultation frequency, the demographics and socioeconomic status of their patient panels, and prevalence of chronic conditions in patients. These associations were explored using both univariate and multivariate analyses.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

3,325,032

Conditions

Hypertension,Essential Cardiovascular Diseases

Interventions

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

GP demographics

age and gender of GPs, the urban or rural classification of the practice location (based on the GP's clinic postal code and DATASANTE tables from the French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies, INSEE), and the number of years in practice.

Time frame: 1 year

medical practice activities

frequency of home visits and consultations, the total number of registered patients, the average number of visits or consultations per patient, the average patient age, the number of very low-income patients, and the prevalence of registered chronic diseases (notably diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases).