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Failure of evidence-based medicine in the treatment of hypertension in older patients

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Throughout the 1990s, the Joint National Committee on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure recommended initial antihypertensive therapy with a thiazide diuretic or a β-blocker based on evidence from randomized, controlled trials, unless an indication existed for another drug class. The committee also recommended β-blockers in hypertensive patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI), and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Our objective was to determine whether prescribing practices for older hypertensive patients are consistent with evidence-based guidelines.

METHODS: We examined prescription patterns from January 1, 1991 through December 31, 1995 for 23,748 patients 65 years or older with a new diagnosis of hypertension from the New Jersey Medicaid program and that state’s Pharmacy Assistance for the Aged and Disabled program (PAAD). We linked drug use data with information on demographic variables and comorbid medical conditions.

RESULTS: During the study period, calcium channel blockers were the most commonly prescribed initial therapy for hypertension (41%), followed by ACE inhibitors (24%), thiazide diuretics (17%), and β-blockers (10%). Eliminating patients with diabetes mellitus, CHF, angina, or history of MI did not substantially affect these results. Overall, initial use of a thiazide declined from 22% in 1991 to 10% in 1995, while initial use of a calcium channel blocker increased from 28% to 43%, despite publication during these years of studies demonstrating a benefit of thiazides in older patients. Only 15% of older hypertensive patients with a history of MI received β-blockers.

CONCLUSIONS: Prescribing practices for older hypertensive patients are not consistent with evidence-based guidelines. Interventions are needed to encourage evidence-driven prescribing practices for the treatment of hypertension.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Program for the Analysis of Clinical Strategies, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, USA

    Eric L. Knight MD, MPH, Robert J. Glynn ScD, PhD, Raisa Levin MS, David A. Ganz BA & Jerry Avorn MD

  2. the Division on Aging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass

    Eric L. Knight MD, MPH & Jerry Avorn MD

Authors
  1. Eric L. Knight MD, MPH
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  2. Robert J. Glynn ScD, PhD
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  3. Raisa Levin MS
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  4. David A. Ganz BA
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  5. Jerry Avorn MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eric L. Knight MD, MPH.

Additional information

Dr. Knight was supported by a fellowship from The Medical Foundation and a grant from the Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC) of the Harvard Medical School Division on Aging.

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Knight, E.L., Glynn, R.J., Levin, R. et al. Failure of evidence-based medicine in the treatment of hypertension in older patients. J GEN INTERN MED 15, 702–709 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2000.91020.x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2000.91020.x

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