Cristina Feja

Variability in the prescription of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine.

Background/Aim: To estimate the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatment in Aragon (Spain), analyzing differences according to age, gender and health area. Methods: Retrospective study on AD treatment prevalence of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine during 2005, using pharmaco-epidemiological data from prescription refunds transferred monthly from pharmacies to the Health Care Service. Results: Differences between health areas were considerable, with adjusted prescription rates between 121.6 and 248.6/100,000 individuals. Treatment rates for women doubled those of men in each health area. Variability was greater among men than women. Drug prescription distribution was also different between health areas. Conclusion: Considerable variability in AD treatment has been detected. More consensus is needed to reduce variability in order to improve the quality of the pharmacotherapy for AD and assure equal treatment opportunities for every patient.

High Antibiotic Consumption: A Characterization of Heavy Users in Spain

Heavy antibiotic users are those individuals with the highest exposure to antibiotics. They play an important role as contributors to the increasing risk of antimicrobial resistance. We applied different methods to identify and characterize the group of heavy antibiotic users in Spain as well as their exposure to antibiotics. Data on outpatient prescribing of antimicrobials (ATC J01) in 2010 were obtained from a prescription database covering Aragón (northeastern Spain). The antimicrobial consumption at the individual level was analysed both according to the volume of DDD and the number of packages purchased per year. Heavy antibiotic users were identified according to Lorenz curves and characterized by age, gender, and their antimicrobial prescription profile. Lorenz curves demonstrated substantial differences in the individual use of antimicrobials. Heavy antibiotic users (5% of individuals with highest consumption) were responsible for 21% of the total DDD consumed and received ≥6 packages per year. Elderly adults (≥60 years) and small children (0–9 years) were those exposed to the highest volume of antibiotics and with the most frequent exposure, respectively. Heavy users received a high proportion of antibiotics not recommended as first choice in primary health care. In conclusion, heavy antibiotic users consisted mainly of children and old adults. Inappropriate overuse of antibiotics (high quantity, high frequency, and inappropriate antibiotic choice) leads to a substantial risk of the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria, and interventions to reduce overuse of antibiotics should therefore primarily be targeted children and elderly people.

Compliance with recommendations on outpatient antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections: the case of Spain.

Inappropriate antibiotic use in primary care, such as in respiratory tract infections (RTIs), is an important cause of bacterial resistance. This study aimed at describing the current pattern of outpatient antibiotic use in acute RTIs in Spain and evaluating adherence to national recommendations. A retrospective observational study was performed including all the episodes of RTIs registered during a 1‐year period in a north‐eastern Spanish region. Data related to patient demography, diagnoses and antibiotic prescriptions were collected from the electronic medical history database in the region, and adherence to recommendations for antibiotic prescribing was assessed. One third of patients with a RTI were prescribed an antibiotic, with young adults (aged 15–64 years) being the most treated. High prescribing rates were observed in patients with acute otitis, sinusitis and acute tonsillitis (about 70%), whereas low rates were found in acute bronchitis (50%) and non‐specific upper RTIs (24%) episodes. A high prescription of broad‐spectrum agents and antibiotics not recommended as first choice was observed. In accordance with Spanish guidelines, there exists a potential over‐prescribing of antibiotics for all the diagnoses studied, especially in the adult population. Moreover, the choice of antibiotics is frequently based on agents with a high risk of increasing antimicrobial resistance. Multifaceted strategies should be implemented to improve the quality of antibiotic prescribing in primary care.

Men inequalities and liver cirrhosis mortality (Zaragoza, Spain, 1996-2003)

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to identify geographical differences in mortality from liver cirrhosis in men living in the province of Zaragoza, Spain, as well as its possible association with socioeconomic factors. The utility of the MEDEA projects deprivation index in rural areas was also explored. METHODS Census tracts were used in Zaragoza city as analysis units and municipalities were used for the rest of the province. Crude and smoothed standardized mortality ratios were calculated for each analysis unit through a Bayesian generalized mixed linear model. A deprivation index was obtained and was included in the model in quartiles. An exploratory analysis was also conducted, including a rural index in the province of Zaragoza. RESULTS In Zaragoza city, mortality from liver cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases [code 571 of the 9th International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and K70, K72.1, K73, K74, K76.1.9 of the ICD-10] increased as the deprivation index increased. Mortality in the most deprived areas was twice that in the less deprived areas (relative risk [RR] 2.09, credible interval (CI): 1.53-2.83). In the rest of the province, geographical differences in mortality could not be explained by the deprivation index used. Nevertheless, municipalities with the highest values in the rural index showed a RR of 0.47 (CI: 0.18-0.92) compared with those with the lowest values. CONCLUSIONS In Zaragoza city, mortality from liver cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases was higher in the most deprived census tracts than in the most affluent areas. This association was not found in the rest of the province, probably because of the low variability explained by the deprivation index. Municipalities with high rural values had the lowest risk of death from these diseases.

Different approaches to the assessment of adherence and persistence with cardiovascular-disease preventive medications

Abstract Objective: To assess suitability and comparability of the most common methods of treatment adherence and persistence assessment, as applied to the same pharmacy dataset. Methods: Data on drugs prescribed for cardiovascular primary prevention to participants in the Aragon Workers’ Health Study (AWHS) were collected from a regional electronic drug prescription database. Several different approaches were used to measure treatment adherence (with the medication possession ratio [MPR]) and proportion of days covered [PDC]) and persistence in new users by therapeutic subgroup. Defined daily dose (DDD) was used as a proxy of the number of days’ supply, or substituted with surrogate daily dose values. Results: Higher mean adherence values and proportions of adherent patients were obtained using MPR versus PDC, with additional differences depending on the approach used. The proportion of adherent patients was lowest for oral antidiabetics (14.4%–30.6%) and highest for antihypertensives (70.2%–82.1%). The use of surrogate daily dose values increased adherence for antidiabetics and statins and decreased adherence for antihypertensives. After a 1 year follow-up, treatment persistence was observed for 21.1%, 58.7%, and 29.5% of antidiabetic, antihypertensive and statin users, respectively. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that use of multiple measures of treatment adherence and persistence provides a more complete overview of medication use patterns, and certain limitations associated with DDD for some drug groups can be overcome with replacement by surrogate doses. The PDC indicator seems to provide a more accurate reflection of patient behavior and treatment continuity than the MPR. Any comparison of adherence/persistence should always consider the method used, variables analyzed, and corresponding data collection process.

Risk factors control for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in men: Evidence from the Aragon Workers Health Study (AWHS)

Benefits of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors control are well known, but goals achievement remains low. The objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of CVD risk factors among men ina worker’s cohort with no previous CVD, to study control variations across time and the factors associated with poor control. To this end, we conducted a cohort reexamination (2010–2014) within the context of the Aragon Workers Health Study (AWHS). Data from working characteristics, analytical values and pharmacological prescription were included in the analysis. Prevalences of risk factor diagnosis and control were calculated, as well as factors associated with poor control. The prevalence of CVD risk factors was high. In 2014dyslipidaemia was the most prevalent (85.2%) followed by Hypertension (HT) (42.0%). People under treatment increased for the period analysed (p<0.001). The proportion of people treated varied from 72.2% in Diabetes Mellitus to 31.1% in dyslipidaemia in 2014. 46.2% of the workers with HT were controlled, decreasing to 21.9% in Diabetes and 11.0% in dyslipidaemia (2014). Working in a turn different to central shift was associated with poor control, especially for those working at night with HT (Odds Ratio in 2010: 3.6; Confidence Interval 95% 1.8–7.4) and dyslipidaemia (Odds Ratio 2010: 4.7; Confidence Interval 95% 1.3–16.4). We conclude that, although CVD control has increased significantly for the period studied, there are still many people that do not receive any treatment, and control goals are normally not achieved.

Use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Associated Gastroprotection in a Cohort of Workers

Background: This study describes the prevalence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, and analyses prescribing patterns of NSAIDs and associated gastroprotection. Methods: The study population consisted of 5650 workers at the General Motors automobile assembly plant in Zaragoza, Spain. NSAID prescription data for 2014 were obtained from the prescription database of Aragon (Spain). NSAID consumption was determined based on the number of defined daily doses purchased per year. Heavy NSAIDs users were identified using Lorenz curves. Results: NSAID use in the cohort was high (40.7% of workers, 95% CI 39.4–41.9). The prescription of proton pump inhibitors increased with age. Gastrointestinal protection was lacking in some participants who were being treated with drugs associated with a high risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Heavy NSAID users (defined as those above the 95th percentile of consumption), accounted for 26% of total DDDs, and consumed a greater proportion of coxibs than non-heavy users. Conclusions: The rate of NSAID consumption in the cohort was high. To reduce the risk of gastrointestinal complications, monitoring and adequate gastroprotection are essential in patients who are prescribed NSAIDs for long periods of time or who are treated concomitantly with drugs that increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Prescripción antibiótica en infecciones respiratorias agudas en atención primaria

INTRODUCTION Antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide threat to public health. Acute respiratory tract infections are the main reason for antibiotic prescribing in the Spanish paediatric population. The aim of the study was to describe the frequency of antibiotic prescription and their pattern of use in acute respiratory tract infections diagnosed in children in Primary Care in Aragón (Spain). METHODOLOGY A study was conducted over a 1-year period on children between 0 and 14 years-old, recording all episodes of acute otitis, acute pharyngotonsillitis, non-specific upper respiratory infection, and acute bronchitis. The proportion of episodes within each diagnosis receiving an antibiotic prescription was calculated, and the prescribing pattern was determined. RESULTS Half (50%) of the children in Aragón were diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection during the study period. Non-specific upper respiratory infection was the most frequent diagnosis. An antibiotic was prescribed in 75% of pharyngotonsillitis episodes, 72% of otitis, 27% of bronchitis, and 16% of non-specific upper respiratory infections. Broad spectrum antibiotics, mainly amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic, were predominantly prescribed. CONCLUSIONS Antibiotic prescribing in respiratory tract infections in children was generally high, and the choice of antibiotics was probably inappropriate in a high percentage of cases. Therefore an improvement in antibiotic prescribing in children appears to be needed.