[Use of prescription drugs in Spain and Europe].

OBJECTIVE

To compare the Spanish prescription drug consumption with that of European countries.

DESIGN

A review of the literature and data sources for prescription drug consumption.

SETTING

European countries; last three decades.

PARTICIPANTS

Included therapeutic groups where the available information allowed a comparison of the consumption in Spain with that of other European countries.

MEASUREMENTS

Studies, reports, or data sources were included in which the consumption was expressed in DHD (DDD/1000 inhabitants per day).

RESULTS

It was possible to compare 18 therapeutic groups: drugs for peptic ulcer (A02B), glucose lowering drugs (A10), antithrombotic agents vitamin K antagonists (B01AA), antihypertensives (C02), diuretics (C03), peripheral vasodilators (C04), beta-blocking agents (C07), calcium channel blockers (C08), agents acting on the renin-angiotensin system (C09), lipid-lowering drugs (C10), antibacterials for systemic use (J01), antiinflammatory & antirheumatic products non-steroids (M01A), opioid analgesics (N02A), antipsychotics (N05A); anxiolytics (N05B), hypnotics & sedatives (N05C), antidepressants (N06A) and drugs for obstructive airway diseases (R03). With regard to the European average (100), the Spanish consumption of these therapeutic groups was: N02A, 37; C07, 40; B01AA, 41; C03, 70; N05C, 72; C10, 75; C08, 76; N05A, 77; TH01, 97; N06A, 98; C09, 104; M01A, 101; R03, 101; C02, 107; A10, 114; N05B, 137; A02B, 150 and C04, 234.

CONCLUSIONS

The Spanish consumption of most of the therapeutic groups was very close to the average of the group of the countries where it was possible to compare it, or clearly below average, with the exception of the consumption of drugs for peptic ulcer, anxiolytics and peripheral vasodilators, which considerably exceeded the average of the group.