Newer and older antiepileptic drug use in Southern Italy: a population-based study during the years 2003-2005.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the prescribing pattern of newer and older antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) during the years 2003-2005.


METHODS
From the Caserta-1 Local Health Service database, 93 general practitioners (GPs) were recruited. Among 127,389 individuals aged > or =15 years registered in the lists of these GPs, we selected patients who received at least one AED prescription during the study period. Use of newer and older AEDs was calculated as 1-year prevalence and incidence as well as defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants/day. Sub-analyses by gender, age and indication of use were performed.


RESULTS
Overall, prevalence and incidence of use remained stable for older AEDs, while it strongly increased for newer AEDs. In particular, 25% increase of incident treatments with newer AED have been reported from 2004 to 2005. The total volume of AED use remained stable during the study years, despite the proportion of newer AEDs slightly increased (from 24.6% in 2003 to 30.1% in 2005). The main indication of use was epileptic disorders for older AEDs (56% of users), and neuropathic pain for newer AEDs (69%).


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence and incidence of use of newer AED strongly increased during the years 2003-2005 in a general practice of Southern Italy. Significant differences are shown in the prescribing pattern of newer and older medications: older AEDs are mainly used in the treatment of epileptic disorders, while newer compounds are preferred for conditions other than epilepsy, in particular neuropathic pain.
IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Via Palermo C. da Casazza, Messina 98124, Italy. alacqua@unime.it
Marianna
M
Alacqua
Gianluca
G
Trifirò
Edoardo
E
Spina
Salvatore
S
Moretti
Daniele Ugo
DU
Tari
P
P
Bramanti
Achille P
AP
Caputi
Vincenzo
V
Arcoraci
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000145:classification* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018672:Community Health Planning; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000927:Anticonvulsants