Association Between GP Characteristics and Prescription Patterns for Antihypertensive Drugs: A Cross-sectional Study in Normandy, France

Hypertension incurs substantial cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, particularly in primary prevention settings. General practitioners (GPs) play a pivotal role in the management of hypertension in primary care, yet variations exist among GPs. The determinants shaping GPs' antihypertensive medication (AD) prescription patterns in the setting of hypertension remain ambiguous. This investigation sought to elucidate how GPs' characteristics and professional activities influence AD prescriptions. A cross-sectional study utilizing a sample of 2,165 GPs was conducted in Normandy, France, in 2019. The ratio of AD prescriptions to overall prescription volume was computed for each practitioner. GPs were classified as 'low' or 'high' AD prescribers based on the median of this ratio. The ratio was examined in relation to GPs' demographic and professional variables such as age, gender, practice setting, years of experience, consultation frequency, the demographics and socioeconomic status of their patient panels, and prevalence of chronic conditions in patients. These associations were explored using both univariate and multivariate analyses.