Bengt Åstrand

Dispensed drugs and multiple medications in the Swedish population: an individual-based register study.

BackgroundMultiple medications is a well-known potential risk factor in terms of patients health. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of dispensed drugs and multiple medications in an entire national population, by using individual based data on dispensed drugs.MethodsAnalyses of all dispensed out-patient prescriptions in 2006 from the Swedish prescribed drug register. As a cut-off for multiple medications, we applied five or more different drugs dispensed (DP ≥ 5) at Swedish pharmacies for a single individual during a 3-month, a 6-month, and a 12-month study period. For comparison, results were also calculated with certain drug groups excluded.Results6.2 million individuals received at least one dispensed drug (DP ≥ 1) during 12 months in 2006 corresponding to a prevalence of 67.4%; 75.6% for females and 59.3% for males. Individuals received on average 4.7 dispensed drugs per individual (median 3, Q1–Q3 2–6); females 5.0 (median 3, Q1–Q3 2–7), males 4.3 (median 3, Q1–Q3 1–6).The prevalence of multiple medications (DP ≥ 5) was 24.4% for the entire population. The prevalence increased with age. For elderly 70–79, 80–89, and 90-years, the prevalence of DP ≥ 5 was 62.4, 75.1, and 77.7% in the respective age groups. 82.8% of all individuals with DP ≥ 1 and 64.9% of all individuals with DP ≥ 5 were < 70 years.Multiple medications was more frequent for females (29.6%) than for males (19.2%). For individuals 10 to 39 years, DP ≥ 5 was twice as common among females compared to males. Sex hormones and modulators of the genital system excluded, reduced the relative risk (RR) for females vs. males for DP ≥ 5 from 1.5 to 1.4.The prevalence of DP ≥ 1 increased from 45.1 to 56.2 and 67.4%, respectively, when the study period was 3, 6, and 12 respectively months and the corresponding prevalence of DP ≥ 5 was 11.3, 17.2, and 24.4% respectively.ConclusionThe prevalence of dispensed drugs and multiple medications were extensive in all age groups and were higher for females than for males. Multiple medications should be regarded as a risk in terms of potential drug-drug interactions and adverse drug reactions in all age groups.

Individuals appreciate having their medication record on the web: a survey of attitudes to a national pharmacy register.

Background Many patients receive health care in different settings. Thus, a limitation of clinical care may be inaccurate medication lists, since data exchange between settings is often lacking and patients do not regularly self-report on changes in their medication. Health care professionals and patients are both interested in utilizing electronic health information. However, opinion is divided as to who should take responsibility for maintaining personal health records. In Sweden, the government has passed a law to enforce and fund a national register of dispensed medications. The register comprises all individuals with dispensed medications (6.4 million individuals, September 2006) and can be accessed by the individual online via “My dispensed medications”. The individual has the right to restrict the accessibility of the information in health care settings. Objective The aim of the present study was to evaluate the users’ attitudes towards their access to “My dispensed medications” as part of a new interactive Internet service on prescribed medications. Method A password-protected Web survey was conducted among a first group of users of “My dispensed medications”. Data was anonymously collected and analyzed with regard to the usefulness and design of the Web site, the respondents’ willingness to discuss their “My dispensed medications” with others, their reasons for access, and their source of information about the service. Results During the study period (January-March, 2007), all 7860 unique site visitors were invited to answer the survey. Invitations were accepted by 2663 individuals, and 1716 responded to the online survey yielding a view rate of 21.8% (1716/7860) and a completion rate of 64.4% (1716/2663). The completeness rate for each question was in the range of 94.9% (1629/1716) to 99.5% (1707/1716). In general, the respondents’ expectations of the usefulness of “My dispensed medications” were high (total median grade 5; Inter Quartile Range [IQR] 3, on a scale 1-6). They were also positive about the design of the Web site (total median grade 5; IQR 1, on a scale 1-6). The high grades were not dependent on age or number of drugs. A majority of the respondents, 60.4% (1037/1716), had learned about “My dispensed medications” from pharmacies. 70.4% (1208/1716) of all respondents said they visited “My dispensed medications” to get control or an overview of their drugs. Getting control was a more common (P < .001) answer for the elderly (age 75 or above), whereas curiosity was more common (P < .001) for the younger age group (18-44 years). Conclusion We found that users of the provider-based personal medication record “My dispensed medications” appreciated the access to their record. Since we found that the respondents liked the design of the Web site and perceived that the information was easy to understand, the study provided no reason for system changes. However, a need for more information about the register, and to extend its use, was recognized.

Assessment of regional variation in polypharmacy

To assess polypharmacy in a population with emphasis on regions.

Avoiding Drug-Drug Interactions

Background: Drugs may be prescribed in combinations causing drug-drug interactions (DDI) and adverse drug reactions (ADR), resulting in hospital care. Methods: To provide prescribers of drug therapy with a better knowledge of individuals’ current drug therapy, governments have started to collect prescribing data. Results: The data on individuals’ dispensed drugs is available for prescribers, pharmacists, and the registered individuals in Sweden and Denmark. The information has not yet come to an extensive use in healthcare. Pilot projects have been reported positively, but accessibility has to be improved. Conclusions: To avoid DDIs, reliable information on all drugs used by each single individual needs to be available at the point of care. Knowledge databases about clinically relevant DDIs must be updated and accurate. To tailor the magic bullet for the individual, new genomic- and proteomic-based knowledge about the individual has to be considered in the future.

Acquisition cost of dispensed drugs in individuals with multiple medications--A register-based study in Sweden

OBJECTIVES To analyse the acquisition cost of dispensed prescription drugs for individuals with multiple medications in a national population. METHODS We collected and analysed individual based data regarding the acquisition cost of dispensed prescription drugs for all individuals with five or more dispensed drugs (DP≥5) in Sweden 2006 (2.2 million). RESULTS Individuals with DP≥5 (24.5% of the population) accounted for 78.8% of the total acquisition cost, and individuals with DP≥10 (8.6% of the population) and DP≥15 (3.0% of the population) accounted for 46.3% and 23.2%, respectively. The average acquisition cost per defined daily doses (DDD) generally decreased with increasing age. The highest average cost per DDD was observed for individuals with DP≥10. The acquisition cost for women with DP≥5 represented 56.0% of the total acquisition cost. Men with DP≥5 represented 44.0% of the total acquisition cost. CONCLUSIONS In an entire national population, individuals with multiple medication accounted for four fifths of the total acquisition cost of dispensed drugs. Actions to reduce the number of prescription drugs for the group of patients with a number of different drugs may also result in a substantial reduction of the total acquisition cost.

Prevalence and therapeutic intensity of dispensed drug groups for individuals with multiple medications : a register-based study of 2.2 million individuals

Objectives  To assess the prevalence and the therapeutic intensity of dispensed drug groups for individuals receiving multiple medications.

Improving Interoperability in ePrescribing

Background The increased application of eServices in health care, in general, and ePrescribing (electronic prescribing) in particular, have brought quality and interoperability to the forefront. The application of standards has been put forward as one important factor in improving interoperability. However, less focus has been placed on other factors, such as stakeholders’ involvement and the measurement of interoperability. An information system (IS) can be regarded to comprise an instrument for technology-mediated work communication. In this study, interoperability refers to the interoperation in the ePrescribing process, involving people, systems, procedures and organizations. We have focused on the quality of the ePrescription message as one component of the interoperation in the ePrescribing process. Objective The objective was to analyze how combined efforts in improving interoperability with the introduction of the new national ePrescription format (NEF) have impacted interoperability in the ePrescribing process in Sweden, with the focus on the quality of the ePrescription message. Methods Consecutive sampling of electronic prescriptions in Sweden before and after the introduction of NEF was undertaken in April 2008 (pre-NEF) and April 2009 (post-NEF). Interoperability problems were identified and classified based on message format specifications and prescription rules. Results The introduction of NEF improved the interoperability of ePrescriptions substantially. In the pre-NEF sample, a total of 98.6% of the prescriptions had errors. In the post-NEF sample, only 0.9% of the prescriptions had errors. The mean number of errors was fewer for the erroneous prescriptions: 4.8 in pre-NEF compared to 1.0 in post-NEF. Conclusions We conclude that a systematic comprehensive work on interoperability, covering technical, semantical, professional, judicial and process aspects, involving the stakeholders, resulted in an improved interoperability of ePrescriptions.

Erratum : Potential drug interactions during a three-decade study

OBJECTIVES The increased risk of adverse events in patients receiving potentially interacting drugs has long been recognized. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the change in the risk of receiving potentially interacting drugs during a period covering three decades and to examine the relative risk of actual drug combinations. METHODS The prescriptions from all individuals (about 8,000) with two or more prescriptions during three periods of 15 months, October to December 1983-1984, 1993-1994 and 2003-2004, were collected from an ongoing cohort study in the county of Jämtland, Sweden. The potential interactions were detected by a computerized system. RESULTS The relative risk (RR) of receiving potentially interacting drugs increased for type C interactions [RR: 1.177, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.104-1.256] and decreased for type D interactions (RR: 0.714, 95% CI: 0.587-0.868) from the period 1983-1984 to 2003-2004. Polypharmacy for the participants increased by 61%, from 9.05 filled prescriptions per subject in 1983-1984 to 10.6 in 1993-1994 and 14.6 in 2003-2004. The RR was positively correlated to the pronounced increase in polypharmacy; in addition, an exponential relationship was found for the more severe type D interactions. Few interacting drug combinations were responsible for a large proportion of the risk. CONCLUSION We conclude that the risk of receiving potentially interacting drugs was strongly correlated to the concomitant use of multiple drugs. The pronounced increase in polypharmacy over time implies a growing reason for prescribers and pharmacists to be aware of drug interactions. Recently established national prescription registers should be evaluated for drug interaction vigilance, both clinically and epidemiologically.