BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases. To evaluate sex-specific differences in the prescription pattern of antihypertensive therapy, registry data from the regional health insurance fund "Burgenländische Gebietskrankenkasse" (BGKK) were analyzed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a retrospective cross sectional cohort study data from 41499 individuals covered by the BGKK in 2003, and who had been treated with cardiovascular drugs were analyzed. Data were evaluated according to drug classifications. RESULTS: Among subjects treated with cardiovascular medication 38.3 % were males and 61.7 % females. The drug classes acting on the renin-angiotensin-system were prescribed more frequently than beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics and antihypertensives. Women were treated more often with diuretics and beta-blockers, whereas men received more antihypertensives and drugs acting on the renin angiotensin system (p < 0.01 between groups of sexes). CONCLUSION: Sex-specific differences exist regarding the prevalence of antihypertensive drug prescriptions between men and women. Further, the prescription pattern of equivalently effective medications differs between sexes.
BACKGROUND:Hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases. To evaluate sex-specific differences in the prescription pattern of antihypertensive therapy, registry data from the regional health insurance fund "Burgenländische Gebietskrankenkasse" (BGKK) were analyzed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a retrospective cross sectional cohort study data from 41499 individuals covered by the BGKK in 2003, and who had been treated with cardiovascular drugs were analyzed. Data were evaluated according to drug classifications. RESULTS: Among subjects treated with cardiovascular medication 38.3 % were males and 61.7 % females. The drug classes acting on the renin-angiotensin-system were prescribed more frequently than beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics and antihypertensives. Women were treated more often with diuretics and beta-blockers, whereas men received more antihypertensives and drugs acting on the renin angiotensin system (p < 0.01 between groups of sexes). CONCLUSION: Sex-specific differences exist regarding the prevalence of antihypertensive drug prescriptions between men and women. Further, the prescription pattern of equivalently effective medications differs between sexes.
Authors: Katharina Wolf-Maier; Richard S Cooper; José R Banegas; Simona Giampaoli; Hans-Werner Hense; Michel Joffres; Mika Kastarinen; Neil Poulter; Paola Primatesta; Fernando Rodríguez-Artalejo; Birgitta Stegmayr; Michael Thamm; Jaakko Tuomilehto; Diego Vanuzzo; Fenicia Vescio Journal: JAMA Date: 2003-05-14 Impact factor: 56.272