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Alsugeir D, Adesuyan M, Talaulikar V, Wei L, Whittlesea C, Brauer R. Common mental health diagnoses arising from or coinciding with menopausal transition and prescribing of SSRIs/SNRIs medications and other psychotropic medications. J Affect Disord 2024; 364:259-265. [PMID: 39142573 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women with menopausal transition (MT) have an elevated risk of experiencing common mental health diagnoses (CMHD: depression or anxiety). There is no recent data comparing the rate, and treatment, of CMHD between men and women. METHODS In this population-based study, incidence rates (IR) per 100 person-years-at-risk (PYAR) for men and women ≥45 years registered with an UK primary care practice between 2010 and 2021 were estimated. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) of CMHD were estimated using men as a reference. We measured first prescriptions for psychotropic medications received within 12 months after CMHD. For selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) /selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), we measured the IR of prescribing per 100 PYAR, by 10-year bands. Proportion of SSRIs/SNRIs prescribing was estimated per 100 persons. RESULTS Rates of anxiety and depressive disorders were 1.68 and 1.69 per 100 PYAR in women aged 45-54 years-old compared to 0.91 and 1.20 per 100 PYAR in men, with IRR of 1.84 (95 % CI 1.72-1.97) and 1.44 (1.35-1.53) respectively. SSRIs/SNRIs were the most prescribed medication; in 2021, IRs for SSRIs/SNRIs were 13.4 per 100 PYAR in both sexes. In 2021, the proportion of SSRIs/SNRIs prescribing was 50.67 per 100 women and 41.91 per 100 men. LIMITATIONS MT is assumed based on women's age as menopause onset is rarely recorded in primary care databases. CONCLUSIONS Women ≥45 years experienced more CMHD compared to men, especially 45-54 years-olds, which coincides with MT. The proportion of SSRIs/SNRIs prescribing was higher in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Alsugeir
- Research Department of Practice and Policy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, UK; Pharmacy Practice Department, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Matthew Adesuyan
- Research Department of Practice and Policy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, UK
| | | | - Li Wei
- Research Department of Practice and Policy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, UK
| | - Cate Whittlesea
- Research Department of Practice and Policy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, UK
| | - Ruth Brauer
- Research Department of Practice and Policy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, UK.
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Gorton HC, Archer C, Algahtani T, Mughal F, Copeland CS. Involvement of propranolol in suicides: cross-sectional study using coroner-reported data. BJPsych Open 2024; 10:e127. [PMID: 38828685 PMCID: PMC11363079 DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2024.714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Propranolol is a beta-blocker medication indicated mostly for heart rhythm conditions and for physical symptoms of anxiety. Prescriptions for propranolol in the UK have increased since 2008. Recently, there have been concerns about the involvement of propranolol in intentional poisonings, but such deaths are not routinely reported. Therefore, use of coroner-reported and toxicology data enables unique investigation into the scale of involvement of propranolol in suicide. AIMS To describe the extent to which propranolol is involved in suicides, including patterns over time and characteristics of people whose suicide involved propranolol compared with other suicides. METHOD Data were derived from the National Programme on Substance Use Mortality (NPSUM). All suicides and deaths of undetermined intent between 2010 and 2021 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were extracted, and a subset was identified where propranolol was involved in death. RESULTS There were 4473 suicides of which 297 (6.6%) involved propranolol, with the proportion involving propranolol nearly quadrupling during the study period (3.4% v. 12.3%). Compared with all other suicides, a greater proportion of propranolol suicides were in women (56.6% v. 37.1%) and in people with diagnoses of depression (39.1% v. 27.1%) and anxiety (22.2% v. 8.6%). When suicide involved propranolol, an antidepressant was detected at post-mortem in 81.8% of deaths, most commonly a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) (51.5%), and most often citalopram (24.6%). CONCLUSIONS A small number, but increasing proportion, of suicides reported to the NPSUM involve propranolol. Vigilance to the combined toxicity profile of medicines used alongside propranolol may be pertinent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley C. Gorton
- Aston Pharmacy School, Aston University, UK; and School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, UK
| | | | - Thikra Algahtani
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Medicine Research, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, UK; and National Programme on Substance Use Mortality, London, UK
| | | | - Caroline S. Copeland
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Medicine Research, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, UK; and National Programme on Substance Use Mortality, London, UK
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Lynch T, Ryan C, Presseau J, Foster DE, Huff C, Bennett K, Cadogan C. Development and validation of a theory-based questionnaire examining barriers and facilitators to discontinuing long-term benzodiazepine receptor agonist use. Res Social Adm Pharm 2024; 20:163-171. [PMID: 37919219 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2023.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term use of benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZRAs) is a persistent healthcare challenge and poses patient safety risks. Interventions underpinned by behaviour change theory are needed to support discontinuation of long-term BZRA use. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire based on the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to examine mediators of behaviour change relating to the discontinuation of long-term BZRA use. METHODS An initial 52 item questionnaire was developed using the 14 domains of TDF version 2 and iteratively refined over two rounds. The questionnaire was disseminated online via online support groups that focused on BZRAs to community-based adults with either current or previous experience of taking BZRAs on a long-term basis (≥3 months). Confirmatory factor analysis was undertaken to assess the questionnaire's reliability, discriminant validity and goodness of fit. The Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR), Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) and Comparative Fit Index (CFI) were calculated. RESULTS Following an iterative process of adjustment, the results obtained from confirmatory factor analysis resulted in the final questionnaire consisting of 29 items across nine theoretical domains. The internal consistency reliability values across these domains ranged from 0.62 to 0.85. For the final model, the SRMR was 0.23, the RMSEA was 0.11 and the CFI was 0.6. CONCLUSIONS The questionnaire offers a potential tool that could be used to identify domains that need to be targeted as part of a behaviour change intervention at an individual patient level. Further research is needed to assess the questionnaire's acceptability and usability, and to develop a scoring system so that domains can be prioritised and subsequently targeted as part of an intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Lynch
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Ireland
| | - Cristín Ryan
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Justin Presseau
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada; Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - D E Foster
- Benzodiazepine Action Work Group, Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Christy Huff
- Benzodiazepine Information Coalition, Midvale, UT, USA
| | - Kathleen Bennett
- Data Science Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Cathal Cadogan
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
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Lacroix M, Abdelmalek F, Everett K, Salach L, Bevan L, Burton V, Ivers NM, Tadrous M. Effects of an academic detailing service on benzodiazepine prescribing patterns in primary care. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289147. [PMID: 37498812 PMCID: PMC10374092 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Benzodiazepines are commonly used to treat anxiety and/or insomnia but are associated with substantial safety risks. Changes to prescribing patterns in primary care may be facilitated through tailored quality improvement strategies. Academic detailing (AD) may be an effective method of promoting safe benzodiazepine prescribing. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of AD on benzodiazepine prescribing among family physicians. METHODS AND FINDINGS We used an interrupted time series matched cohort design using population-based administrative claims databases. Participants were family physicians practicing in Ontario, Canada. The intervention was a voluntary AD service which involves brief service-oriented educational outreach visits by a trained pharmacist. The focus was on key messages for safer benzodiazepine prescribing in primary care with an emphasis on judicious prescribing to older adults aged 65 and older. Physicians in the intervention group were those who received at least one AD visit on benzodiazepine use between June 2019 and February 2020. Physicians in the control group were included if they did not receive an AD visit during the study period. Intervention physicians were matched to control physicians 1:4, on a variety of characteristics. Physicians were excluded if they had inactive billing or billing of less than 100 unique patient visits in the calendar year prior to the index date. The primary outcome was mean total benzodiazepine prescriptions at the level of the physician. Secondary outcomes were rate (per 100) of patients with long-term prescriptions, high-risk prescriptions, newly started prescriptions, and benzodiazepine-related patient harms. Data were analyzed using a repeated measures pre-post comparison with an intention-to-treat. Analyses were then stratified to focus on effects within higher-prescribing physicians. There were 1337 physicians were included in the study; 237 who received AD and 1064 who did not. There was no significant change in benzodiazepine prescribing when considering all physicians in the intervention and matched control groups. Although not significant, a greater reduction in total benzodiazepine prescriptions was observed amongst the highest-volume prescribing physicians who received the intervention (% change in slope = -0.53, 95%CI = -2.34 to 1.30, p > .05). The main limitation of our study was the voluntary nature of the AD intervention, which may have introduced a self-selection bias of physicians most open to changing their prescribing. CONCLUSION This study suggests that future AD interventions should focus on physicians with the greatest room for improvement to their prescribing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meagan Lacroix
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fred Abdelmalek
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Lena Salach
- Centre for Effective Practice, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lindsay Bevan
- Centre for Effective Practice, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Noah M Ivers
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mina Tadrous
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Leslie Dan faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Anmella G, Sanabra M, Primé-Tous M, Segú X, Solanes A, Ruíz V, Morilla I, Also Fontanet A, Sant E, Murgui S, Sans-Corrales M, Martínez-Aran A, Fico G, De Prisco M, Oliva V, Murru A, Zahn R, Young AH, Vicens V, Viñas-Bardolet C, Aparicio-Nogué V, Martínez-Cerdá JF, Mas A, Carreras B, Blanch J, Radua J, Fullana MA, Cavero M, Vieta E, Hidalgo-Mazzei D. Antidepressants overuse in primary care: Prescription trends between 2010 and 2019 in Catalonia. REVISTA DE PSIQUIATRIA Y SALUD MENTAL 2022:S1888-9891(22)00137-9. [PMID: 37758595 DOI: 10.1016/j.rpsm.2022.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There has been an increase in the prescription of antidepressants (AD) in primary care (PC). However, it is unclear whether this was explained by a rise in diagnoses with an indication for AD. We investigated the changes in frequency and the variables associated with AD prescription in Catalonia, Spain. METHODS We retrieved AD prescription, sociodemographic, and health-related data using individual electronic health records from a population-representative sample (N=947.698) attending PC between 2010 and 2019. Prescription of AD was calculated using DHD (Defined Daily Doses per 1000 inhabitants/day). We compared cumulative changes in DHD with cumulative changes in diagnoses with an indication for AD during the study period. We used Poisson regression to examine sociodemographic and health-related variables associated with AD prescription. RESULTS Both AD prescription and mental health diagnoses with an indication for AD gradually increased. At the end of the study period, DHD of AD prescriptions and mental health diagnoses with an indication for AD reached cumulative increases of 404% and 49% respectively. Female sex (incidence rate ratio (IRR)=2.83), older age (IRR=25.43), and lower socio-economic status (IRR=1.35) were significantly associated with increased risk of being prescribed an AD. CONCLUSIONS Our results from a large and representative cohort of patients confirm a steady increase of AD prescriptions that is not explained by a parallel increase in mental health diagnoses with an indication for AD. A trend on AD off-label and over-prescriptions in the PC system in Catalonia can be inferred from this dissociation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Anmella
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Mental Health Research Networking Center (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Miriam Sanabra
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia Primé-Tous
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Segú
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aleix Solanes
- Mental Health Research Networking Center (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Imaging of Mood- and Anxiety-Related Disorders (IMARD) Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Victoria Ruíz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ivette Morilla
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonieta Also Fontanet
- CAP Casanova, Consorci d'Atenció Primaria de Salut Barcelona Esquerra (CAPSBE), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisenda Sant
- CAP Casanova, Consorci d'Atenció Primaria de Salut Barcelona Esquerra (CAPSBE), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra Murgui
- CAP Comte Borrell, Consorci d'Atenció Primaria de Salut Barcelona Esquerra (CAPSBE), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia Sans-Corrales
- CAP Comte Borrell, Consorci d'Atenció Primaria de Salut Barcelona Esquerra (CAPSBE), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anabel Martínez-Aran
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Mental Health Research Networking Center (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Giovanna Fico
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Mental Health Research Networking Center (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Michele De Prisco
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Mental Health Research Networking Center (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Vincenzo Oliva
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Mental Health Research Networking Center (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrea Murru
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Mental Health Research Networking Center (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Roland Zahn
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Allan H Young
- Centre for Affective Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Clara Viñas-Bardolet
- Data Analytics Programme for Health Research and Innovation (PADRIS), Catalan Agency for Health Quality and Evaluation (AQuAS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vicenç Aparicio-Nogué
- Data Analytics Programme for Health Research and Innovation (PADRIS), Catalan Agency for Health Quality and Evaluation (AQuAS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Francisco Martínez-Cerdá
- Data Analytics Programme for Health Research and Innovation (PADRIS), Catalan Agency for Health Quality and Evaluation (AQuAS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ariadna Mas
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bernat Carreras
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Blanch
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Abi Global Health, Spain; Mental Health and Addiction Programme, Department of Health, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain; President of the European Association of Psychosomatic Medicine, Spain
| | - Joaquim Radua
- Mental Health Research Networking Center (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Imaging of Mood- and Anxiety-Related Disorders (IMARD) Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Centre for Psychiatric Research and Education, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Miquel A Fullana
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Mental Health Research Networking Center (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Imaging of Mood- and Anxiety-Related Disorders (IMARD) Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Myriam Cavero
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Mental Health Research Networking Center (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduard Vieta
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Mental Health Research Networking Center (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Diego Hidalgo-Mazzei
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Bipolar and Depressive Disorders Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Mental Health Research Networking Center (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Centre for Affective Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
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Rouette J, McDonald EG, Schuster T, Brophy JM, Azoulay L. Treatment and prescribing trends of antihypertensive drugs in 2.7 million UK primary care patients over 31 years: a population-based cohort study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e057510. [PMID: 35688595 PMCID: PMC9189823 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe the prescribing trends of antihypertensive drugs in primary care patients and assess the trajectory of antihypertensive drug prescriptions, from first-line to third-line, in patients with hypertension according to changes to the United Kingdom (UK) hypertension management guidelines. DESIGN Population-based cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS We used the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink, an electronic primary care database representative of the UK population. Between 1988 and 2018, we identified all adult patients with at least one prescription for a thiazide diuretic, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, angiotensin receptor blocker, beta-blocker or calcium channel blocker (CCB). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES We estimated the period prevalence of patients with antihypertensive drug prescriptions for each calendar year over a 31-year period. Treatment trajectory was assessed by identifying patients with hypertension newly initiating an antihypertensive drug, and treatment changes were defined by a switch or add-on of a new class. This cohort was stratified before and after 2007, the year following important changes to UK hypertension management guidelines. RESULTS The cohort included 2 709 241 patients. The prevalence of primary care patients with antihypertensive drug prescriptions increased from 7.8% (1988) to 21.9% (2018) and was observed for all major classes except thiazide diuretics. Patients with hypertension initiated thiazide diuretics (36.8%) and beta-blockers (23.6%) as first-line drugs before 2007, and ACE inhibitors (39.9%) and CCBs (31.8%) after 2007. After 2007, 17.3% were not prescribed guideline-recommended first-line agents. Overall, patients were prescribed a median of 2 classes (IQR 1-2) after first-line treatment. CONCLUSION Nearly one-quarter of primary care patients were prescribed antihypertensive drugs by the end of the study period. Most patients with hypertension initiated guideline-recommended first-line agents. Not all patients, particularly females, were prescribed recommended agents however, potentially leading to suboptimal cardiovascular outcomes. Future research should aim to better understand the implication of this finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Rouette
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Emily G McDonald
- Division of General Internal Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Tibor Schuster
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - James M Brophy
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Departmenf of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Laurent Azoulay
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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