Andrew M Tomlin1, David J Woods2,3, Hywel S Lloyd2,4, Murray W Tilyard2,4. 1. Best Practice Advocacy Centre, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand. andy@bpac.org.nz. 2. Best Practice Advocacy Centre, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand. 3. Dunedin School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand. 4. Department of General Practice and Rural Health, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Research examining trends in the outpatient prescription medicine use of New Zealand children is limited. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to provide an overview of prescription medicine use in New Zealand children and assess changing patterns in use from 2010 to 2015. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including all New Zealand primary care-registered children aged < 18 years using data from the national pharmaceutical claims database. We calculated the prevalence of use within four age groups in each year by anatomical therapeutic class, therapeutic group and drug. Rate ratios were calculated to compare the prevalence of use in 2010 and 2015. RESULTS: In total, 1,496,026 children with a mean of 2.7 years of potential drug exposure were included. The overall prevalence of drug use was 70% in 2010 and 73% in 2015. In 2015, medicine use was highest in children aged < 2 years (90%) and lowest in children aged 12-17 years (65%). Antibacterials, analgesics, topical corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antihistamines were the most widely used medicines. The prevalence of use of systemic and topical antibiotics decreased by 2 and 10%, respectively, between 2010 and 2015, but there was increased use of analgesics (10%), NSAIDs (39%), antihistamines (15%) and antinausea and vertigo agents (306%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate areas for further research focusing on inappropriate prescribing to children and safety issues in children's medicine use. Monitoring changing patterns of use over time is important for the evaluation of effective therapies in children and any potential harmful consequences of prescribing.
BACKGROUND: Research examining trends in the outpatient prescription medicine use of New Zealand children is limited. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to provide an overview of prescription medicine use in New Zealand children and assess changing patterns in use from 2010 to 2015. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including all New Zealand primary care-registered children aged < 18 years using data from the national pharmaceutical claims database. We calculated the prevalence of use within four age groups in each year by anatomical therapeutic class, therapeutic group and drug. Rate ratios were calculated to compare the prevalence of use in 2010 and 2015. RESULTS: In total, 1,496,026 children with a mean of 2.7 years of potential drug exposure were included. The overall prevalence of drug use was 70% in 2010 and 73% in 2015. In 2015, medicine use was highest in children aged < 2 years (90%) and lowest in children aged 12-17 years (65%). Antibacterials, analgesics, topical corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antihistamines were the most widely used medicines. The prevalence of use of systemic and topical antibiotics decreased by 2 and 10%, respectively, between 2010 and 2015, but there was increased use of analgesics (10%), NSAIDs (39%), antihistamines (15%) and antinausea and vertigo agents (306%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate areas for further research focusing on inappropriate prescribing to children and safety issues in children's medicine use. Monitoring changing patterns of use over time is important for the evaluation of effective therapies in children and any potential harmful consequences of prescribing.
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