The Annals Visit the PharmaCE website!
home help contact us subscription past issues search current issue
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

The Annals of Pharmacotherapy: Vol. 37, No. 10, pp. 1511-1517. DOI 10.1345/aph.1C430
© 2003 Harvey Whitney Books Company.
This Article
Right arrow Résumé Freely available
Right arrow Extracto Freely available
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow PDF
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Articles Ahead of Print
Right arrow [Order Reprint]
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Khaja, K. A J. A.
Right arrow Articles by Damanhori, A. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Khaja, K. A J. A.
Right arrow Articles by Damanhori, A. H.

Treatment of Hypertension in Bahrain

Khalid A Jassim Al Khaja, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine & Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

Reginald P Sequeira, PhD

Associate Professor and Chairman, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine & Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University

Awatif HH Damanhori, MBBCh

Family Physician, Primary Care, Ministry of Health, Manama

Reprints: Khalid A Jassim Al Khaja PhD, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, College of Medicine & Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, PO Box 22979, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, FAX 0973 271090, khlidj{at}agu.edu.bh

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the adequacy of blood pressure (BP) control and therapeutic appropriateness of antihypertensive drug(s) prescribed, taking into consideration laboratory parameters and the presence of comorbidities, in hypertensive patients.

METHODS: Therapeutic audit of medical records of hypertensive patients from 9 primary care health centers in Bahrain using World Health Organization/International Society of Hypertension guidelines criteria.

RESULTS: The recommended target BP <140/<90 mm Hg was achieved in 37 (16.5%) patients with a mean BP of 126 ± 6 / 80 ± 5 mm Hg. Groups with inadequate BP control were 15 (6.7%) with normal systolic BP (SBP) and high diastolic BP (DBP), 59 (26.3%) with high SBP and normal DBP, and 113 (50.4%) with high SBP and high DBP. Pulse pressure of the controlled group was 46.3 ± 5.9, whereas pulse pressures of the inadequately controlled groups with BP cutoffs <140/>=90, >=140/<90, and >=140/>=90 mm Hg were 37.4 ± 6.1, 72.7 ± 13.5, and 59.7 ± 13.6 mm Hg, respectively. Of the 281 treated hypertensive patients, 56.6% were on monotherapy; BP of patients on combination therapy versus monotherapy did not differ. The choice of antihypertensives in relation to comorbidities and laboratory findings revealed that many hypertensive patients with dyslipidemia were on ß-blockers and diuretics, 39.3% of patients with ischemic heart disease were on ß-blockers, approximately 20% of patients with hyperuricemia were on diuretics, and 27.6% and 10.4% of patients with isolated systolic hypertension were on diuretics and calcium-channel blockers, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: BP control was achieved in 1 of 6 treated patients. In several instances, metabolic abnormalities and comorbidities were apparently not considered while prescribing antihypertensives. A rational drug therapy approach is needed in treating hypertension to achieve better control rates.

Key Words: comorbidities, drug management, hypertension

Published Online, August 15, 2003. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1C430




homecopy help contact us subscription past issues search current issue
Copyright © 2003 by Harvey Whitney Books Company.