Table 4.
Trends in Prescription Medication Use among Patients with Heart Failure
| Variable | 1988–1994 (n = 581) | 1999–2002 (n = 280) | 2003–2008 (n = 534) | Change, 1988–2008 (95% CI) | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of prescription medications | 4.1 (0.2) | 5.1 (0.3) | 6.4 (0.2) | 2.4 (1.8–2.9) | <.001 |
| Cardiovascular medications | |||||
| Diuretic | 44.8 (2.9) | 51.2 (3.6) | 57.6 (2.3) | 12.8 (5.7–19.9) | <.001 |
| ACE or ARB | 24.0 (2.7) | 47.1 (3.5) | 55.0 (2.6) | 31.1 (23.9–38.3) | <.001 |
| β-blocker | 15.4 (2.2) | 36.0 (4.5) | 51.8 (2.5) | 36.3 (30.1–42.6) | <.001 |
| HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors | 6.4 (2.1) | 36.0 (3.8) | 45.5 (2.7) | 39.1 (32.3–45.9) | <.001 |
| Aspirin | 34.4 (2.8) | 36.5 (3.2) | 28.3 (3.1)a | −6.0 (−13.9–1.9) | .13 |
| Calcium channel blocker | 38.8 (3.3) | 28.1 (4.5) | 22.9 (2.0) | −15.9 (−23.3-−8.4) | <.001 |
| Potassium chloride | 15.9 (2.3) | 19.5 (2.7) | 19.5 (2.3) | 3.6 (−3.0–10.2) | .28 |
| Warfarin | 9.7 (1.7) | 20.6 (2.7) | 17.9 (2.1) | 8.2 (2.9–13.6) | .003 |
| Digoxin | 30.0 (2.9) | 20.0 (1.7) | 14.7 (2.1) | −15.3 (−22.2-−8.4) | <.001 |
| Antianginal agent | 30.7 (2.6) | 24.3 (2.4) | 12.5 (1.4) | −18.2 (−24.0-−12.3) | <.001 |
| Antiarrhythmic agent | 11.9 (2.1) | 2.5 (1.2)b | 5.7 (1.0) | −6.1 (−10.7-−1.6) | .009 |
| Noncardiovascular medications | |||||
| Antidiabetic agent | 18.2 (2.2) | 24.5 (3.1) | 31.1 (2.2) | 12.9 (6.6–19.3) | <.001 |
| PPI or H2 Antagonist | 13.8 (2.0) | 23.0 (2.7) | 32.3 (3.3) | 18.5 (10.7–26.2) | <.001 |
| Levothyroxine | 4.8 (1.4) | 10.8 (2.2) | 18.2 (1.8) | 13.5 (9.2–17.7) | <.001 |
| Bronchodilator | 11.1 (2.4) | 9.3 (2.2) | 14.2 (1.7) | 3.1 (−1.9–8.1) | .22 |
ACE = angiotensin-converting enzyme; ARB = angiotensin receptor blocker; CI = confidence interval; HMG-CoA = 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A; PPI = proton pump inhibitor.
All variables are in weighted % or mean (standard error).
a
Data available only for 2003–2004.
b
Statistically unreliable.