Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2013 Nov;22(8):e568-75.
doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2013.06.022. Epub 2013 Jul 17.

Trends in antihypertensive drug prescription patterns among ambulatory stroke patients in the United States, 2000-2009

Bruce Ovbiagele  1 , Karin Ernstrom, Daniela Markovic, Rema Raman
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Trends in antihypertensive drug prescription patterns among ambulatory stroke patients in the United States, 2000-2009

Bruce Ovbiagele et al. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2013 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Although the ambulatory setting is recognized as the best arena for optimizing antihypertensive drug treatment after a stroke, little is known about recent office-based antihypertensive drug treatment patterns in the United States. We assessed national trends in antihypertensive treatment for stroke patients in office-based medical practice.

Methods: Data from the 2000-2009 National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys were analyzed comprising outpatient visits to physicians in office-based practice by patients aged 40 years or older with a diagnosis of stroke (weighted estimate=46,317,269). The main outcome measure was visits with a prescription of antihypertensive medication(s).

Results: The proportion of total visits that included a prescription of antihypertensive medication was 35.6% in 2000-2002, 29.5% in 2003-2005, and 49.3% in 2006-2009 (P=.002); 50.9% were primary care physician (PCP) visits versus 26.2% neurologist visits (P<.0001). Age-adjusted logistic regression analyses confirmed a higher prescription rate in 2006-2009 versus 2000-2002 (1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-2.96) and PCP versus neurologists (2.82; 95% CI, 1.86-4.27). Use of 2 or more agent classes was 31.6% in 2000-2002, 44.2% in 2003-2005, and 56.7% in 2006-2009 (P=.014). Age-adjusted logistic regression analyses confirmed a higher prescription rate of 2 or more agent classes in 2006-2009 versus 2000-2002 (2.96; 95% CI, 1.40-6.24). There were no significant differences in agent class type or number between neurologists versus PCPs.

Conclusions: Over the last decade, there was a significant rise in the use of antihypertensive drugs and combination of agent classes for patients aged 40 years or older seen in an ambulatory setting with a diagnosis of stroke. PCPs were more likely than neurologists to prescribe these agents.

Keywords: Stroke; antihypertensive; blood pressure; health services; hypertension; target goals.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Roger VL, Go AS, Lloyd-Jones DM, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics--2012 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. Jan 3;125(1):e2–e220. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Furie KL, Kasner SE, Adams RJ, et al. Guidelines for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the american heart association/american stroke association. Stroke. Jan;42(1):227–276. - PubMed
    1. Hardie K, Hankey GJ, Jamrozik K, Broadhurst RJ, Anderson C. Ten-year survival after first-ever stroke in the perth community stroke study. Stroke. 2003 Aug;34(8):1842–1846. - PubMed
    1. Hardie K, Hankey GJ, Jamrozik K, Broadhurst RJ, Anderson C. Ten-year risk of first recurrent stroke and disability after first-ever stroke in the Perth Community Stroke Study. Stroke. 2004 Mar;35(3):731–735. - PubMed
    1. Moroney JT, Bagiella E, Paik MC, Sacco RL, Desmond DW. Risk Factors for Early Recurrence After Ischemic Stroke : The Role of Stroke Syndrome and Subtype. Stroke. 1998 Oct 1;29(10):2118–2124. 1998. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances