Table 4.
Distribution of first-line therapy prescribed in a population-based cohort of patients with hypertension by calendar year of initiation
| Treatment | 2001–2005 | 2006–2010 | 2011+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| (N = 215,030) | (N = 204,369) | (N = 182,615) | |
| ACE inhibitors | 35,478 (16.5%) | 80,855 (39.6%) | 69,395 (38.0%) |
| Thiazide diuretics | 80,983 (37.7%) | 32,049 (15.7%) | 9,488 (5.2%) |
| CCBs | 20,285 (9.4%) | 46,856 (22.9%) | 66,086 (36.2%) |
| Beta-blockers | 42,943 (20.0%) | 16,371 (8.0%) | 14,395 (7.9%) |
| Loop diuretics | 11,331 (5.3%) | 11,151 (5.5%) | 10,164 (5.6%) |
| ARBs | 6,612 (3.1%) | 5,568 (2.7%) | 3,797 (2.1%) |
| Central-acting agents | 3,908 (1.8%) | 3,998 (2.0%) | 3,335 (1.8%) |
| Beta-blockers + thiazide diuretics | 2,730 (1.3%) | 279 (0.1%) | 77 (0.0%) |
| Alpha-blockers | 1,738 (0.8%) | 725 (0.4%) | 409 (0.2%) |
| Loop diuretics + potassium diuretics | 1,222 (0.6%) | 564 (0.3%) | 213 (0.1%) |
| ACE inhibitors + thiazide diuretics | 1,298 (0.6%) | 752 (0.4%) | 366 (0.2%) |
| ACE inhibitors + beta-blockers | 667 (0.3%) | 912 (0.4%) | 887 (0.5%) |
| ACE inhibitors + CCBs | 449 (0.2%) | 793 (0.4%) | 985 (0.5%) |
| Potassium diuretics | 593 (0.3%) | 594 (0.3%) | 599 (0.3%) |
| CCBs + thiazide diuretics | 764 (0.4%) | 492 (0.2%) | 269 (0.1%) |
| ACE inhibitors + loop diuretics | 566 (0.3%) | 354 (0.2%) | 191 (0.1%) |
| ARBs + thiazide diuretics | 579 (0.3%) | 351 (0.2%) | 165 (0.1%) |
| Beta-blockers + CCBs | 430 (0.2%) | 245 (0.1%) | 293 (0.2%) |
| Potassium diuretics + thiazide diuretics | 501 (0.2%) | 112 (0.1%) | 33 (0.0%) |
| Others | 1,953 (0.9%) | 1,348 (0.7%) | 1,468 (0.8%) |
Abbreviations: ACE inhibitors, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors; ARBs, angiotensin II receptor blockers; CCBs, calcium-channel blockers; Thiazide diuretics, thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics.
Data are presented as number of patients (%).