Combined antihypertensive therapy in real clinical practice. Focus on fixed combinations of antihypertensive drugs (according to the data of outpatient registries RECVASA and PROFILE)

Abstract

Aim. To assess the frequency of prescription of different combinations of the main groups of antihypertensive drugs (AHD) and their fixed combinations to patients with arterial hypertension by physicians according to two outpatient registries. Material and methods. Hypertension was diagnosed in 3648 (98.9%) patients of the RECVASA registry and in 1230 patients of the PROFILE registry (80.3%). Data on doctor's prescriptions reflected in the outpatient charts of patients of the both registries were analyzed. The following information of the prescribed antihypertensive therapy was studied in details: AHD, including fixed and free combinations, original and generic AHD. Data on the achievement/ non-achievement of target blood pressure (BP) level in patients with hypertension were also analyzed. Results. Women were predominated among hypertensive patients of the RECVASA registry, (71.9%). The ratio of men and women was close to 1:1 in the PROFILE registry. Patients of the registry RECVASA were older: the average age was 66.2±12.8 years compared to 63.7±11.4 years in patients of the PROFILE registry, respectively. The majority of patients in the RECVASA registry (61.4%) had hypertension of the 3rd degree, patients of the PROFILE registry revealed mostly hypertension of the 2 degree (53.3%). Fixed combinations were prescribed to 14% of patients in the registry of RECVASA and to 16% of patients in the PROFILE registry. Doctors of the PROFILE registry often prescribed original AHD; 75% of patients from RECVASA registry received gene-rics. The most popular combinations in both registries were combinations of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers with thiazide/thiazide-like diuretics. The target level of BP was more often achieved in the patients of the PROFILE registry: 37.6% vs 26.1% in the RECVASA registry. Conclusion. The results of the analysis of the presented registries demonstrate the low frequency of prescribing fixed combinations in real clinical practice, the inertness of physicians in achieving the target BP levels and the low efficiency of antihypertensive therapy.