| The purpose of this study was to assess the prescribing patterns in new cases of hypertensive patients who received medical services at Warinchamrab Hospital, Ubonratchathani province, between January 1st, 2008 to December 31st, 2008. New cases were identified from an electronic database, called HI, by ICD10 codes, I10 and I15. The prescribed medications were compared with Thai Hypertension Society = Guideline in the Treatment of Hypertension 2008 and The Seventh Report of The Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC VII).
The results showed that there were 55 new cases of hypertension. Of these, 9 cases (16.36%) had co-morbidity and 46 cases (83.64%) had no co-morbidity whereas 12 cases (26.09%) were in stage 1 (blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg) and 34 cases (73.91%) were in stage 2 (blood pressure ≥ 160/100 mmHg). Compared with Thai Hypertension Society = Guideline in the Treatment of Hypertension 2008, it was found that antihypertensive drugs were prescribed to cases with co-morbidity as recommended in 4 cases (44.44%) whereas 5 cases (55.56%) were not prescribed as recommended in guideline. Cases in stage 1 were prescribed as recommended in 2 cases (16.67%) whereas 10 cases (83.33%) were not prescribed as recommended in guideline. Cases in stage 2 were prescribed as recommended in 6 cases (17.65%) whereas 28 cases (82.35%) were not prescribed as recommended in guideline. Compared with JNC VII, it was found that antihypertensive drugs were prescribed to cases with co-morbidity as recommended in 4 cases (66.67%) whereas 2 cases (33.33%) were not prescribed as recommended in guideline. Cases in stage 1 were prescribed as recommended in 1 cases (8.33%) whereas 11 cases (91.67%) were not prescribed as recommended in guideline. Cases in stage 2 were prescribed as recommended in 4 cases (11.71%) whereas 30 cases (88.24%) were not prescribed as recommended in guideline. Most prescribing patterns did not prescribed as recommended were stage 2 hypertensive patients that did not receive or receive only one antihypertensive medication. In addition, the medication prescribed was not the first line drug as recommended by JNC VII such as thiazide diuretics despite the patients did not have any co-morbidity or were contraindicated.
|