Drug Prescription Profiles in Patients with Polypharmacy in Spain: A Large-Scale Pharmacoepidemiologic Study Using Real-World Data.

We aimed to identify and compare medication profiles in populations with polypharmacy between 2005 and 2015. We conducted a cross-sectional study using information from the Computerized Database for Pharmacoepidemiologic Studies in Primary Care (BIFAP, Spain). We estimated the prevalence of therapeutic subgroups in all individuals 15 years of age and older with polypharmacy (≥5 drugs during ≥6 months) using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system level 4, by sex and age group, for both calendar years. The most prescribed drugs were proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), statins, antiplatelet agents, benzodiazepine derivatives, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. The greatest increases between 2005 and 2015 were observed in PPIs, statins, other antidepressants, and ß-blockers, while the prevalence of antiepileptics was almost tripled. We observed increases in psychotropic drugs in women and cardiovascular medications in men. By patient´s age groups, there were notable increases in antipsychotics, antidepressants, and antiepileptics (15-44 years); antidepressants, PPIs, and selective ß-blockers (45-64 years); selective ß-blockers, biguanides, PPIs, and statins (65-79 years); and in statins, selective ß-blockers, and PPIs (80 years and older). Our results revealed important increases in the use of specific therapeutic subgroups, like PPIs, statins, and psychotropic drugs, highlighting opportunities to design and implement strategies to analyze such prescriptions' appropriateness.

Evolution of polypharmacy in a spanish population (2005-2015): A database study.

PURPOSE: To analyze the evolution of the prevalence of polypharmacy and excessive polypharmacy in a Spanish population, and to improve the identification of patients with polypharmacy. METHODS: A descriptive, annual cross-sectional observational study was carried out. PATIENTS: individuals over 14 years of age included in a multiregional primary care database of the Spanish population (BIFAP). ANALYSIS: prescription data. Period 2005-2015. VARIABLES: proportion of patients with polypharmacy (simultaneous prescription of ≥5 drugs) and excessive polypharmacy (≥10 drugs) for at least 6 months, according to sex and age groups. A trend analysis of the studied period was performed (overall, and by sex and age groups). RESULTS: The data are reported on a comparative basis (2005 vs 2015). Number of patients analyzed: 2664743 vs 4 002 877. The prevalence of polypharmacy increased significantly (2.5% vs 8.9%, P-value for trend <0.001), being greater in females throughout the study period and in the group aged ≥80 years (P-value for trends <0.001). The prevalence of excessive polypharmacy also increased significantly (0.1% vs 1%, P-value for trend <0.001), being higher in the group aged ≥80 years (P-value for trend <0.001). The proportion of patients with no chronic treatment decreased (80.2% vs 63.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of polypharmacy in this Spanish population has tripled in the period 2005-2015, while excessive polypharmacy has increased 10-fold. These increments are seen in both sexes and in all age groups, particularly in individuals over 80 years of age. The proportion of patients without chronic treatments has decreased.

Colaboración farmacéutico-médico en la elaboración de protocolos consensuados para el tratamiento de síntomas menores: programa 'INDICA+PRO' / Collaborative care protocols for the management of minor ailments agreed between pharmacists and medical practitioners: INDICA+PRO Study

Introducción: la colaboración entre médicos y farmacéuticos es necesaria en el manejo de los síntomas menores, ya que el paciente acude a ambos profesionales sanitarios para su tratamiento. El objetivo del estudio fue elaborar protocolos de trabajo consensuados entre farmacéuticos comunitarios y médicos de atención primaria para el Servicio de Indicación Farmacéutica (SIF). Material y método: se utilizaron dos metodologías: revisión bibliográfica y grupo de expertos para el consenso. Estos protocolos se actualizaron y diseñaron a partir de un documento previo de 2008. En el grupo de expertos se incluyeron cuatro farmacéuticos comunitarios de SEFAC (2), MICOF (2) y cuatro médicos de atención primaria de semFYC (2) y SEMERGEN (2). Resultados: se consensuaron protocolos de trabajo para 31 síntomas menores distribuidos en cinco grupos: respiratorios, dolor moderado, digestivos, dermatológicos y otros. Se añadieron cinco síntomas nuevos al documento de partida. Respecto a la estructura de cada síntoma se consideró: concepto, causas más frecuentes, criterios de derivación al médico (edad, síntomas de alarma, duración de los síntomas, otros problemas de salud y/o medicamentos y situaciones especiales), recomendaciones para la prevención y tratamiento (no farmacológico y farmacológico). Conclusión: el documento desarrollado mediante colaboración entre profesionales de la medicina y la farmacia es una herramienta que contribuye a la mejora de la actuación del farmacéutico en el manejo de los síntomas menores desde la farmacia comunitaria, con énfasis en la definición de indicadores que señalan la necesidad de derivar el paciente al médico de atención primaria

Background: To increase the collaboration between community pharmacists and medical practitioners working in primary care it is critical to have collaborative protocols in place. Minor ailments could be a good example where this collaboration would benefit patient care as patients are seeking treatment in both settings. These collaborative protocols would assist in diminishing the variability of treatments in both settings. The aim of the study was to develop care protocols for minor ailments agreed between medical practitioners and pharmacists Methods: Two different methodologies were used to arrive at a consensus for the proto-cols: literature review and expert group. Some of the clinical protocols were updated from a previous document created in 2008. Expert group was composed of four community pharma-cists (SEFAC, MICOF) and four medical practitioners (SemFyC y Semergen). Results: Thirty-one protocols for minor ailments were agreed and allocated to five groups (five new minor ailments protocols were added: respiratory tract-related conditions, gastrointestinal disturbance, pain, dermatological problems and others.Protocols were structured following: definition, more frequent causes, referral criteria (pa-tient’s age, red flags, symptom’s duration, patient’s health problems and treatments and physiological situations), recommendations for management (prevention, non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatment) and references used. Conclusions: Clinical protocols agreed between health professionals of medicine and phar-macy are a tool that contribute to better management of minor ailments in community pharmacy