Trends in the prevalence of antihypertensive drug treatment in the Beijing Longitudinal Study of Aging

Objective: This study aimed to explore the epidemiological characteristics of antihypertensive drug use by community residents in Beijing, China. Methods: Based on well-established statistical sampling techniques such as cluster, stratification, and random selection, 2832, 1828, and 2277 elderly residents aged >= 60 years in Beijing in 2000, 2004, and 2007, respectively, were included. The trend in antihypertensive drug use by elderly patients with hypertension was analyzed. Results: The proportion of patients using angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or beta-blockers increased, while the proportions of both male and female patients using Chinese single-pill combination decreased. The proportion of relatively young patients using ACEIs or beta-blockers increased, as did the proportion of relatively old patients using calcium channel blockers (CCB), ACEIs, or beta-blockers. The proportions of both relatively young and relatively old patients using Chinese single-pill combination decreased. The proportion of urban patients using ACEIs, or beta-blockers and the proportion of rural patients using CCBs or diuretics increased, while the proportion of both urban and rural patients using Chinese single-pill combination decreased. Conclusion: During the 7-year study period in Beijing, the proportion of patients using CCBs, ACEIs, diuretics, or beta-blockers increased, while the proportion of patients using Chinese single-pill combination decreased. Our results provide important data for the limited evidence on the trend of prevalence of antihypertensive drug used in China.