| Abstract: | Directly age-standardized rates of out-patient utilization ofantihypertensive drugs (antihypertensives, diuretics and beta-blockers)and stroke mortality in men and women (40–79 years ofage) were compared over 4 years (1987–1990) in a midwestern(Värmland) and a southern (Skäne) province of Swedenand in their 49 (16 + 33) municipalities. In both genders, thestroke mortality and utilization rates of the 3 antihypertensivedrug groups, both combined and separate, were higher in Värmlandand there were positive correlations between these rates whenall 49 municipalities were compared. On the other hand, foreach province and each drug group there were municipalitieswith every possible combination of stroke mortality and antihypertensivedrug utilization rates. In addition, antihypertensive drug utilizationrates were similar in men and women even though the stroke mortalityrates were much lower among the latter. The findings cast doubton the effectiveness of antihypertensive drug treatment in commonpractice. |
