5 most consumpted opioid analgesics in Slovakia in the year 2006--comparison to five other countries (Finland, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Australia).

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Opioid analgesics are drugs of choice in the treatment of moderate and severe malignant or noncancer pain. Consumption data helps us to evaluate the status of country's public health. METHODS: We analysed the consumption of opioid analgesics from ATC class N02A in Slovakia in the year 2006 and compared it with five other countries -- Finland, Norway, Denmark, Spain and Australia. We then calculated drugs that accounted for 90% of the total volume of DDDs in the year 2006. RESULTS: Slovakia showed a dominance of tramadol consumption that constituted three quarters of the total group consumption. Tramadol is the commonest consumed opioid analgesic in all observed countries (in Norway it constituted only 35% of total group consumption, whereas in Slovakia it was 72%). DISCUSSION: Opioid consumption in Slovakia is increasing, but comparison with the Nordic countries, Spain and Australia showed a significantly lower consumption. Exception is tramadol with the highest consumption in Slovakia. CONCLUSION: Observed trends in consumption indicate a well known accent of the Nordic countries on treatment of pain. Opiod consumption in Slovakia continues to stay low (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 10). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.