title: Trends in the supply and use of lipid-lowering drugs in Spain, 1983 through 1991.
abstract: Trends in the supply and use of lipid-lowering drugs in Spain were studied throughout the period of 1983-1991. Although the supply of such drugs remains excessive, a trend towards more rational standards has been apparent: 20 specialties out of 53 existing in 1983 have been withdrawn (10 fixed-dose combinations and 10 obsolete drugs). The overall use of lipid-lowering drugs rose from 2.51 DDD/1000 inhab/day in 1983 to 8.47 DDD/1000 inhab/day in 1991. The increase was mostly attributable to the subgroup of fibric acid derivatives (1.23 DDD/1000 inhab/day in 1983 and 6.14 in 1991). The bile acid sequestrants accounted for a small fraction of the overall use (0.23 DDD/inhab/day in 1991), in spite of its increasing consumption. The use of the two subgroups, nicotinic acid derivatives and fixed-dose combinations, has declined. The introduction into the market of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in 1991 contributed to the increase of the overall use in 1.28 DDD/1000 inhab/day but it seems not to have any negative influence on the use of other subgroups. Although the prevalence rates of hypercholesterolemia are similar, the use of lipid-lowering drugs in 1991 in Spain was 3 to 8 times higher than that of the Nordic countries. In conclusion, our data suggest that lipid-lowering drugs are highly used in Spain, at least in comparison with other western countries, and that the pattern of drug use is not in accordance with international recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Farmacología Clínica y Farmacovigilancia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: De Abajo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madurga
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Montero
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Palop
mesh_terms: D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents