Healthy Skepticism Library item: 10522

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Publication type: Journal Article

Armendariz M, Armendariz M, Jaio N, Gorostiza I.
Impact of new non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs in Primary Care prescription
Pharmaceutical Care Espana 2003; 5:(1):29-38

Abstract:

Objective: To analyze the evolution of out-patient hospital prescriptions of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) in a Primary Care Health District of the Basque Country, from July 1996 to June 2001 and to, also, find out to what degree new molecules have been introduced in the prescription. Design: Retrospective observational study. Location: Primary Care. Interior Health District of the Basque Health Service Osakidetza. Population (sample): NSAID drugs prescription in Osakidetza official prescription forms, from July 1996 to June 2001, carried out by general practitioners and pediatricians from the Interior District (Bizkaia). The drugs subject to study belong to the therapeutic groups MOIA.Non-steroid anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic drugs, MOIB. Anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic drugs associated with corticoids and NO2B.- Other analgesics and antipyretics. Measurements and main results: The prescription of this drug group increased from the third term of 1996 to the second term of 2001 in 40,2% going from 19,93 Defined Daily Doses (DDD) per thousand inhabitants/day (DID) to 27,94 DID. The derivatives from propionic acids, followed by the derivatives from acetic acid, the selective inhibitor groups of COX-2 and oxicams, account for 97% of the prescription in the last period of study. As for specific drugs, diclofenac is the most prescribed, followed by ibuprofen, rofecoxib, naproxen, piroxicam and celecoxib. Conclusions: There exists a growing tendency in the prescription of NSAID in the studied area. The appearance of new molecules in the pharmaceutical market can easily be detected in the prescription profile, producing in some cases a derivation in the drugs of the same group or between different groups.