title: Prescribing pattern of anti-Parkinson drugs in Southern Italy: cross-sectional analysis in the years 2003-2005.
abstract: Aim of this study was to evaluate prevalence of use and prescribing pattern of Anti-Parkinson Drugs (APDs) in general practice of Southern Italy. Among 120,000 individuals registered in the lists of 93 general practitioners of Southern Italy, we estimated one-year prevalence and incidence of APD use in the years 2003-2005. Overall, prevalence of APD use remained stable over the years and it strongly increased in subjects over 70 years of age. L-Dopa with a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor was the most frequently prescribed APD, although the use of both ergot and non-ergot derivative DAs has increased, particularly, in the elderly. A high proportion of APD users (15-20%) received only one prescription during the study period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Pharmacology, Pharmacology Unit, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria-Gazzi, 98125 Messina, Italy. gianluca.trifiro@unime.it
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trifirò
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Savica
authors.forename: Letterio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morgante
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vanacore
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tari
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: Mariella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galdo
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spina
authors.forename: Achille P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Caputi
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arcoraci
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents