Dispensed volumes of anti-asthmatic drugs related to the prevalence of asthma and COPD in Sweden.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the possibility of using dispensed volumes asthma/COPD drugs as a proxy for the combined prevalence of asthma plus COPD.


METHODS
The proportions of the Swedish population with inhalation drugs for asthma/COPD 2004 were obtained using three different databases. A pharmacy record database gave the volumes of dispensed drugs (defined daily doses, DDDs of R03A + R03B drugs) for each patient, 20 years and older. The X-plain database of Apoteket AB gave drug sales data for Sweden and Swedish population data were obtained from Swedish statistics.


RESULTS
The sales volumes of asthma/COPD drugs were much higher for older than for younger people. The volumes increased from 18 DDD/TID for the 20-29 year group up to 124 DDD/TID for patients 70-79 years, or about seven times. The average volumes per patient in the different age groups corresponded to one DDD/day in only three of the age groups (50-79 years). In the youngest group the average drug volume per patient corresponded to one DDD every second day, which may indicate undermedication. The percentages of the Swedish population with asthma/COPD drugs increased from 4.0% for 20-29 years old to 14.5% for 80+ years old, or 3.6 times. When head-to-head comparisons could be made between reported prevalence data of asthma and COPD and our data the two sets of data were in a reasonable agreement.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of drug treatment, i.e. the proportion of the population with dispensed asthma/COPD drugs, could function as a proxy for the disease prevalence of asthma plus COPD.
Haupt
Dan
D
Department of Health Sciences, Luleå Technical University, Luleå, Sweden.
Wettermark
Björn
B
Nilsson
J Lars G
JL
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003132:Commerce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents