J Korean Acad Fam Med.  2006 Sep;27(9):706-712.

Selection of Antihypertensive Drugs in Hypertensive Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: In Pohang-Gyeongju Primary Care Research Network

• Jang CW
• Ha KH
• Sung NJ
• Lee DW
• Cho KR
• Jung SH
• Choi S
• Ki JM
• Kim SW
• Choi KJ
• Kim DI
• Song JS
• Choi YK
• Song HN
• Park KH

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker is usually recommended for hypertensive patients with diabetes mellitus. No reports have been made on antihypertensive agents prescribed for these patients in private practice.
METHODS
During a one month period of December 2004, 169 hypertensive patients with diabetes mellitus on their prescribed antihypertensive agents by ten family physicians were analyzed. The influencing factors for such prescriptions were analyzed by directly visiting each physicians who prescribed them.
RESULTS
A total of 21 antihypertensive agents were prescribed by these family physicians. Single calcium channel blocker therapy was the most common with 55 cases (32.5%), followed by 20 cases (11.8%) of single angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor therapy and 16 cases of single therapy of Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker. The low frequency of prescribing the Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker was due to insufficient effect (7), lack of information (5), resistance from the patients from changing the medications (4) and expensive costs (4).
CONCLUSION
In prescribing antihypertensive agents for patients with diabetes mellitus, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker were chosen less. In order to decrease the incidence of complications in these patients, such agents should be prescribed more.

Keyword

diabetes mellitus; hypertension; angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor; angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker

MeSH Terms

Antihypertensive Agents*
Calcium Channels
Diabetes Mellitus*
Humans
Hypertension
Incidence
Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
Physicians, Family
Prescriptions
Primary Health Care*
Private Practice
Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1
Antihypertensive Agents
Calcium Channels
Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1