University of Limerick School of Medicine, Limerick, Ireland.
Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
Ir J Med Sci. 2022 Oct;191(5):2239-2246. doi: 10.1007/s11845-021-02833-7. Epub 2021 Oct 29.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to identify the trends in antidepressant (AD) medication use in two Irish general practices over a 5-year period, 2016 to 2020. The rationale for this study is attributed to the growing prevalence of depression amongst the Irish general public as well as concerns surrounding long-term AD medication use.
The research was undertaken in 2021 examining AD prescription rates from 2016 to 2020. The medications of interest were selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRI and SNRIs): sertraline, escitalopram, fluoxetine and venlafaxine. The number of medical card holders (MCH) and prescription dispensing rates were analysed for observable trends.
AD medication use is rising amongst the Irish MCH population. The number of MCH prescribed AD grew from 9.42 to 12.3 per 100 MCH between the years 2016 and 2020, respectively. The year 2020 represented the largest proportion of MCH prescriptions, 6.32 AD prescriptions per 1000 MCH prescriptions. The years 2019 to 2020 represented the largest annual increase in prescription dispensing with a growth of 0.45 per 1000 MCH prescriptions. Annual figures show a continual increase in AD dispensing refill rates from 4.14 to 5.67 per 1000 MCH prescriptions in 2016 and 2020, respectively.
This study illustrates a steady rise in AD medication within the general practice setting, with an observed rise in prescription dispensing rates. The high proportion of refill prescriptions demonstrates the long-term use of AD medications. This may be indicative of chronic depression or may highlight a lack of appropriate medication cessation strategies.
背景/目的：本研究旨在确定在爱尔兰两家全科诊所中，5 年来（2016 年至 2020 年）抗抑郁药（AD）使用的趋势。本研究的依据是爱尔兰公众中抑郁症的患病率不断上升，以及对长期使用 AD 药物的担忧。
本研究于 2021 年进行，检查了 2016 年至 2020 年的 AD 处方率。研究的药物为选择性 5-羟色胺和去甲肾上腺素再摄取抑制剂（SSRIs 和 SNRIs）：舍曲林、艾司西酞普兰、氟西汀和文拉法辛。分析了医疗卡持有者（MCH）的数量和处方配药率，以观察趋势。
AD 药物在爱尔兰 MCH 人群中的使用呈上升趋势。2016 年至 2020 年，MCH 处方的 AD 药物数量从每 100 名 MCH 中 9.42 例增长到 12.3 例。2020 年代表 MCH 处方的最大比例，每 1000 名 MCH 处方中有 6.32 例 AD 处方。2019 年至 2020 年是处方配药量最大的年度增长，每 1000 名 MCH 处方增长 0.45 例。2016 年至 2020 年，AD 药物配药续方率从每年每 1000 名 MCH 处方 4.14 例持续增加到 5.67 例。
本研究表明，AD 药物在全科诊所中的使用呈稳步上升趋势，处方配药率有所上升。高比例的续方表明 AD 药物的长期使用。这可能表明存在慢性抑郁症，或者可能表明缺乏适当的药物停药策略。
