Trends of antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use among the Health Workers Cohort Study, Mexico 2004 to 2018.

Abstract Purpose Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) are the most prevalent non-communicable diseases in Mexico and worldwide. According to international practice management guidelines, the principal chronic management therapy is a daily oral medication. We aim to describe the trends of antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs use among the Mexican adult population from 2004-2018. Methods We analyzed data from the Health Workers Cohort Study (HWCS) for males and females aged > 18 years. The prevalence of chronic diseases and utilization for every kind of antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and NSAIDs (measured by self-reported utilization) were calculated at baseline and two follow up (2004-2010-2017). Trends were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test. Results Hypertension prevalence increased from 19.8 to 30.3%, higher than T2D prevalence from 7.0 to 12.8% through fourteen years of follow-up. The proportion of patients using beta-blockers and angiotensin II receptor blockers increased, like the self-reported dual therapy. Regarding T2D, the prevalence of metformin utilization increased to 83.9%. The utilization of common NSAIDs, mainly for muscular pain, remained around 13 to 16%. Conclusions Our findings showed a clearly changing prevalence of drug utilization for hypertension and T2D between 2004 and 2018 and consistent use of NSAIDs (acetaminophen mainly) in the adult Mexican population.