Prescribing Patterns of Antihypertensive Agents and Blood Pressure Control Among Patients With Incident Stage 2 Hypertension

Background: Initiation of appropriate antihypertensive therapy is crucial, particularly among patients with stage 2 hypertension, whom initiation of dual antihypertensive agents is suggested. Little is known regarding real-world prescribing of antihypertensive agents for patients with incident stage 2 hypertension. Objective: The primary objective was to describe prescribing patterns of antihypertensive therapy among patients with incident stage 2 hypertension. The secondary objectives included determining association of blood pressure (BP) control with initial multiple antihypertensive agents. Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using electronic medical records from 6 primary care clinics between January 2014 and June 2019. Included patients were ≥18 years with an initial diagnosis of stage 2 hypertension, defined as BP ≥160/100 mm Hg Primary analysis was characterizing prescribing patterns of antihypertensive agents among patients with incident stage 2 hypertension. Investigation of BP control (<140/90 mm Hg) at 3 months of diagnosis was also performed. Results: We identified 261 patients with incident stage 2 hypertension (mean age, 52 years; 53.2% males; mean baseline BP, 162.1/100.1 mm Hg). Approximately 72% of patients were initiated on single antihypertensive agent, with the most common being angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs; 25.7%) and angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (24.6%). Commonly initiated multiple antihypertensive agents were ACE-inhibitor + thiazide-like diuretic (52.7%), followed by an ARB + thiazide-like diuretic (21.6%). Multiple antihypertensive therapy was associated with improved BP control at 3 months (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.55-8.06). Conclusion: Majority of patients with incident stage 2 hypertension were prescribed initial single antihypertensive therapy, though better BP control at 3 months was seen among those initiated on multi-antihypertensive therapy.