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Prescription pattern of antihypertensive medications and blood pressure control among hypertensive outpatients at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Benin City, Nigeria
Adejumo, Oluseyi; Okaka, Enajite & Iyawe, Ikponmwosa
Abstract
Background The prevalence of hypertension and attendant cardiovascular disease burden is increasing globally. Auditing antihypertensive prescriptions
and assessing patients with hypertension for blood pressure (BP) control are important steps on the path to reducing hypertension-related
morbidity, mortality, and health expenditure. This study assessed the prescription pattern of antihypertensive medications and BP
control among hypertensive outpatients at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Benin City, Nigeria.
Methods This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that involved 224 hypertensive patients. Information obtained from participants included
sociodemographic data, duration of hypertension, history of diabetes mellitus, and number and classes of antihypertensive medications
used. Good BP control was defined as a mean BP less than 140/90 mmHg.
Results The mean age of hypertensive subjects was 59.6 ± 12.2 years, with a male:female ratio of 1:1.9 and a median duration of hypertension
of 5 years. Twenty-four participants (10.7%) had both hypertension and diabetes. The common classes of antihypertensive medications
used were diuretics, calcium channel blockers (CCB), and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs). Forty participants (17.8%)
were on monotherapy, while the rest were on multidrug therapy. The most commonly prescribed antihypertensive combination was
diuretic + ACEI/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), followed by diuretic + CCB + ACEI/ARB.
Good BP control was observed in 120 participants (53.6%). The proportion of patients with good BP control was largest among patients
on monotherapy and those with tertiary education, though these observations were not statistically significant.
Conclusions The pattern of prescribed antihypertensive medications complied with recommended guidelines. Blood pressure control amongst
hypertensive patients was unsatisfactory. More efforts should be geared towards better BP control.
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