Gender Differences in Prescribing Antihypertensive Drugs in a Public Hospital in Alkharj

Abstract

Introduction: Hypertension is considered one of the most significant risk factors for mortality and morbidity worldwide. There are major clinical implications for gender-specific pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. It is important to know the potential gender differences in hypertension treatment and to know the prescribing trends in male and female hypertensive patients in order to optimize the treatment of hypertension. Aim: This is a retrospective study that aims to describe the difference in prescribing antihypertensive drugs between male and female patients. Methodology: This is a retrospective study that includes the revision of patient electronic records of outpatients with hypertension in 2018 in Alkharj. Results: The total number of prescribed antihypertensive drugs was 1838 drugs. The calcium channel blocker was the most commonly prescribed antihypertensive class (27.86%). The study showed that there are different patterns of antihypertensive drug use among hypertensive men and women and showed that female patients are more frequently treated with diuretics and less frequently with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptors blockers than male patients. Conclusion: Stratified guidelines and policies based on gender will be appropriate if more studies show a difference in the efficacy and safety of antihypertensive drugs between male and female patients. It is important to conduct more studies about these differences.