Utilisation of cardiovascular medicines in Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 5 years study.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to analyse cardiovascular medicines utilisation patterns in Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) over the 2002-2006 period.


METHODS
A retrospective study was taken to analyse utilisation medicines reimbursed by the Health Insurance Fund (HIF), with a focus on cardiovascular medicines utilisation. ATC/DDD methodology was used to monitor utilisation of medicines. Drug utilisation 90% (DU90%) method was used to determine the prescribing quality of cardiovascular medicines.


RESULTS
Utilisation of cardiovascular medicines accounted for more than one half of the total medicines utilisation, with an increasing trend. Most prescribed were antihypertensive medicines i.e. ACE inhibitors, both plain and in combination with thiazide diuretics, and calcium channel blockers (CCB). Utilisation of beta-blockers and thiazide diuretics remains rather low despite an overall increase in utilisation. Re-introduction of statins in 2004 instantly led to high utilisation. The number of cardiovascular medicines within DU90% segment varies from 8 in 2002 to 12 in 2006.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed a constant increase in total medicines utilisation with the cardiovascular medicines as the most prescribed. DU90% is shown as a simple method for assessing general quality of medicines prescribing, which indicated that better adherence to the guidelines is needed in order to practice a more rational use of medicines and a cost-efficient use of all resources. More stratified routinely performed analyses are also needed.
Markovic-Pekovic
Vanda
V
Health Insurance Fund, Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Stoisavljevic-Satara
Svjetlana
S
Skrbic
Ranko
R
D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004363:Drug Utilization; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents