[The German Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Study: social gradient in use of drugs with a potentially addictive nature. An analysis of selected indications groups].

BACKGROUND

Not only prescription but also turnover of medicines are well established by documentary evidence. However, there is a lack of information regarding the usage of drugs in different social classes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Within the scope of the German Cardiovascular Prevention Study (GCP), a cross-sectional community-based multicenter intervention study, (t0 = 1984/5, t1 = 1988 und t2 = 1991/2) the usage of drugs was examined. Four groups of drugs with a potentially addictive character (analgesics, sedatives, sleeping drugs, psychotropics) were analyzed with regard to socioeconomic differences in consumption.

RESULTS

A gradient was found for all analyzed groups of drugs. The data analysis of the 3 pooled surveys (t0, t1, t2) regarding analgesics yields an OR of 1.67 (95%-CI: 1.41 to 1.98) for the middle class (mc) and 2.33 (95%-CI: 1.95 to 2.80) for the lower class (lc) (reference being the upper class). For psychotropics the values are OR = 1.40 (95%-CI: 1.12 to 1.75) (mc) and OR = 2.01 (95%-CI: 1.58 to 2.55) (lc), for sleeping drugs OR = 1.31 (95%-CI: 1.05 to 1.65) (mc) and OR = 1.54 (95%-CI: 1.37 to 1.96) (lc) and for sedatives OR = 1.40 (95%-CI: 1.19 to 1.64) (mc) and OR = 1.94 (95%-CI: 1.63 to 2.30) (lc).

CONCLUSION

Considering possible indicators of different drug utilization (age, sex, occupation, individual health, last medical care, mental distress) the gradient was diminished but--especially for the lower class--remained at significant OR's between 1.37 and 1.65.