Anticholinergic drug use for overactive bladder in Sweden: a nationwide pharmacoepidemiological study.
OBJECTIVE
Nationwide use and costs of anticholinergic drug for overactive bladder are unknown.


METHODS
We performed a nationwide study based on the Swedish Register on Prescribed Pharmaceuticals.


RESULTS
From 2000 to 2007, there was a 68.8% increase in dispensed anticholinergic drugs in a population of 9 million. More than 93 million DDDs (calculated average maintenance dose per day) of anticholinergic drugs were dispensed corresponding to an overall DDD/TID (DDD per 1,000 inhabitants per day) of 3.5 per 1,000 persons per year. Approximately two thirds of anticholinergic drugs were prescribed to women, regardless of drug type. In 2007, the cost for anticholinergic drugs was 22 million <euro> of which tolterodine comprised 70.8%. Solifenacin and darifenacin steadily increased their DDD/TIDs after market introduction.


CONCLUSIONS
In this nationwide study, there was a 70% increased rate of expedited prescriptions of anticholinergic drugs for the treatment of overactive bladder in a relatively stable population.
Altman
Daniel
D
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. daniel.altman@ki.se
Granath
Fredrik
F
Mattiasson
Anders
A
Falconer
Christian
C
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003408:Cresols / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017891:Pharmacoepidemiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011812:Quinuclidines / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069464:Solifenacin Succinate; D013548:Sweden; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068737:Tolterodine Tartrate; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D001572:Benzofurans; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D003408:Cresols; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D011812:Quinuclidines; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine; D000068737:Tolterodine Tartrate; C101207:darifenacin; D000069464:Solifenacin Succinate