Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Drugs Outcomes Research and Policies
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1376002

Impact of changes in antihypertensive medication on treatment intensity at hospital discharge and 30 days afterwards

Provisionally accepted
Nuša Japelj Nuša Japelj 1*Mojca Kerec Kos Mojca Kerec Kos 1Maja Jošt Maja Jošt 2Lea Knez Lea Knez 1,2
  • 1 University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
  • 2 University Clinic of Pulmonary and Allergic Diseases Golnik, Golnik, Slovenia

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Introduction: Little is known about the cumulative effect of changes in antihypertensive medications on treatment intensity. This study analyzed how changes in antihypertensive medications affect the intensity of antihypertensive treatment at hospital discharge and 30 days afterwards. Methods: A prospective observational study of 299 hospitalized adult medical patients with antihypertensive therapy was conducted. The effect of medication changes on treatment intensity was evaluated by the Total Antihypertensive Therapeutic Intensity Score (TIS). Results: At discharge, antihypertensive medications were changed in 62% of patients (184/299), resulting in a very small median reduction in TIS of –0.16. Treatment intensity was reduced more with increasing number of antihypertensive medications at admission, whereas it increased with elevated inpatient systolic blood pressure. Thirty days after discharge, antihypertensive medications were changed in 37% of patients (88/239) resulting in a median change in TIS of −0.02. Among them, 90% (79/88) had already undergone a change at discharge. The change in treatment intensity after discharge was inversely correlated with a change at discharge. Discussion: Changes in antihypertensive medication frequently occurred at discharge but had a minimal impact on the intensity of antihypertensive treatment. However, these adjustments exposed patients to further medication changes after discharge, evidencing the need for treatment reassessment in the first month post-discharge.

    Keywords: Hypertension, Antihypertensive Agents, Hospitalization, Patient Discharge, Continuity of Patient Care

    Received: 05 Apr 2024; Accepted: 12 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Japelj, Kerec Kos, Jošt and Knez. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Nuša Japelj, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.