Sweileh WM, Sawalha AF, Zyoud SH,  Al-Jabi SW, Tameem EJ,  Shraim NY. Evaluation of Antihypertensive Therapy in Diabetic Hypertensive Patients: Impact of Ischemic Heart Disease. Journal of pharmacy practice; (2009), [Publisher: Directory of Open Access Journals, Country where published: Spain]. Accepted for publication

Abstract

Background and Objective: Macrovascular complications are common in diabetic hypertensive patients. Appropriate antihypertensive therapy and tight blood pressure control are believed to prevent or delay such complication. The objective of this study was to evaluate utilization patterns of antihypertensive agents and blood pressure (BP) control among diabetic hypertensive patients with and without ischemic heart disease (IHD).  Methodology: Retrospective cohort study of all diabetic hypertensive patients attending Al-watani medical center from August 2006 until August 2007. Proportions of use of different antihypertensive drug classes were compared for all patients receiving 1, 2, 3, or 4 or more drugs, and separately among patients with and without IHD. Blo od pressure control (≤130/ ≤80 mmHg) was compared for patients receiving no therapy, monotherapy, or combination therapy and separately among patients with and without IHD. Results: 255 patients were included in the study; their mean age was 64.4 ± 11.4 years. Sixty one (23.9%) of the included patients was on target BP. Over 60% of the total patients were receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI)/ angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), followed by diuretics (40.8%), calcium channel blockers (25.1%) and β-blockers (12.5%). The majority (> 55%) of patients were either on mono or no drug therapy. More than 55% of patients with controlled BP were using ACE-I. More than half (50.8%) of the patients with controlled BP were on combination therapy while 42.3% of patients with uncontrolled BP were on combination therapy; P = 0.24. More patient in the IHD achieved target BP than those in non-IHD group, P = 0.019. Comparison between IHD and non-IHD groups indicated no significant difference in the utilization of any drug class with ACE-I being the most commonly utilized in both groups. Conclusions: Patterns of antihypertensive therapy were generally but not adequately consistent with international guidelines. Areas of improvement include increasing ACE-I drug combinations, decreasing the number of untreated patients, and increasing the proportion of patients with controlled BP in this population. Clinical pharmacist can play a role in achieving this.

Key Words: Hypertension control; Diabetes mellitus; Drug regimens; Prescribing patterns; JNC 7th report.