Consumption of Antihypertensive Drug in the Urban Area of Abobo (Abidjan, Ivory Coast)

Abstract

In Ivory Coast, arterial hypertension is 20.4% prevalent, with a high mortality rate. However, proper use of antihypertensive drugs can reduce the risks of morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of antihypertensive drugs in an urban population in Abidjan. To this end, a retrospective descriptive study was conducted. Data were collected from the consumption histories of several pharmacies in the Abobo commune of Abidjan between March and August 2020. Drugs available in pharmacies and containing one or more active ingredients in the ATC classification of antihypertensives were included. A total of 1082 sales of antihypertensives were recorded, with 53% of medicines containing a single molecule and 46% containing combinations of two molecules. Antihypertensives containing one active compound showed a high proportion of diuretics (28.7%), followed by calcium antagonists (20.35%) and beta-blockers (19.13%). The combination of ACE inhibitors and calcium antagonists was sold at 34.71%, with the combination of calcium antagonists/ACE inhibitors + diuretics (45.46%) in the two and three-molecule classes respectively. All in all, the study showed the patients were satisfied with the use of antihypertensives, with furosemide and the amlodipine/perindopril combination at the top of the list.