The evolution of hypertension treatment in Belgium, a pharmacoepidemiological study.

Objectives: The aim of this paper is to study the number of patients treated for hypertension and the evolution in usage of different classes of antihypertensive medication.

Methods: Data from 1997 to 2009 was extracted from Pharmanet, a nation-wide database of prescriptions of reimbursed medication in Belgium.

Results: In 2009, 25% of women and 20% of men were prescribed at least one antihypertensive drug.

Exposure of the elderly to potential nephrotoxic drug combinations in Belgium.

Purpose: To count in the Belgian ambulatory prescription database Pharmanet, the number of elderly people treated with ACE inhibitors (ACEI) and/or angiotensine receptor blockers (ARB) (+/-diuretics +/- beta-blockers) who eventually also received a prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) or spironolactone.

Method: All prescriptions dispensed in community pharmacies are collected in the Pharmanet database. The data of 2005 were used.