[Angina pectoris--drug therapy and costs in a medical outpatient clinic in Switzerland]

Abstract

Prescriptions and costs of pharmacotherapy for exertional angina pectoris were studied in males treated in 1975, 1980 or 1985 at the outpatient clinic of the university of Zürich. Monotherapy was increasingly replaced by two drug regimens (1975 43%, 1980 59%, 1985 35%) or by triple therapy (1975 2%, 1980 10%, 1985 28%) respectively. In 1985 beta-blocking agents and calcium antagonists were more frequently used instead of nitrates in monotherapy. In combined treatment modalities, nitrates associated with calcium antagonists or calcium antagonists combined with beta blockers were used increasingly in 1985. The most used substances in 1985 were isosorbide dinitrate, atenolol and nifedipine. In 1985 nonselective beta blockers (propranolol, pindolol) were administered almost exclusively. The number of tablets administered per day decreased slightly over the years, while the doses of most commonly prescribed drugs increased. The cost per patient doubled during the observation period. Pharmacotherapy of stable angina calculated on the basis of 1985 pharmacy prices rose from 577 SFr. in 1975 to 1180 SFr. in 1985.