[Prescription patterns for antilipidemic drugs in a group of Colombian patients].

Objectives: To determine patterns in antilipidemic drug prescriptions among a group of patients covered by the General Social Security System (Sistema General de Seguridad Social) in Colombia.

Methods: A descriptive, observational study was conducted of 41 580 hyperlipidemics of both sexes, who were over 20 years of age, undergoing treatment from at least April to June 2006, and were residents of one of 19 cities in Colombia. A database was created to track prescription data collected by the pharmaceutical company that dispenses medications to the patients.

[Effectiveness of treatments for hypertension in a sample of Colombian patients].

Hypertension represents a high health cost because of its prevalence, its low level of diagnosis and control, and its role as a primary risk factor for other cardiovascular diseases. According to the JNC 7 report, hypertensive individuals have blood pressures of 140/90 mm Hg or higher; recommended treatment reduces these values to below 120/80 mm Hg. Co-morbidity and the presence of other risk factors must also be considered.

[Patterns of antihypertensive agents use in 11,947 Colombian patients].

In Colombian populations older than 15 years, 12.6% suffer from hypertensive disease. Pharmacological therapies for hypertension and associated diseases were compared for 11,947 adult hypertensive patients of both sexes.