Use and cost of branded and generic drugs in patients with coronary heart disease--results from a prospective survey of 1008 patients in two London hospitals.

Background: Combination therapy with three classes of drug, antiplatelet, cholesterol and blood pressure lowering treatment markedly reduce the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Within each class, generic and branded (patented) drugs are available which have similar efficacy but differ in cost.

Aims: (i) To assess the extent to which preventive medical drugs are prescribed in patients with CHD and to examine the reasons for drug omissions and (ii) to assess the relative use of branded and generic drugs and the reasons for drug selection.