Extent of use of immediate-release formulations of XXXX channel blockers as antihypertensive monotherapy by primary care physicians: multicentric study from Bahrain.

@entity1 @entity101 @entity1855 @entity3591 @entity460 @entity594
BACKGROUND: The issue of cardiovascular safety of @entity460 channel blockers (CCBs) has been widely debated in view of reflex increase in sympathetic activity induced by immediate release (IR) / short acting formulations. It is generally agreed that such CCBs should not be used alone in the management of @entity101 . AIMS: We have determined the extent to which primary care physicians prescribe CCBs as monotherapy, especially the immediate release formulations, in the management of uncomplicated @entity101 and @entity101 - with an emphasis upon the age of the @entity1 . SETTING, DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective prescription-based study was carried out in seven out of 18 Health Centres in Bahrain. The study involved a registered population of 229,300 representing 46% of registered individuals, and 35 physicians representing 43% of all primary care physicians. The data was collected between November 1998 and January 1999 using chronic dispensing cards. RESULTS: In all categories CCBs were the third commonly prescribed antihypertensive as monotherapy, with a prescription rate of 11.1% in uncomplicated @entity101 , 18% in @entity101 and 20.1% in elderly @entity1 above 65 years of age. @entity594 formulations were the most extensively prescribed CCBs. Almost half of the CCB-treated @entity1 were on IR- @entity594 , whereas IR-diltiazem and IR- @entity1855 , and @entity3591 were infrequently prescribed. CONCLUSION: Prescription of IR-formulations of CCBs as monotherapy by primary care physicians does not conform with recommended guidelines. In view of concerns about the safety of such practice, measures to change the prescribing pattern are required.
