Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo 2012 Volume 140, Issue 5-6, Pages: 339-343
https://doi.org/10.2298/SARH1206339H
Full text (
294 KB)
Cited by
Outpatient utilization of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in three largest municipalities in South Bačka district
Horvat Olga (Medicinski fakultet, Zavod za farmakologiju, toksikologiju i kliničku farmakologiju, Novi Sad)
Mijatović Vesna (Medicinski fakultet, Zavod za farmakologiju, toksikologiju i kliničku farmakologiju, Novi Sad)
Ćalasan Jelena (Medicinski fakultet, Zavod za farmakologiju, toksikologiju i kliničku farmakologiju, Novi Sad)
Sabo Ana 
(Medicinski fakultet, Zavod za farmakologiju, toksikologiju i kliničku farmakologiju, Novi Sad)
Introduction. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used in the
treatment of musculoskeletal system diseases (MSD) and are associated with
numerous adverse effects. Objective. To determine the amount and structure of
outpatient consumption of NSAIDs and its correlation with musculoskeletal
system diseases in three municipalities in South Bačka district with
different levels of health care. To examine whether the cost of drugs and the
level of health care influence the choice of drugs. Methods. Data on the
quarterly consumption of NSAIDs have been collected from all pharmacies in
Novi Sad, Vrbas and Bačka Palanka. Data are presented by the number of
defined daily dosage (DDD) per1000 inhabitants. Cost (in RSD)/DDD was also
calculated. The drug utilization 90% (DU90%) methodology was used. Data on
the incidence of MSD from the three municipalities were obtained from the
Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina and were presented as the number of
patients/1000 inhabitants. Results. The highest total outpatient consumption
of NSAIDs was recorded in Bačka Palanka, a municipality with the highest
prevalence of MSD. The lowest NSAIDs consumption and the lowest number of
patients were observed in Vrbas. Diclofenac was NSAID with the highest
consummation in all three municipalities, while ibuprofen, meloxicam and
nimesulide were dispensed in much smaller amounts. The cheapest NSAIDs were
found to be piroxicam and naproxen, diclofenac was the third in terms of
price/DDD, while ibuprofen was the sixth. Conclusion. In order to improve
prescription practice and the profile of drug usage in the population, it is
important to educate health care professionals, and to inform general
population about the risks of inappropriate drug use.
Keywords: ATC/DDD methodology, NSAIDs, pharmacoepidemiology