Factors Associated With the Selection of Anti-Hypertensive Medications: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Approximately 62% of patients in the study cohort were prescribed anti-hypertensive medication.

• The study included 5,852 patients aged ≥40 years attending outpatient cardiology and internal medicine clinics.
• Data were collected retrospectively from Al-Qatif Central Hospital between January 2020 and December 2021.
• The study used a retrospective, cross-sectional design.
• Patients were drawn from both cardiology and internal medicine outpatient clinics.

Beta blockers (BBs) and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) were the most frequently prescribed anti-hypertensive drug classes.

• BBs were primarily prescribed as monotherapy, constituting 24% of all anti-hypertensive prescriptions.
• The study identified this pattern as a significant deviation from existing clinical guidelines.
• The authors characterized this as 'overprescription of BBs in the management of hypertension.'
• CCBs were also among the top prescribed classes alongside BBs.

Older patients (≥65 years) were more likely to receive combination anti-hypertensive therapy.

• 17% of patients aged ≥65 years received four anti-hypertensive medications simultaneously.
• This finding was identified through logistic regression models adjusted for significant covariates.
• Results were presented as adjusted odds ratios (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals.

Diabetes mellitus was positively associated with angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) prescribing and negatively associated with beta blocker prescribing.

• Diabetes mellitus was positively associated with ARB prescription (OR = 1.2, P < 0.05).
• Diabetes mellitus was negatively associated with BB prescribing (OR = 0.6, P < 0.05).
• These associations were identified using logistic regression models adjusted for significant covariates.
• Results were presented as adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

Constipation was significantly associated with CCB prescribing.

• Constipation exhibited a significant positive association with CCB prescribing (OR = 1.4, P < 0.05).
• This association was identified through adjusted logistic regression analysis.
• This finding suggests comorbid conditions and side effect profiles may influence prescribing choices for CCBs.

The study identified significant deviations from existing clinical guidelines in anti-hypertensive prescribing patterns.

• The overprescription of beta blockers was highlighted as a notable deviation from current guidelines.
• The authors suggest that prescribing practices need to be realigned with emerging evidence-based recommendations.
• The findings highlight areas where physicians need to re-examine their prescribing habits.
• The study calls for promotion of alignment of prescribing practices with evidence-based recommendations.