IJERPH, Vol. 19, Pages 13949: Pharmacological Treatment of Arterial Hypertension in Children and Adolescents in Lithuania

IJERPH, Vol. 19, Pages 13949: Pharmacological Treatment of Arterial Hypertension in Children and Adolescents in Lithuania International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph192113949 Authors: Eleonora Ivanova Dovilė Ruzgienė Karolis Ažukaitis Augustina Jankauskienė The global prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH) in the pediatric population is increasing, but therapeutic approaches and the choice of the most suitable antihypertensive medications remains challenging. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence, treatment rates, and pharmacological treatment patterns of children and adolescents with AH in Lithuania during 2019 using real-world data. The study population consisted of citizens of Lithuania aged 0 to 17 years, who were diagnosed with AH according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). The analysis of reimbursed antihypertensive medication prescriptions was performed according to AH etiology and age. The overall prevalence of AH by diagnostic ICD codes in 2019 was 0.29%:0.24% for primary and 0.05% for secondary. Treatment rates were 39.8% for primary AH and 66.3% for secondary AH. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) were the most popular medications irrespective of the etiology of AH or age. Beta-blockers were in the second place and used more often in older children. Calcium channel blockers were the third and angiotensin receptor blockers were the fourth most frequent choices. Enala...
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research