Hurley S F, McNeil J J, Jolley D J, Harvey R
Cancer Epidemiology Centre, Vic.
Med J Aust. 1992 Mar 16;156(6):383-6. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1992.tb139839.x.
To link a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescription data set with patient-identifying data held by the Health Insurance Commission (HIC) and to then determine the prevalence of prescribing of cardiovascular drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hypnotics and minor tranquillizers, and diuretics (prescribed without other cardiovascular drugs) by age and sex in two defined populations.
Prescription data for a three-month period in 1985 were matched with patient-identifying information to obtain a database which included the patient's age, sex and an identifying number, for each prescription record. The percentages of the population taking a drug from each of the drug categories mentioned above were then determined and the effect of age, sex and region of residence on prescribing prevalence was investigated using logistic regression analysis.
Two rural regions of Australia with a total population of 65,087 residents.
Of the 101,383 prescriptions dispensed over the period 96% could be matched with HIC information. In the two regions combined, the percentages of the population taking a cardiovascular drug, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, hypnotic or minor tranquilizer, or diuretic (without other cardiovascular drugs) were 10.4%, 5.8%, 3.5% and 2.5%, respectively. Prescribing rates were higher for females than males, increased with age and varied between the two regions. Approximately 5% of women aged 30-39 years were taking diuretics without other cardiovascular drugs, compared with only 0.2% of men in the same age group.
This pilot study illustrates the use of a patient-identified prescription database for drug utilisation review, therapeutic audit and hypothesis generation.
将药品福利计划（PBS）处方数据集与医疗保险委员会（HIC）持有的患者识别数据相链接，进而确定在两个特定人群中，按年龄和性别划分的心血管药物、非甾体抗炎药、催眠药和弱安定药，以及利尿剂（无其他心血管药物时开具）的处方流行率。
1985年三个月期间的处方数据与患者识别信息进行匹配，以获得一个数据库，该数据库为每条处方记录包含患者的年龄、性别和一个识别号码。然后确定服用上述各类药物的人群百分比，并使用逻辑回归分析研究年龄、性别和居住地区对处方流行率的影响。
澳大利亚两个农村地区，总人口65087人。
在此期间发放的101383张处方中，96%可与HIC信息匹配。在这两个地区合并计算时，服用心血管药物、非甾体抗炎药、催眠药或弱安定药，或利尿剂（无其他心血管药物）的人群百分比分别为10.4%、5.8%、3.5%和2.5%。女性的处方率高于男性，随年龄增长而增加，且两个地区之间存在差异。30 - 39岁的女性中约5%在服用无其他心血管药物的利尿剂，而同年龄组男性中这一比例仅为0.2%。
这项初步研究说明了使用患者识别处方数据库进行药物利用审查、治疗审核和假设生成。
