Positive change in the utilization of antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs among adult CHD patients in Finland: results from a large national database between 2000 and 2006

To assess the changes in the utilization of antihypertensive, and lipid-lowering drugs among all adult Finnish coronary heart disease (CHD) patients between 2000 and 2006, and to evaluate the treatment and control of hypertension and dyslipidemia in a population-based sample of CHD patients.From the databases of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, 192,440 CHD patients aged 30 years or more in 2000 and 206,394 in 2006, respectively, were identified. Changes in the utilization of antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs were determined. In addition, from the Health 2000 Survey representing the whole Finnish population aged 30 years or more, 527 CHD patients were identified, to assess their characteristics and control of hypertension and dyslipidemia.Between the fall of 2000 and spring of 2001, 75% of the CHD patients were classified as hypertensives and 85% of these used antihypertensive medication. From 2000 to 2006, the utilization of lipid-lowering, and antihypertensive drugs increased from 33 to 52% and from 74 to 78%, respectively. Moreover, combination antihypertensive medication increased from 37 to 48%. Amidst the patients using antihypertensive drugs, the use of renin-angiotensin system blockers increased from 27 to 46% because of more than a three-fold increase in the use of angiotensin receptor blockers.Utilization of antihypertensive agents (especially angiotensin receptor blockers) and lipid-lowering drugs has increased remarkably by the end of 2006. However, the treatments are still far from optimal.