Differences in outpatient antibiotic use between a Spanish region and a Nordic country.

INTRODUCTION: Antibiotic use and misuse are linked to pathogen resistance and, as such, both constitute a public health issue with local, national, and global dimensions. Early studies have shown striking variations in the use of these drugs between Nordic and Mediterranean countries. The aim of the present study was to describe and compare antibiotic prescribing in Primary Care in Denmark and Aragón (a North-eastern Spanish region). METHODS: Outpatient antibiotic prescription data (2010) were obtained from the National Institute for Health Data and Disease Control (Denmark), and the Information System on Medication Consumption in Aragón. The consumption of antibiotics (ATC J01) was analyzed from the prescription rates and the number of defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants/day (DID). RESULTS: The rate of antibiotic prescription in 2010 in Aragón was greater than in Denmark (407 compared to 315 exposed individuals/1000 inhabitants). There were significant differences as regards overall consumption of antibiotics (23.2 DID in Aragón and 17.0 DID in Denmark), as well as the therapeutic group selection. There was an elevated use of broad spectrum penicillins, quinolones and cephalosporins in the Spanish region while, in Denmark, the most-consumed antibiotic was narrow spectrum penicillin. CONCLUSION: The use of antibiotics in the Spanish region is very high, and there are marked differences in the choice of drug between this region and Denmark. Interventions are needed that promote the rational use of these drugs to reduce potential bacterial resistance, and to avoid unnecessary risks to patients.

Consumo de medicamentos en población adulta: influencia del autoconsumo / Medicine consumption in the adult population: Influence of self-medication

Objetivo: El objetivo del estudio es conocer las características de la población que se asocian al consumo y autoconsumo de fármacos en Aragón. Diseño: Estudio transversal a través de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud de 2006.EmplazamientoComunidad autónoma de Aragón. Participantes: Población adulta residente en Aragón. Mediciones principales: Consumo y autoconsumo de fármacos, así como características sociodemográficas, de salud y de estilos de vida. Resultados: El 65,1% de los adultos aragoneses habían consumido al menos un fármaco en las últimas 2 semanas, el 11,7% lo hizo sin receta médica. Se observó mayor consumo en las mujeres y en personas de mayor edad. El mal estado de salud percibido incrementaba de manera significativa el consumo de fármacos. Las personas con bajo nivel de estudios tenían mayor consumo, mientras que el autoconsumo fue más frecuente en el grupo de mayor nivel de estudios. Conclusiones: El consumo de fármacos en Aragón es elevado, así como la prevalencia de autoconsumo. Resulta de gran interés conocer el perfil de estos pacientes para poder realizar intervenciones dirigidas a reducir el consumo innecesario y mejorar la adecuación y seguridad de los fármacos utilizados (AU)

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the factors associated with medicine consumption and self-consumption in Aragón (Spain). Design: Cross-sectional study from the National Health Survey 2006. Setting: Aragón (Spain).Participants: Adult population in Aragón (Spain). Main measurements: Medicine consumption and the type of consumption. Demographic, health and health style variables were also considered. Results: At least one drug was taken by the 65.1% of the adults in Aragón during the previous two weeks. Of this group, 11.7% were self-medicated. A higher frequency of consumption was observed in females and older people, and in those with a poor self-perceived health. People with a low educational level took drugs more often, but self-consumption was more frequent in the group with a high educational level. Conclusions: Medicine consumption and self-consumption in adults in Aragón is common. It is of great interest to know the consumption profile of these patients in order to develop specific interventions to reduce unnecessary consumption and to improve safety (AU)

[Medicine consumption in the adult population: Influence of self-medication]. / Consumo de medicamentos en población adulta: influencia del autoconsumo.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the factors associated with medicine consumption and self-consumption in Aragón (Spain) DESIGN: Cross-sectional study from the National Health Survey 2006. SETTING: Aragón (Spain). PARTICIPANTS: Adult population in Aragón (Spain). MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Medicine consumption and the type of consumption. Demographic, health and health style variables were also considered. RESULTS: At least one drug was taken by the 65.1% of the adults in Aragón during the previous two weeks. Of this group, 11.7% were self-medicated. A higher frequency of consumption was observed in females and older people, and in those with a poor self-perceived health. People with a low educational level took drugs more often, but self-consumption was more frequent in the group with a high educational level. CONCLUSIONS: Medicine consumption and self-consumption in adults in Aragón is common. It is of great interest to know the consumption profile of these patients in order to develop specific interventions to reduce unnecessary consumption and to improve safety.

[Variations in the prescription of antibiotics among primary care areas in the autonomous region of Aragon, Spain]. / Variabilidad de la prescripción de antibióticos en atención primaria de los sectores sanitarios de Aragón.

BACKGROUND: Resistance to antibacterial drugs can be contained by judicious utilization, so we must know about its use. The objective is to describe the prevalence of antibiotic consumption and the variability in the use of antibiotics among outpatients in the different health areas of Aragon. METHODS: Study of the prescription of antibiotics in the health areas of Aragon in 2008. Data were extracted from the Aragon Pharmaceutical Consumption Database, a complete register of all dispensed prescriptions. Prescription rates per 1000 individuals adjusted by sex and age were calculated using a direct and indirect standardization method. The subgroups utilization were calculated in Defined Daily Dose per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID). In the variation analysis were used: extremal quotient (EQ), coefficient of variation (CV), weighted coefficient of variation (CVw). RESULTS: The adjusted rate of antibiotic varied between 279,8 and 382 per 1000 inhabitants, showing a CVw=0,12. The utilization rate in women was 364.9 per 1,000 and in men 300.0 per 1,000. Cephalosporins have a EQ=2,42 and CVw=0,37; and quinolones have EQ=1,84 and CVw=0,22. CONCLUSIONS: The utilization rate was higher in women than men. The higher variability in the prescription of antibiotics among health areas in Aragon was in cephalosporins and quinolones.