TY - JOUR

T1 - Changes in the utilisation of lipid-lowering drugs over a 6-year period (1993-1998) in a Danish population

AU - Larsen, J

AU - Andersen, M

AU - Kragstrup, J

AU - Gram, L F

PY - 2001/7

Y1 - 2001/7

N2 - OBJECTIVE: The effect of lipid-lowering drugs (LLDs) on coronary heart disease is well established. However, their utilisation is often suspected to be too low. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of LLD use with special emphasis on the development of utilisation over a 6-year period in a Danish population.METHODS: For all people who purchased LLDs from 1993 to 1998 in Funen County, all prescriptions for LLDs and co-medication with cardiovascular and antidiabetic drugs were retrieved from Odense University Pharmacoepidemiologic Database (OPED).RESULTS: During the study period, LLD use increased nearly exponentially. In 1998, statins accounted for 95% of the total LLD consumption. The incidence increased markedly around the time of the publication of the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S). Only 3% of the statins were purchased without reimbursement. The female/male ratio was 0.69 and the median age was 60 years. General practitioners issued 73% of the total number of LLD prescriptions, and 55% of the treatments were initiated in general practice. A larger fraction of females and elderly started treatment in general practice. About 40% of the treatments were hospital initiated, and about one-third were followed up in general practice within the first year.CONCLUSIONS: Over the 6 years studied, utilisation of LLDs approached a level that may correspond to the current guideline recommendations. Compliance with guidelines should, however, be studied by following people with coronary heart disease.

AB - OBJECTIVE: The effect of lipid-lowering drugs (LLDs) on coronary heart disease is well established. However, their utilisation is often suspected to be too low. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of LLD use with special emphasis on the development of utilisation over a 6-year period in a Danish population.METHODS: For all people who purchased LLDs from 1993 to 1998 in Funen County, all prescriptions for LLDs and co-medication with cardiovascular and antidiabetic drugs were retrieved from Odense University Pharmacoepidemiologic Database (OPED).RESULTS: During the study period, LLD use increased nearly exponentially. In 1998, statins accounted for 95% of the total LLD consumption. The incidence increased markedly around the time of the publication of the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S). Only 3% of the statins were purchased without reimbursement. The female/male ratio was 0.69 and the median age was 60 years. General practitioners issued 73% of the total number of LLD prescriptions, and 55% of the treatments were initiated in general practice. A larger fraction of females and elderly started treatment in general practice. About 40% of the treatments were hospital initiated, and about one-third were followed up in general practice within the first year.CONCLUSIONS: Over the 6 years studied, utilisation of LLDs approached a level that may correspond to the current guideline recommendations. Compliance with guidelines should, however, be studied by following people with coronary heart disease.

KW - Aged

KW - Denmark/epidemiology

KW - Drug Utilization/statistics & numerical data

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Hypolipidemic Agents/therapeutic use

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical data

U2 - 10.1007/s002280100307

DO - 10.1007/s002280100307

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 11549214

VL - 57

SP - 343

EP - 348

JO - European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

JF - European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

SN - 0031-6970

IS - 4

ER -