One in five Britons has high blood pressure

Researchers in Norway say doctors are failing to prescribe a group of drugs called thiazides to patients with hypertension.

Instead, they are choosing more expensive medicines which are no more effective at treating the condition.

However, the British Medical Association has rejected the findings.

Dr George Rae, a member of its prescribing committee, said he was surprised by the findings.

He said most doctors prescribe thiazides as the first drug of choice for patients with high blood pressure.

Major savings

Dr Atle Fretheim and colleagues from the Norwegian directorate for health and social affairs studied prescribing data from six countries.

These were Canada, France, Germany, Norway, the UK and the United States.

I find these findings very surprising Dr George Rae, BMA

The number of patients receiving these drugs ranged from just 12% to 40%. Previous studies have suggested that thiazides could be used effectively in at least 45% of all cases.

The researchers calculated the potential savings in each country if doctors prescribed these drugs to all suitable patients with hypertension.

Thiazides are regarded as the first drug of choice for treating high blood pressure in each of these countries.

While other drugs exist, they are more expensive and have not been shown to be significantly better.

The researchers found that the UK could save $119.7m (�75.6m) if more doctors prescribed these drugs rather than the more expensive alternatives.

All of the other countries could also make substantial savings, according to the study.

Health providers in the United States could save $433.6m, Canada could save $13.8m, France could save $37.4m, Germany could save $72.2m while Norway could save $10.7m.

The researchers said their calculations were conservative and that potential savings could be much higher.

"Our calculations are based on conservative estimates. The potential for saving is likely to be considerably higher and may be over $1bn per year in the US," they said.

Dr Fretheim said the key to saving money was changing the habits of doctors. But he acknowledged that this may not be easy.

"Changing prescribing practices is not easy. It requires effective strategies and resources to support the change.

"In this case, such an investment could potentially save money and at the same time improve quality."

Surprising findings

However, the BMA said the findings did not reflect what was happening in the UK.

"Thiazides are the first line of treatment for patients with hypertension," said Dr Rae, who is also a GP in Newcastle.

"That is certainly what happens in my practice and what other GPs are doing in Newcastle and North Tyneside.

"I would be very surprised if that is not reflected in most areas of the UK. I find these findings very surprising."

An estimated 10 million Britons have high blood pressure. It can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and kidney damage.