Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26227069›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of clinical pharmacology2015

Income differences in the type of antihypertensive medicines used in ambulatory settings in Finland: a register-based study.

Härkönen Mirva, Timonen Johanna, Tervola Jussi, Katri Aaltonen

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of clinical pharmacology, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Härkönen MirvaSchool of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland.
Timonen JohannaSchool of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland.
Tervola JussiResearch Department, The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, P.O. Box 450, FI-00101, Helsinki, Finland.
Katri AaltonenResearch Department, The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, P.O. Box 450, FI-00101, Helsinki, Finland. katri.aaltonen@kela.fi.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe objective of this study was to explore income differences in the prevalence of moderate-to-severe hypertension, and among patients, in the use and costs of medicines.

methodsPersonal income was used to classify ≥25-year-old population in quintiles (QI-QV). Patients (N = 497,560) with moderate-to-severe hypertension were identified using special refund entitlements. Medicine use and costs derived from prescription register. Direct standardisation and multivariate regression were used to adjust for demographics and comorbidities.

resultsLow income was associated with higher prevalence of moderate-to-severe hypertension (overall 13%). After adjusting for age, gender, residence, diabetes and coronary heart disease, nearly all patients purchased at least one antihypertensive medicine (93 vs. 96% in QI and QV). Differences in the purchased quantities were small (mean estimates 1028 vs. 1054 defined daily doses (DDDs)/patient/year in QIV and QI). High-income patients were more likely to use angiotensin receptor blockers (37 vs. 54% in QI and QV). Low-income patients were more likely to use beta-blockers (59 vs. 49%, respectively) and ACE inhibitors (35 vs. 28%, respectively). Higher income was associated with higher annual out-of-pocket costs (mean €66 vs. €71 in QI and QV) and reimbursements (€144 vs. €163, respectively).

conclusionsUse of more expensive medicines contributed to higher costs among patients with higher incomes.

Indexed as

Adrenergic beta-AntagonistsAdultAgedAmbulatory CareAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme InhibitorsAngiotensin Receptor AntagonistsAntihypertensive AgentsCalcium Channel BlockersComorbidityDrug UtilizationFemaleFinlandHumansHypertensionIncomeMaleAdrenergic beta-AntagonistsAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme InhibitorsAngiotensin Receptor AntagonistsAntihypertensive AgentsCalcium Channel BlockersAntihypertensive agentsDrug utilisationFinlandHypertensionIncomeSocioeconomic status

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.