title: Temporal trends for donepezil utilization among older people.
abstract: To examine and characterize overall donepezil and concomitant utilization with β-blockers, yearly, in older New Zealanders. Deidentified data from the Pharmaceutical claims database and the National Minimum Dataset were obtained for 2011 to 2013 from the Ministry of Health. Population-level data were extracted for donepezil and β-blockers utilization, measured by defined daily dose (DDD) per thousand older people per day (TOPD). Donepezil utilization increased from 5.2 to 8.2 DDD/TOPD between 2011 and 2013. In 2011, the number of prevalent users was 4634, the mean age was 79.4±6.6 years and 57.5% were women. Highest use by age for donepezil was in those aged 85 years or older (2.3 DDD/TOPD), followed by those aged 80-84 years (2.2 DDD/TOPD). The mean utilization volumes were significantly lower for donepezil 5 mg (Student t-test=9.86; P<0.05) and 10 mg (10.90; P<0.05) in the 65- to 69-year age group compared with the 80- to 84-year age group, whereas the proportion of concomitant utilization of donepezil with β-blockers decreased (17.9% to 5.1%). Donepezil utilization in DDD/TOPD increased by three-fifths between 2011 and 2013. Prescribers appear to be aware of the potential risk of bradycardia with the concomitant use of donepezil and β-blockers.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Henry C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Ndukwe
authors.forename: Prasad S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Nishtala
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D000077265:Donepezil; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000639:trends; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D007189:Indans; D010880:Piperidines; D000077265:Donepezil