Utilisation of Lipid-Lowering Drugs in Spain between 1986 and 1998

Authors: Carvajal A.1; del Pozo J.G.1; Rodríguez M.B.1; Martín Arias L.H.1; de Castro A.M.R.1

Source: Clinical Drug Investigation, Volume 20, Number 3, 1 September 2000 , pp. 197-201(5)

Publisher: Adis International

Key:
Free Content - Free Content
New Content - New Content
Subscribed Content - Subscribed Content
Free Trial Content - Free Trial Content

Abstract:

Objective: To investigate the pattern of use of lipid-lowering drugs in Spain between 1986 and 1998, with particular emphasis on the impact of drug utilisation following the marketing of statins in Spain.

Design: Information on drug utilisation was obtained from the ECOM (Especialidades Consumo de Medicamentos) database of the Spanish Ministry of Health, which contains the number of packages sold in community pharmacies and charged to the National Health System. Data were expressed in defined daily doses (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants per day.

Main Outcomes and Results: The use of lipid-lowering drugs increased from 2.45 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day (1986) to more than 19.3 DDD/1000 inhabitants/ day (1998). Over the period studied, fibrates (until 1995), and statins (thereafter), were the most widely used lipid-lowering drugs. The consumption of probucol and other lipid-lowering drugs, including fixed-dose combinations, decreased during this period.

Conclusion: The consumption of lipid-lowering drugs has increased dramatically in Spain during the last few years. This increase did not seem to be directly influenced by the information derived from important clinical trials. The introduction of statins has markedly modified the pattern of use of lipid-lowering drugs in Spain. Some indicators point to a greater rationality in the consumption of these drugs.

Keywords: Antihyperlipidaemics, therapeutic use; Drug utilisation; Hyperlipidaemia, treatment; Pharmacoeconomics

Document Type: Original article

Affiliations: 1: Instituto de Farmacoepidemiología, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$62.95 plus tax      Refund Policy

 

OR

Back to top

Key:
Free Content - Free Content
New Content - New Content
Subscribed Content - Subscribed Content
Free Trial Content - Free Trial Content
Share this item with others: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
Page Help Click here for Page Help
Shopping cart
Tools
Sign in






Need to register?
Sign up here
Text size: A | A | A | A