• Patrick O Erah, Obiajulu Onwurah, Penaere T Osahon, and Paul J C Nwosu.
• Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. p_erah@yahoo.com
• Nig Q J Hosp Med. 2010 Apr 1; 20 (2): 64-9.

BackgroundCalcium channel blockers (CCBs) can further depress a failing heart and are not recommended for elderly patients with systolic heart failure (HF).ObjectiveThis study conducted in four hospitals in Benin City was undertaken to evaluate rational prescribing of CCBs in hypertensive elderly outpatients.MethodsSelf-administered questionnaire was administered to 161 medical doctors to detect the proportion of physicians who prescribe CCBs to elderly outpatients with systolic HF with or without evaluating the heart status and/or counseling them on the possibility of recognizing the dangerous effect on heart while taking the CCBs. The association between inappropriate prescription of CCBs and sociodemographic variables was determined using logistic regression analysis.ResultsMajority (98.7%) of the 150 respondents reported ever treating hypertension in 48.5 +/- 42.3 (range: 2-250) elderly outpatients per month with most evaluating the patients' heart status. CCBs (nifedipine and amlodipine) were often prescribed for systolic HF for the elderly by 34.3% of participants but only 4.7% of them properly counseled the patients. Area of specialization (odds ratio = 1.076), hospital where the doctors worked (OD = 1.080) and status of the doctors were good predictors of CCBs prescription in systolic HF.ConclusionIt is concluded that irrational prescribing of CCBs for elderly outpatients is common in the four hospitals studied. This calls for appropriate educational intervention that will improve the knowledge of physicians in Benin City in rational prescribing of drugs for the elderly.

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