Open AccessEffect of patient and treatment factors on persistence with antihypertensive treatment: A population-based study
Author(s) -
Sara Malo,
Isabel Aguilar-Palacio,
Cristina Feja,
María Jesús Lallana,
Javier Armesto,
María José Rabanaque
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0245610
Subject(s) - discontinuation , medicine , persistence (discontinuity) , population , medical prescription , pharmacy , combination therapy , pharmacotherapy , adverse effect , antihypertensive drug , proportional hazards model , pharmacoepidemiology , retrospective cohort study , observational study , pharmacology , blood pressure , environmental health , family medicine , geotechnical engineering , engineering
Purpose To analyze patterns of antihypertensive drug use among new users in a Southern European population, and identify patient- and treatment-related factors that influence persistence. Methods This is a retrospective observational study of new antihypertensive drug users aged ≥40 years in Aragón, Spain. Information on antihypertensive drugs (2014–2016) prescribed and dispensed at pharmacies via the public health system were collected from a regional electronic population-based pharmacy database. Persistence was assessed using the gap method. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were conducted to analyze patterns of use and factors that influence persistence. Results The 25,582 new antihypertensive drug users in Aragón during the study period were prescribed antihypertensive drugs in monotherapy (73.3%), fixed combination (13.9%), free combination (9.1%), or other (3.7%). One in five received antihypertensive drugs within 15 days of the prescription date, but not after. During the first year of follow-up, 38.6% of the study population remained persistent. The likelihood of treatment discontinuation was higher for participants who were male, aged ≥80 years, and received an antihypertensive drug in monotherapy compared with fixed combination. Conclusion Overall persistence with antihypertensive therapy was poor, and was influenced by the sex, age and type of therapy. Fixed combinations appear to be a good choice for initial therapy, especially in patients with a higher risk of discontinuation. Nonetheless, adverse drug effects and the patient’s preferences and clinical profile should be taken into account.