1
|
Kolari TA, Vuori M, RÄttÖ H, Varimo EA, Aronen ET, Saastamoinen LK, Ruokoniemi PÄT. Incidence of ADHD medication use among Finnish children and adolescents in 2008-2019: a need for practice changes? Scand J Public Health 2024:14034948231219826. [PMID: 38425045 DOI: 10.1177/14034948231219826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
AIMS This study examined the incidence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medication among children and adolescents by sex and age group in Finland during 2008-2019. METHODS The data on children and adolescents aged 6-18 years receiving reimbursement for any attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medication was collected from the nationwide register on reimbursed purchases. The incidence was calculated as a ratio of the number of new users and the number of age and sex-matched population at risk. Negative binomial models were used to calculate rate ratios (RRs). RESULTS In 2019, the incidence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medication was 13.4 per 1000 boys and 4.8 per 1000 girls. Among boys, the incidence became 3.7 times greater during the observed years (RR 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0, 6.5, P<0.0001), whereas in girls it was 7.6 times greater (RR 95% CI 2.1, 27.4, P=0.0019). The boys had 2.8 times the incidence rate compared with the girls (RR 95% CI 2.2, 3.6, P<0.0001). The increase was associated with age only among boys (P=0.0001). The highest incidence rate 23.4 per 1000 individuals (95% CI 22.5, 24.4) was found in 2019 among 6-8-year-old boys. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medication use among children and adolescents increased significantly in Finland during the study period. Incidence was higher among boys, but the increase was greater among girls. The most common group to start attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medication was 6-8-year-old boys. These findings warrant critical evaluation of the diagnostic and treatment policies currently available in Finland for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and related symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Terhi A Kolari
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland
| | - Miika Vuori
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, The Knowledge Management and Co-Creation Unit, Finland
- Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Finland
| | - Hanna RÄttÖ
- Research Unit, The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Finland
| | - Eveliina A Varimo
- Pediatric Research Center, New Children's Hospital, Finland
- Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
| | - Eeva T Aronen
- Pediatric Research Center, New Children's Hospital, Finland
- Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
| | | | - PÄivi T Ruokoniemi
- Pediatric Research Center, New Children's Hospital, Finland
- Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Varimo E, Saastamoinen LK, Rättö H, Aronen ET. Polypharmacy in children and adolescents initiating antipsychotic drug in 2008-2016: a nationwide register study. Nord J Psychiatry 2023; 77:14-22. [PMID: 35263210 DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2022.2042597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The use of antipsychotics in children and adolescents has increased rapidly. Little is known about psychotropic polypharmacy in children and adolescent initiating an antipsychotic drug. Thus, we investigated the frequency and predictors of polypharmacy during the first year of antipsychotic use in Finnish children and adolescents. METHODS Between 2008 and 2016, 14 848 individuals aged 1-17 years initiating risperidone, quetiapine, aripiprazole, or olanzapine treatment were identified from Finnish Prescription Registry. Data on psychotropic drug prescriptions prior to and during antipsychotic treatment were collected. Associations between predictors and polypharmacy were analyzed with regression models. RESULTS During the study period polypharmacy occurred in 44.9% of the new antipsychotic users, being more frequent in girls (55.5%) than in boys (44.5%, p < 0.001). The two most frequent concomitant psychotropic drug classes were antidepressants (66.2%) and psychostimulants/atomoxetine (30.8%). Adolescents aged 13-15 and 16-17 years, and girls showed an increased risk of polypharmacy during antipsychotic treatment (OR 2.37 [95% CI 1.91-2.92], OR 2.39 [95% CI 1.92-2.98], and OR 1.64 [95% CI 1.51-1.78], respectively). The use of psychostimulants/atomoxetine or antidepressants prior to initiation of antipsychotic treatment was strongly associated with polypharmacy during antipsychotic treatment (OR 8.39 [95% CI 7.49-9.41], OR 3.02 [95% CI 2.75-3.31]). CONCLUSIONS Polypharmacy was common in children and adolescents initiating antipsychotic treatment. Prior use of psychostimulants/atomoxetine and antidepressants increased the risk of polypharmacy. The use of antipsychotics was mainly off-label, thus, the risks of concomitant use of antipsychotics with other psychotropic drugs should be carefully weighed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eveliina Varimo
- Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Laboratory of Developmental Psychopathology, Pediatric Research Center, New Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Hanna Rättö
- Research Unit, Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eeva T Aronen
- Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Laboratory of Developmental Psychopathology, Pediatric Research Center, New Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Højlund M, Gudmundsson LS, Andersen JH, Saastamoinen LK, Zoega H, Skurtveit SO, Wastesson JW, Hallas J, Pottegård A. Use of benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine‐related drugs in the Nordic Countries between 2000 and 2020. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2022; 132:60-70. [PMID: 36314353 PMCID: PMC10098719 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.13811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Use of benzodiazepines (BZ) and related drugs is subject to considerable debate due to problems with dependency and adverse events. We aimed to describe and compare their use across the Nordic countries. Data on the use of clonazepam, BZ-sedatives, BZ-hypnotics, and benzodiazepine-related drugs (BZRD) in adults (≥20 years) were obtained from nationwide registers in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, 2000-2020. Main measures were therapeutic intensity (TI:DDD/1000 inhabitants [inhab.]/day) and annual prevalence (users/1000 inhab./year). Overall, TI of BZ and related drugs decreased in all Nordic countries from 2004 to 2020. However, there were considerable differences between countries in TI. In 2020, the TI of BZ and related drugs ranged from 17 DDD/1000 inhab./day in Denmark to 93 DDD/1000 inhab./day in Iceland. BZRD accounted for 55-78% of BZ use in 2020, followed by BZ sedatives at 20-44%, BZ-hypnotics at <1-5%, and clonazepam at <1-2%. Annual prevalence of BZ use increased with age in all countries, and the highest annual prevalence was observed among people ≥80 years. Overall, the use of BZ and related drugs has decreased in all Nordic countries from 2004 to 2020, however, with considerable differences in their use between countries. The highest prevalence was observed among the oldest age groups-despite warnings against their use in this population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mikkel Højlund
- Department of Public Health, Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy, and Environmental Medicine University of Southern Denmark Odense Denmark
- Mental Health Services Region of Southern Denmark, Department of Psychiatry Aabenraa Aabenraa Denmark
| | | | - Jacob H. Andersen
- Department of Public Health, Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy, and Environmental Medicine University of Southern Denmark Odense Denmark
| | | | - Helga Zoega
- School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health University of New South Wales Sydney Australia
- Centre of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine University of Iceland Reykjavik Iceland
| | - Svetlana O. Skurtveit
- The Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Department of Mental Disorders Oslo Norway
| | - Jonas W. Wastesson
- Ageing Research Center, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm University Stockholm Sweden
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden
| | - Jesper Hallas
- Department of Public Health, Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy, and Environmental Medicine University of Southern Denmark Odense Denmark
| | - Anton Pottegård
- Department of Public Health, Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy, and Environmental Medicine University of Southern Denmark Odense Denmark
- Hospital Pharmacy Funen Odense University Hospital Odense Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Vuori M, Sourander A, Aronen ET, Kronström K, Saastamoinen LK. Relative Age and the Use of Second-Generation Antipsychotics from 7 to 17 Years of Age: A Population-Based Register Study. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2022; 32:45-51. [PMID: 34619034 DOI: 10.1089/cap.2021.0053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Objective: The youngest children in a classroom have a higher risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHDs) and depression than their relatively older peers. However, there has been a lack of research on how relative age is related to second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) medication use. Methods: This study used the Finnish National Prescription Register data and comprised all 669,726 Finnish children and adolescents aged 7-17 in 2018. We extracted data for those who were dispensed SGAs (risperidone, quetiapine, aripiprazole, and olanzapine) and ADHD medication (methylphenidate, atomoxetine, dexamphetamine, and lisdexamfetamine). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for medication dispensed to schoolchildren born from January to April (the relatively oldest), May to August, and September to December (the relatively youngest). Dispensed prescriptions were a proxy for medication use. Results: SGAs were dispensed to 9146 (1.4%) individuals in 2018. Their use was lower among girls aged 12-17 years born from September to December than January to April (OR 0.89; 95% CI 0.83-0.97), with no association between SGA use and birth month among boys. However, younger relative age was associated with combined SGA and ADHD medication, which was used by 2556 (0.4%) of the cohort: 2074 (0.6%) boys and 482 (0.1%) girls. The OR was 1.27 for boys aged 12-17 born from September to December (95% CI 1.10-1.46), compared with January to April. The OR for girls born from May to August was 1.35 (95% CI 1.04-1.76) and from September to December it was 1.33 (95% CI 1.02-1.74), compared with January to April. Conclusions: A novel discovery of this study was that using both SGA and ADHD medication at the age of 12-17 years was more common among the youngest subjects in a school year than their relatively older peers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miika Vuori
- Department of Teacher Education, Turku Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Andre Sourander
- Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Invest Flagship, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Eeva T Aronen
- Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Laboratory of Developmental Psychopathology, Pediatric Research Center, New Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kim Kronström
- Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, Hospital District of Southwest Finland, Turku, Finland
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Varimo E, Aronen ET, Mogk H, Rättö H, Saastamoinen LK. Antipsychotic Treatment Duration in Children and Adolescents: A Register-Based Nationwide Study. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2021; 31:421-429. [PMID: 33739863 DOI: 10.1089/cap.2020.0095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Despite the increasing use of antipsychotic drugs in children and adolescents in many countries, little is known about the treatment duration in this vulnerable population. The present nationwide study investigated the duration of antipsychotic treatment and factors associated with treatment discontinuation in Finnish children and adolescents. Methods: All subjects aged 1-17 years who had started a second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) drug (risperidone, quetiapine, aripiprazole, or olanzapine) between January 2008 and December 2016 (n = 20,932) were extracted from the Finnish Prescription Registry and followed up until December 31, 2017. Treatment duration was calculated as the time between the initial purchase of medication and treatment discontinuation. Treatment was considered discontinued if the treatment-free gap was more than 270 days. The associations between explanatory factors and treatment discontinuation were analyzed with the Cox proportional hazards models. Results: The mean and median treatment durations were 509 days (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 500-517 days) and 317 days (95% CI: 306-325 days), respectively. The duration was shorter in girls than in boys (p < 0.001). Of all SGA users, 35.1% used antipsychotics less than 50 days and 16.0% used more than 600 days. Shorter treatment duration was associated with age groups of 7-12 and 13-15 years compared with 1-6 years (hazard ratio [HR]:1.23 [95% CI: 1.11-1.36]; HR: 1.35 [95% CI: 1.21-1.51], respectively) and initiating treatment with quetiapine or olanzapine compared with risperidone (HR: 1.18 [95% CI: 1.12-1.25]; HR: 1.66 [95% CI 1.46-1.88], respectively). Switching of SGA drug during treatment was associated with longer treatment duration (HR: 0.40 [95% CI: 0.38-0.43]). Conclusions: In children and adolescents, the mean treatment duration of SGAs was relatively long given that the majority of SGA use was off-label. Older age and initiating treatment with quetiapine were associated with earlier treatment discontinuation, whereas switching of antipsychotic drug during therapy increased the possibility of longer SGA use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eveliina Varimo
- Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, Laboratory of Developmental Psychopathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eeva T Aronen
- Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, Laboratory of Developmental Psychopathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hannu Mogk
- Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hanna Rättö
- Research Unit, The Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, Finland
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Vuori M, Martikainen JE, Koski-Pirilä A, Sourander A, Puustjärvi A, Aronen ET, Chudal R, Saastamoinen LK. Children's Relative Age and ADHD Medication Use: A Finnish Population-Based Study. Pediatrics 2020; 146:peds.2019-4046. [PMID: 32958613 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-4046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The youngest children in a classroom are at increased risk of being medicated for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We examined the association between children's birth month and ADHD medication rates in Finland. METHODS Using a population-based study, we analyzed ADHD medication use among children born in 2005 to 2007. Cases (n = 7054) were identified from the first purchase of medication for ADHD. Cox proportional hazard models and hazard ratios (HRs) were examined by birth month and sex. Finnish children start first grade in the year of their seventh birthday. The cutoff date is December 31. RESULTS Risk of ADHD medication use increased throughout the year by birth month (ie, January through April to May through August to September through December). Among boys born in September to December, the association remained stable across cohorts (HR: 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-1.5). Among girls born in September to December, the HR in the 2005 cohort was 1.4 (95% CI: 1.1-1.8), whereas in the 2007 cohort it was 1.7 (95% CI: 1.3-2.2). In a restricted follow-up, which ended at the end of the year of the children's eighth birthday, the HRs for boys and girls born in September to December 2007 were 1.5 (95% CI: 1.3-1.7) and 2.0 (95% CI: 1.5-2.8), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Relative immaturity increases the likelihood of ADHD medication use in Finland. The association was more pronounced during the first school years. Increased awareness of this association is needed among clinicians and teachers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miika Vuori
- Department of Teacher Education, Turku Institute of Advanced Studies,
| | | | - Anna Koski-Pirilä
- Statistical Information Service, The Social Insurance Institution (Kela), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Andre Sourander
- Department of Child Psychiatry, and.,Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Invest Flagship, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Eeva T Aronen
- Department of Child Psychiatry and.,Laboratory of Developmental Psychopathology, Pediatric Research Center, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Roshan Chudal
- Department of Child Psychiatry, and.,Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Varimo E, Saastamoinen LK, Rättö H, Mogk H, Aronen ET. New Users of Antipsychotics Among Children and Adolescents in 2008-2017: A Nationwide Register Study. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:316. [PMID: 32390885 PMCID: PMC7193104 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Recently, prescribing antipsychotics for children and adolescents has been increasing in many countries. These drugs are often prescribed off-label, although antipsychotics have been associated with adverse effects. We determined the recent incidence of antipsychotic use among children and adolescents in Finland. METHODS Finnish National Prescription Register including all Finnish inhabitants receiving reimbursement for pharmaceuticals was searched for subjects of 1 to 17 years of age who had started an antipsychotic drug between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2017 (n = 26,353). Between 2008 and 2017, the range of number of Finnish children and adolescents aged 1 to 17 years was 1.01 to 1.03 million/year. The incidence was calculated by dividing the number of new users by all age- and sex-matched Finnish inhabitants in the year. RESULTS Between 2008 and 2017, the incidence of antipsychotic use among children and adolescents increased from 2.1 to 3.8 per 1000 individuals, respectively. In children aged 7 to 12 years, the incidence of antipsychotic use 1.4-folded (from 1.9 (95% CI: 1.8-2.0) to 2.7 (95% CI: 2.5-2.9) per 1000) with a cumulative increase of 0.2% per year (χ2 = 51.0, p < 0.0001). In adolescents aged 13 to 17 years, the incidence 2.2-folded (from 4.3 (95% CI: 4.1-4.5) to 9.4 (95% CI: 9.1-9.8) per 1000) with a cumulative increase of 0.6% per year (χ2 = 590.3, p < 0.0001). The increase in the incidence of use was steeper in girls (2.3-fold) than in boys (1.4-fold) (χ2 = 85.6, p < 0.0001), especially between 2015 and 2017 (1.6-fold and 1.2-fold, respectively) (χ2 = 151.7, p < 0.0001). The year 2011 was the turning point when the incidence in girls exceeded the incidence in boys, and the incidence of quetiapine use exceeded that of risperidone use. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of antipsychotic use increased between 2008 and 2017, especially in adolescent girls. The use of quetiapine increased, although it has few official indications in children and adolescents. Future studies should investigate the reasons for increasing use of antipsychotics, especially quetiapine, in children and adolescents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eveliina Varimo
- Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Laboratory of Developmental Psychopathology, Pediatric Research Center, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Hanna Rättö
- Research Unit, The Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hannu Mogk
- Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eeva T Aronen
- Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Laboratory of Developmental Psychopathology, Pediatric Research Center, Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hyttinen V, Jyrkkä J, Saastamoinen LK, Vartiainen AK, Valtonen H. The association of potentially inappropriate medication use on health outcomes and hospital costs in community-dwelling older persons: a longitudinal 12-year study. Eur J Health Econ 2019; 20:233-243. [PMID: 29978444 DOI: 10.1007/s10198-018-0992-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
AIMS To determine (1) whether potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use defined by the Meds75 + database is associated with fracture-specific hospitalisations and all-cause mortality, and (2) the association between PIM use and all-cause hospitalisation costs in a 12-year follow-up of a nationwide sample of people aged ≥ 65 years in Finland. METHODS This is a longitudinal study of 20,666 community-dwelling older persons with no prior purchases of PIMs within a 2-year period preceding the index date (1 Jan 2002), who were followed until the end of 2013. Data were obtained from the Finnish Prescription Register, and it was accompanied by information on inpatient care, causes of deaths and socioeconomic status from other national registers. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was used to account for potential selection effect in PIM use. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify the time to the first fracture or death by comparing PIM-users (n = 10,333) with non-users (n = 10,333). The association between PIM use and hospital costs was analysed with a fixed effects linear model. RESULTS PIM use was weakly associated with an increased risk of fractures and death. The association was stronger in the first PIM-use periods. Hospitalised PIM-users had 15% higher hospital costs compared to non-users during the 12-year follow-up. CONCLUSION PIM initiation was associated with an increased risk of fracture-specific hospitalisation and mortality and PIM-users had higher hospital costs than non-users. Health care providers should carefully consider these issues when prescribing PIM for older persons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Virva Hyttinen
- Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Johanna Jyrkkä
- Assessment of Pharmacotherapies, Finnish Medicines Agency, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | - Anna-Kaisa Vartiainen
- Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Hannu Valtonen
- Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Hyttinen V, Jyrkkä J, Saastamoinen LK, Vartiainen AK, Valtonen H. Patient- and health care-related factors associated with initiation of potentially inappropriate medication in community-dwelling older persons. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2018; 124:74-83. [PMID: 30003664 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.13096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in older persons are defined as medications of which the potential harms outweigh their benefits. The purpose of this study was to determine how initiation of PIMs accumulate in community-dwelling persons aged 65-74 and ≥75 years, and which patient- and health care-related factors are associated with PIM initiation over time. Data of this study were gathered from population-based registers by a 10% random sample of persons (n = 28 497) aged ≥65 years with no prior PIMs within a 2-year period preceding the index date (1 January 2002), and the study individuals were followed until 2013. The Finnish Prescription Register was linked using a personal identity code to register on inpatient care and causes of deaths and socio-economic data. In this study, 10 698 (37.5%) persons initiated PIMs during the study period. Female gender was associated with PIM initiation in 65-74-year-olds, but not in ≥75-year-olds. In 65-74-year-olds, the risk of PIM initiation increased with the higher income, whereas in ≥75-year-olds, the association between PIM initiation and the high income was not significant. The prescribing physician explained 9%-16% of the variation in the probability of PIM initiation. In conclusion, there were age-related differences in the factors associated with PIM initiation in relation to gender and socio-economic status. Overall, patient-related factors explained a large proportion of variation of PIM initiation, but there were also differences in PIM prescribing among physicians. However, physician-related variance of PIM initiations decreased during the 12-year follow-up.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Virva Hyttinen
- Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Johanna Jyrkkä
- Assessment of Pharmacotherapies, Finnish Medicines Agency, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | - Anna-Kaisa Vartiainen
- Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Hannu Valtonen
- Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kurko T, Saastamoinen LK, Tuulio-Henriksson A, Taiminen T, Tiihonen J, Airaksinen M, Hietala J. Trends in the long-term use of benzodiazepine anxiolytics and hypnotics: A national register study for 2006 to 2014. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2018; 27:674-682. [PMID: 29726630 DOI: 10.1002/pds.4551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Long-term benzodiazepine (BZD) treatment continues to be a debated topic. Because individual BZDs have different clinical profiles, we assessed the nationwide trends of long-term BZD use at active substance level during years 2006 to 2014. METHODS This study covered all reimbursed BZD purchases (n = 408 572-521 823 annually) for adults recorded in the Finnish Prescription Register. We assessed long-term use (annual cumulative purchase of ≥180 defined daily doses) in general, and at active substance level with the most commonly used BZD anxiolytics (oxazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, and clonazepam for nonepilepsy indications) and hypnotics (zopiclone, zolpidem, and temazepam) included. The persistence rates for each substance were assessed separately. RESULTS The prevalence of long-term BZD use among Finnish adults declined significantly from 5.3% to 3.6%, during years 2006 to 2014. Despite this decline, there was a significant increase in the long-term use of clonazepam for nonepilepsy indications and zolpidem (28.0% and 17.5%, respectively). Long-term use was common in the aged population, as well as among the users of hypnotics or clonazepam. Persistent use of 9 consecutive calendar years varied between 7.5% for incident alprazolam users and 21.0% for incident clonazepam users. CONCLUSIONS We found a declining trend in long-term BZD use, but the decline was not uniform between the substances-the long-term use of clonazepam and zolpidem even increased. Follow-up research is needed to assess whether the decline in BZD use is accompanied by an increased use of other types of anxiolytic or hypnotic drugs or other forms of treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Terhi Kurko
- Research Unit, The Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Annamari Tuulio-Henriksson
- Research Unit, The Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tero Taiminen
- Department of Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Marja Airaksinen
- Clinical Pharmacy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jarmo Hietala
- Department of Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Sinnemäki J, Airaksinen M, Valaste M, Saastamoinen LK. Impact of the automated dose dispensing with medication review on geriatric primary care patients drug use in Finland: a nationwide cohort study with matched controls. Scand J Prim Health Care 2017; 35:379-386. [PMID: 29125004 PMCID: PMC5730037 DOI: 10.1080/02813432.2017.1398933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In an automated dose dispensing (ADD) service, medicines are dispensed in unit-dose bags according to administration times. When the service is initiated, the patient's medication list is reconciled and a prescription review is conducted. The service is expected to reduce drug use. The aim of this national controlled study was to investigate whether the ADD service with medication review reduces drug use among geriatric primary care patients. DESIGN, SETTING AND PATIENTS This is a nationwide cohort study with matched controls. The study group consisted of all primary care patients ≥65 years enrolled in the ADD service in Finland during 2007 (n = 2073). Control patients (n = 2073) were matched by gender, age, area of patient's residence and number of the prescription drugs reimbursed. The data on all prescription drugs reimbursed during the 1 year periods before and after the ADD service enrollment were extracted from the Finnish National Prescription Register. Drug use was calculated as defined daily doses (DDD) per day. RESULTS The studied 20 most used drugs covered 86% of all reimbursed drug use (in DDD) of the study group. The use of 11 out of these 20 active substances studied was reduced significantly (p < .001-.041) when the drug use was adjusted by the number of chronic diseases. Two of these drugs were hypnotics and six were cardiovascular system drugs. CONCLUSIONS Drug use was decreased after initiation of the ADD service in primary care patients ≥65 years compared to matched controls in this 1 year cohort study. Further studies should be conducted in order to explore the causality, assess the ADD service's impact on drug use quality and costs, as well as impact of accompanied prescription review on positive outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juha Sinnemäki
- Clinical Pharmacy Group, Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- CONTACT Juha Sinnemäki Clinical Pharmacy Group, Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marja Airaksinen
- Clinical Pharmacy Group, Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maria Valaste
- Research Department, The Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, Finland
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Bachmann CJ, Aagaard L, Bernardo M, Brandt L, Cartabia M, Clavenna A, Coma Fusté A, Furu K, Garuoliené K, Hoffmann F, Hollingworth S, Huybrechts KF, Kalverdijk LJ, Kawakami K, Kieler H, Kinoshita T, López SC, Machado-Alba JE, Machado-Duque ME, Mahesri M, Nishtala PS, Piovani D, Reutfors J, Saastamoinen LK, Sato I, Schuiling-Veninga CCM, Shyu YC, Siskind D, Skurtveit S, Verdoux H, Wang LJ, Zara Yahni C, Zoëga H, Taylor D. International trends in clozapine use: a study in 17 countries. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2017; 136:37-51. [PMID: 28502099 DOI: 10.1111/acps.12742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There is some evidence that clozapine is significantly underutilised. Also, clozapine use is thought to vary by country, but so far no international study has assessed trends in clozapine prescribing. Therefore, this study aimed to assess clozapine use trends on an international scale, using standardised criteria for data analysis. METHOD A repeated cross-sectional design was applied to data extracts (2005-2014) from 17 countries worldwide. RESULTS In 2014, overall clozapine use prevalence was greatest in Finland (189.2/100 000 persons) and in New Zealand (116.3/100 000), and lowest in the Japanese cohort (0.6/100 000), and in the privately insured US cohort (14.0/100 000). From 2005 to 2014, clozapine use increased in almost all studied countries (relative increase: 7.8-197.2%). In most countries, clozapine use was highest in 40-59-year-olds (range: 0.6/100 000 (Japan) to 344.8/100 000 (Finland)). In youths (10-19 years), clozapine use was highest in Finland (24.7/100 000) and in the publicly insured US cohort (15.5/100 000). CONCLUSION While clozapine use has increased in most studied countries over recent years, clozapine is still underutilised in many countries, with clozapine utilisation patterns differing significantly between countries. Future research should address the implementation of interventions designed to facilitate increased clozapine utilisation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - L Aagaard
- Life Science Team, Bech-Bruun Law Firm, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M Bernardo
- Barcelona Clinic Schizophrenia Unit, Neuroscience Institute, and Hospital Clínic, Department of Medicine, Barcelona University, and Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - L Brandt
- Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Cartabia
- Pharmacoepidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri', Milan, Italy
| | - A Clavenna
- Pharmacoepidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri', Milan, Italy
| | - A Coma Fusté
- Pharmacy Department of Barcelona Health Region, Catalan Health Service (CatSalut), Barcelona, Spain
| | - K Furu
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - K Garuoliené
- Medicines Reimbursement Department, National Health Insurance Fund of the Republic of Lithuania, Vilnius, Lithuania.,Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Pharmacology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - F Hoffmann
- Department of Health Services Research, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - S Hollingworth
- School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Qld, Australia
| | - K F Huybrechts
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - L J Kalverdijk
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, the Netherlands
| | - K Kawakami
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Research Management, Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - H Kieler
- Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - T Kinoshita
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Research Management, Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - S C López
- Grupo de Investigación en Farmacoepidemiología y Farmacovigilancia, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira - Audifarma S.A., Pereira, Colombia
| | - J E Machado-Alba
- Grupo de Investigación en Farmacoepidemiología y Farmacovigilancia, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira - Audifarma S.A., Pereira, Colombia
| | - M E Machado-Duque
- Grupo de Investigación en Farmacoepidemiología y Farmacovigilancia, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira - Audifarma S.A., Pereira, Colombia
| | - M Mahesri
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - P S Nishtala
- New Zealand's National School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - D Piovani
- Pharmacoepidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri', Milan, Italy
| | - J Reutfors
- Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - L K Saastamoinen
- Kela Research, The Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, Finland
| | - I Sato
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Research Management, Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - C C M Schuiling-Veninga
- Unit of Pharmacotherapy, -Epidemiology and -Economics, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Y-C Shyu
- Community Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.,Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Qld, Taiwan.,Department of Nutrition, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Kwei-Shan, Taiwan
| | - D Siskind
- School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Qld, Australia
| | - S Skurtveit
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - H Verdoux
- University Bordeaux, INSERM, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, team Pharmaco-epidemiology, UMR 1219, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - L-J Wang
- Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - C Zara Yahni
- Pharmacy Department of Barcelona Health Region, Catalan Health Service (CatSalut), Barcelona, Spain
| | - H Zoëga
- Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, INSERM, Univ. Bordeaux, team Pharmaco-epidemiology, UMR 1219, Bordeaux, France
| | - D Taylor
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Koskinen H, Mikkola H, Saastamoinen LK, Ahola E, Martikainen JE. Time Series Analysis on the Impact of Generic Substitution and Reference Pricing on Antipsychotic Costs in Finland. Value Health 2015; 18:1105-1112. [PMID: 26686797 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2015.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2015] [Revised: 07/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To analyze the medium- to long-term impact of generic substitution and the reference price system on the daily cost of antipsychotics in Finland. The additional impact of reference pricing over and above previously implemented generic substitution was also assessed. METHODS An interrupted time series design with a control group and segmented regression analysis was used to estimate the effect of the implementation of generic substitution and the reference price system on the daily cost of antipsychotics. The data have 69 monthly values of the average daily cost for each of the studied antipsychotics: 39 months before and 30 months after the introduction of reference pricing. For one of the studied antipsychotic, the time before the introduction of reference pricing could be further divided into time before and after the introduction of generic substitution. RESULTS According to the model, 2.5 years after the implementation of reference pricing, the daily cost of the studied antipsychotics was 24.6% to 50.6% lower than it would have been if reference pricing had not been implemented. Two and a half years after the implementation of the reference price system, however, the additional impact of reference pricing over and above previously implemented generic substitution was modest, less than 1 percentage point. CONCLUSIONS Although the price competition induced by reference pricing decreased the prices of antipsychotics in Finland in the short-term, the prices had a tendency to stagnate or even to turn in an upward direction in the medium- to long-term. Furthermore, the additional impact of reference pricing over and above previously implemented generic substitution remained quite modest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Koskinen
- The Social Insurance Institution, Research Department, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Hennamari Mikkola
- The Social Insurance Institution, Research Department, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Elina Ahola
- The Social Insurance Institution, Research Department, Helsinki, Finland
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Saastamoinen LK, Verho J. Register-based indicators for potentially inappropriate medication in high-cost patients with excessive polypharmacy. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2015; 24:610-8. [PMID: 25728165 DOI: 10.1002/pds.3764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Revised: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 01/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Excessive polypharmacy is often associated with inappropriate drug use. Because drug expenditures are heavily skewed and a considerable share of patients in the top 5% of the cost distribution have excessive polypharmacy, the appropriateness of their drug use should be reviewed. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to review the quality of drug use in patients with extremely high costs and excessive polypharmacy and to compare them with all drug users. RESEARCH DESIGN This is a nationwide register study. SUBJECTS The subjects of this study were all drug users in Finland over 15 years of age, n = 3,303,813. MEASURES The measures used were annual total costs, average costs, and number of patients. The background characteristics used included gender, age, morbidity, number of prescribers, active substances, and indicators of potentially inappropriate drug use, for example, Beers criteria. RESULTS The patients with high costs and excessive polypharmacy accounted for 22% of the total pharmaceutical expenditures but only 3% of drug users. One-third of them were elderly, compared with 11.3% of all drug users (p < 0.001). Almost all of them, 93.6%, had chronic disease compared with 34.0% of all the drug users (p < 0.001). The high-cost polypharmacy patients used more potentially inappropriate (28.0% vs 19.9%, p < 0.001) and anticholinergic drugs (26.7% vs. 9.6%, p < 0.001) and psychotropics more often simultaneously (20.4% vs. 3.8%, p < 0.001) than all drug users. CONCLUSIONS Excessive polypharmacy with inappropriate medication use should be prevented using all the methods. The patients with excessive polypharmacy and high-drug costs provide a most interesting group for containing pharmaceutical costs via medication reviews.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jouko Verho
- Research Department, The Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Koskinen H, Ahola E, Saastamoinen LK, Mikkola H, Martikainen JE. The impact of reference pricing and extension of generic substitution on the daily cost of antipsychotic medication in Finland. Health Econ Rev 2014; 4:9. [PMID: 26054399 PMCID: PMC4884034 DOI: 10.1186/s13561-014-0009-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2013] [Accepted: 04/15/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of reference pricing and extension of generic substitution on the daily cost of antipsychotic drugs in Finland during the first year after its launch. Furthermore, the additional impact of reference pricing on prior implemented generic substitution is assessed. METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed between 2006 and 2010. A segmented linear regression analysis of interrupted time series was used to estimate changes in the levels and trends in the cost of one day of treatment. Of the study drugs, clozapine belonged to generic substitution already at the start of the study period while olanzapine and quetiapine were included in generic substitution alongside with reference pricing in 2009. Risperidone was included in generic substitution in 2008, before reference pricing. RESULTS A substantial decrease in the daily cost of all four antipsychotic substances was seen after one year of the implementation of reference pricing and the extension of generic substitution. The impact ranged from -29.9% to -66.3%, and it was most substantial on the daily cost of olanzapine. Also in the daily cost of risperidone a substantial decrease of -43.3% was observed. However, most of these savings, -32.6%, were generated by generic substitution which had been adopted prior. CONCLUSIONS Reference pricing and the extension of generic substitution produced substantial savings on antipsychotic medication costs during the first year after its launch, but the intensity of the impact differed between active substances. Furthermore, our results suggest that the additional cost savings from reference pricing after prior implemented generic substitution, are comparatively low.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Koskinen
- Research Department, The Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, 00101 Finland
| | - Elina Ahola
- Research Department, The Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, 00101 Finland
| | | | - Hennamari Mikkola
- Research Department, The Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, 00101 Finland
| | - Jaana E Martikainen
- Research Department, The Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, 00101 Finland
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Aaltonen K, Miettinen J, Airio I, Martikainen JE, Saastamoinen LK, Bell JS, Hartikainen S, Norris P. Cost-related barriers to use of health services and prescription medicines in Finland: a cross-sectional survey. Eur J Public Health 2014; 25:368-72. [PMID: 25395397 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/cku176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective was to examine cost-related barriers to using health services and prescription medicines in Finland. METHODS A survey that examined adults' experiences of and opinions about the social security system was mailed to a random population-based sample of 5000 Finns aged 18-74 years. The survey assessed households' cost-related barriers to use of health services, prescription medicines and social assistance in the past year. The responses were adjusted for sociodemographic and health predictors by weighting and logistic regression. RESULTS Responses were received from 1770 households. In total, 18% had experienced at least one cost-related barrier; 11% did not fill a prescription, 8% did not go to hospital and 13% went without another form of treatment. Of respondents diagnosed with a disabling illness or impairment, 32% reported at least one cost-related barrier. Households with below-average income reported barriers twice as often as above-average income households, after adjusting for age and health. Lower income [lowest tertile, odds ratio (OR) 5.0 compared with highest tertile], fair/poor self-assessed health (fair/poor OR 7.1 compared with very good/good), younger age (18-34 years OR 3.8 compared with 65-74 years), lower education (primary OR 1.6 compared with tertiary) and female gender (OR 1.4) were significantly associated with more frequent cost-related barriers. Overall, 34% of households who encountered cost-related barriers had applied for and 17% had received social assistance. CONCLUSIONS Cost-related barriers were common among respondents with low income and/or poor health. These barriers may thus have a role in creating inequities in access to health care in Finland.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katri Aaltonen
- 1 The Social Insurance Institution, Research Department, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jani Miettinen
- 1 The Social Insurance Institution, Research Department, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ilpo Airio
- 1 The Social Insurance Institution, Research Department, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | | | - J Simon Bell
- 2 School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland 3 Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland 4 Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sirpa Hartikainen
- 2 School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland 3 Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pauline Norris
- 5 School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Romppainen T, Rikala M, Aarnio E, Korhonen MJ, Saastamoinen LK, Huupponen R. Measurement of statin exposure in the absence of information on prescribed doses. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2014; 70:1275-6. [PMID: 25146693 DOI: 10.1007/s00228-014-1737-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tomi Romppainen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Sinnemäki J, Saastamoinen LK, Hannula S, Peura S, Airaksinen M. Starting an automated dose dispensing service provided by community pharmacies in Finland. Int J Clin Pharm 2013; 36:345-51. [PMID: 24310102 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-013-9899-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In an automated dose dispensing (ADD) service, medicines are packed in unit-dose bags according to administration times. When the service is initiated, the patient's medication list is reconciled and the medication is reviewed on the basis of this list. OBJECTIVE The aim of this national study was to investigate how the medication list was reconciled, what type of medication review was conducted, and what changes were made to the patient's medications when the ADD service is initiated. SETTING Primary care in Finland. METHOD All patients enrolled in the service during a 3-week period in autumn 2010 were included in the study. All community pharmacies (n = 267) purchasing unit-dose bags from Espoonlahti Pharmacy documented the actions taken in the ADD initiation process using a structured data collection sheet. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Information sources needed in medication reconciliation, the type of medication review conducted and changes made to patients' medications. RESULTS Documentation was completed for 147 out of 325 new ADD users resulting 45 % as a response rate. More than one source was needed for 63 % of the patients in medication reconciliation. The most common sources used were nursing staff (72 % of the patients) and an existing medication list (71 %). Some type of medication review, most commonly a prescription review, was conducted for the majority of the patients (96 %), usually in multi-professional collaboration. Treatment-related changes were made for 43 % of the patients and technical changes were made for 93 % of the patients. CONCLUSION The medication list was incomplete for more than half of the patients. Some type of medication review was conducted for most of the patients. Both treatment-related changes and technical changes were made on patients' medications during the initiation process. The start-up process of the ADD service needs further development to ensure a standard procedure and optimum use of resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juha Sinnemäki
- Division of Social Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland,
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Saastamoinen LK, Verho J. Drug expenditure of high-cost patients and their characteristics in Finland. Eur J Health Econ 2013; 14:495-502. [PMID: 22581227 DOI: 10.1007/s10198-012-0393-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2011] [Accepted: 04/17/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little information exists on how constantly growing pharmaceutical expenditures are distributed in large representative samples of national populations in Western countries. OBJECTIVE This study analyzes the distribution of pharmaceutical expenditures in ambulatory care and explores the basic characteristics of the high-cost drug users. METHOD Reimbursed prescription drug purchases in 2009 were derived from the National Prescription Register for a 50% sample of the adult Finnish population. The high-cost users who were among the top 5% in terms of drug expenditures were identified based on annual drug costs. RESULTS The distribution of pharmaceutical costs is strongly skewed in Finland; only 5% of the population accounts for about half of the costs. These high-cost drug users were older than the low-cost drug users, with more than one-fourth of them being over 75 years old. The high-cost drug users used, on average, more drugs than the low-cost drug users, but approximately 15% of them used only 1-5 drugs. Almost 50% of the high-cost drug users used more than 10 drugs per year. They had chronic diseases more often than the low-cost drug users, especially uremia requiring dialysis, post-transplant conditions, severe anemia associated with chronic renal failure and multiple sclerosis were common among the high-cost users. CONCLUSION The skewness of the cost distribution indicates a need for more patient-specific cost-containment methods, and the high number of drugs in the high-cost group calls for exploring the possibilities of disease management and patient monitoring techniques in cost containment.
Collapse
|
20
|
Rikala M, Hartikainen S, Saastamoinen LK, Korhonen MJ. Measuring psychotropic drug exposures in register-based studies--validity of a dosage assumption of one unit per day in older Finns. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res 2013; 22:155-65. [PMID: 23682009 PMCID: PMC6878353 DOI: 10.1002/mpr.1384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2011] [Revised: 10/28/2011] [Accepted: 01/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Pharmacoepidemiological studies provide valuable information on the relationships between psychotropic drug use and adverse outcomes in older people. To minimize the influence of misclassification bias in pharmacoepidemiological studies, more emphasis should be given to methodological aspects of exposure assessment. This study evaluated the validity of a dosage assumption of one unit per day for measuring legend duration of psychotropic drug exposures among older people. Using data from the Finnish Prescription Register, the study analysed 62,320 psychotropic drug prescriptions dispensed for people aged ≥ 75 years (n = 52,729) in September 2009. The proportions of prescriptions in which the prescribed dose deviated from one unit per day were assessed for categories and subcategories of psychotropic drugs. The prescription was considered misclassified (a) if the prescribed drug was intended for "as needed" use, (b) if the prescription included a dose range, or (c) if the prescribed dose was below or above one unit per day. Among antidepressants, less than every fourth (23.7%) prescription was misclassified. The proportions of misclassification varied substantially across subcategories, being 13.1% for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), 25.3% for other antidepressants and 53.8% for tricyclic antidepressants. Of the benzodiazepine and antipsychotic prescriptions, 79.9% and 57.6%, respectively, were misclassified. In conclusion, the dosage assumption of one unit per day is valid for measuring the legend duration of SSRI and other antidepressant exposures among older people. Among other psychotropic drugs, the dosage assumption is likely to lead to severe exposure misclassification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rikala
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Saastamoinen LK, Wallin M, Lavikainen P, Airaksinen MS, Sourander A, Bell JS. Treatment duration with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors among children and adolescents in Finland: a nationwide register study. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2012; 68:1109-17. [DOI: 10.1007/s00228-012-1233-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2011] [Accepted: 01/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
|
22
|
Foulon V, Svala A, Koskinen H, Chen TF, Saastamoinen LK, Bell JS. Impact of regulatory safety warnings on the use of antidepressants among children and adolescents in Finland. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2010; 20:145-50. [PMID: 20415610 DOI: 10.1089/cap.2009.0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to analyze changes in the prevalence and incidence of antidepressant use among children and adolescents in Finland post October, 2003. METHOD The sample comprised all children and adolescents in Finland aged < or =19.0 years (n = 27,676) who collected one or more reimbursed prescriptions for an antidepressant in noninstitutional and nonhospital settings between January, 1998, and December, 2005. Time-series models were used to compare antidepressant use 60 months before and 24 months after the health advisory issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October, 2003. RESULTS The annual prevalence (users/1,000 youths) of antidepressant use increased from 5.24 in 2002 to 5.93 in 2005. There was an increase in the monthly incidence (users = 1,000 youths) of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) use (+0.02498), fluoxetine use (+0.00691), and sertraline use (+0.00727) post October, 2003. When considering preadvisory trends in antidepressant use, only fluoxetine use was higher than the predicted post October 2003, use (<0.001). The use of all other SSRIs was significantly lower than predicted. CONCLUSIONS In contrast to many other countries, the use of antidepressants continued to increase among children and adolescents in Finland post October, 2003. While the rate of fluoxetine use increased, there was a decline in the rate at which all other SSRIs were used.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Veerle Foulon
- Research Centre for Pharmaceutical Care and Pharmacoeconomics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Helin-Salmivaara A, Lavikainen PT, Korhonen MJ, Halava H, Martikainen JE, Saastamoinen LK, Virta L, Klaukka T, Huupponen R. Pattern of statin use among 10 cohorts of new users from 1995 to 2004: a register-based nationwide study. Am J Manag Care 2010; 16:116-122. [PMID: 20148616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze differences in the pattern of statin use among 10 consecutive yearly cohorts of new users in Finland. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study based on administrative claims data. METHODS New users of statins from January 1, 1995, to December 31, 2004, were captured from a nationwide prescription register, and the pattern of statin use was observed until December 31, 2005. The association between year of statin initiation and persistence with statin therapy during the first year of statin use was modeled using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis with multivariable adjustment. The median adherence (proportion of days covered) was computed among patients who discontinued therapy during each 365-day interval since statin initiation. RESULTS In total, 490,024 new users of statins were identified. In the multivariable-adjusted model, discontinuation during the first year among initiators of statin use in 1996 and 1997 was similar to that in 1995 (hazard ratio [HR], 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-1.03 in 1996; and HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.98-1.05 in 1997). Compared with the 1995 cohort, the 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004 cohorts were less likely to discontinue statin use. Hazard ratios of discontinuation for the cohorts ranged from 0.91 (95% CI, 0.88-0.94) in 1998 to 0.80 (95% CI, 0.78-0.83) in 2004. There were no differences in adherence with respect to the duration of therapy among the yearly cohorts. CONCLUSIONS Compared with the 1995 cohort, 1-year persistence with statin therapy in Finland improved among new users of statins in 1998, and the improvement persisted up to 2004. Adherence to statin therapy remained stable among initiators from 1995 to 2004.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arja Helin-Salmivaara
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development, and Therapeutics, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lack of review of patients' medications in repeat prescribing is common. This and other problems in repeat prescribing need to be addressed. Community pharmacists could be more proactive in the review of chronic medications. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility and effects of pharmacists' interventions in repeat prescribing. METHODS The normal repeat prescribing process used at Kuopio University Pharmacy and in Kuopio Health Services was developed by an intervention which included a pharmacist's interview and the annual medication data of the patient that were both transferred to the prescribing physician. RESULTS Physicians in the intervention group identified and solved patients' drug-related problems better than was the case in the comparison group with normal repeat prescribing. Over half the patients receiving repeat prescriptions had at least one drug-related problem. The physicians used more information sources to support repeat prescribing in the intervention system. CONCLUSIONS Community pharmacists are able to improve the quality of physician's repeat prescribing by providing vital information.
Collapse
|