Effect of prepublication results on trends in prescribing of antihypertensive medication: impact of the ALTITUDE (Aliskiren Trial in Type 2 Diabetes Using Cardio-Renal Disease Endpoints) trial on aliskiren prescribing

Although published randomized trial evidence can reduce prescribing of less efficacious or potentially harmful medications, prepublication alerts are often released before the clinical trial results are published. It is unknown whether prepublication alerts can effectively impact population-based prescribing of medications by both primary care physicians and specialists. In this study, we explored the trends in prescribing of aliskiren, the first orally active direct renin inhibitor, in relation to drug policy decisions, prepublication alerts, and availability of evidence from randomized controlled trials.