[Use of prescription drugs in Spain and Europe]

Abstract

Objective: To compare the Spanish prescription drug consumption with that of European countries.

Design: A review of the literature and data sources for prescription drug consumption.

Setting: European countries; last three decades.

Participants: Included therapeutic groups where the available information allowed a comparison of the consumption in Spain with that of other European countries.

Measurements: Studies, reports, or data sources were included in which the consumption was expressed in DHD (DDD/1000 inhabitants per day).

Results: It was possible to compare 18 therapeutic groups: drugs for peptic ulcer (A02B), glucose lowering drugs (A10), antithrombotic agents vitamin K antagonists (B01AA), antihypertensives (C02), diuretics (C03), peripheral vasodilators (C04), beta-blocking agents (C07), calcium channel blockers (C08), agents acting on the renin-angiotensin system (C09), lipid-lowering drugs (C10), antibacterials for systemic use (J01), antiinflammatory & antirheumatic products non-steroids (M01A), opioid analgesics (N02A), antipsychotics (N05A); anxiolytics (N05B), hypnotics & sedatives (N05C), antidepressants (N06A) and drugs for obstructive airway diseases (R03). With regard to the European average (100), the Spanish consumption of these therapeutic groups was: N02A, 37; C07, 40; B01AA, 41; C03, 70; N05C, 72; C10, 75; C08, 76; N05A, 77; TH01, 97; N06A, 98; C09, 104; M01A, 101; R03, 101; C02, 107; A10, 114; N05B, 137; A02B, 150 and C04, 234.

Conclusions: The Spanish consumption of most of the therapeutic groups was very close to the average of the group of the countries where it was possible to compare it, or clearly below average, with the exception of the consumption of drugs for peptic ulcer, anxiolytics and peripheral vasodilators, which considerably exceeded the average of the group.

Figura 1

Gasto farmacéutico ambulatorio español per cápita (PC) total, público y privado en relación con la media (100) de los países europeos de la OCDE. Periodo 1980-2007. Fuente: Elaboración propia a partir de Health Data OECD 2009.

Esquema general del estudio: Revisión bibliográfica cuyo objetivo es comparar el consumo español de medicamentos con el de los países europeos.

Figura 2

Evolución del consumo español de los distintos grupos de antihipertensivos en relación con la media de consumo de los países europeos de la OCDE. Periodo 2000-2007. Fuente: Elaboración propia a partir de Health Data OECD 2009.

Figura 3

Evolución del consumo español de algunos grupos terapéuticos en relación con el consumo medio de los países europeos de la OCDE. Periodo 2000-2007. Fuente: Elaboración propia a partir de Health Data OECD 2009.