Andrew M Tomlin1, David J Woods2, James J Reid3, Murray W Tilyard4. 1. Best Practice Advocacy Centre New Zealand, Dunedin. 2. Best Practice Advocacy Centre New Zealand, Dunedin; New Zealand Pharmacovigilance Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin; School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland. 3. Best Practice Advocacy Centre New Zealand, Dunedin; Department of the Dean, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin. 4. Best Practice Advocacy Centre New Zealand, Dunedin; Department of General Practice and Rural Health, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Research investigating trends in the general prescription medicine use of older people in New Zealand is limited. AIM: To examine trends in the use of outpatient medicines by older adults and assess changing patterns in use from 2010 to 2015. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study including all New Zealand primary care patients over 65 years of age utilising data from the national pharmaceutical claims database. We calculated the prevalence of use within three age groups and by sex in each year by anatomical therapeutic class, therapeutic group and individual medicine. Rate ratios were calculated to compare the prevalence of use in 2010 and 2015. RESULTS: The study included 829,026 patients with a mean of 4.4 years of potential drug exposure. Overall prevalence of medicine use was 92% in 2010 and 93% in 2015. The mean number of prescriptions per patient-year for patients >=85 years of age (39.2) was almost double that of patients 65-74 years (21.8). Prevalence of use was similar between females (94%) and males (92%). Antibacterials, analgesics, cardiovascular drugs and proton pump inhibitors were the most widely used medicines. The use of systemic antibiotics increased by 2% between 2010 and 2015, but there were significant decreases in use of antithrombotics (6%), beta blockers (6%), diuretics (19%), nitrates (19%) and antiarrhythmics (24%). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate both positive changes in response to guidance on safe and appropriate medicine use and several areas of concern. Continued monitoring of changing patterns in the medicine use of older people will be important, particularly with regard to the use of combinations of medicines that increase their risk of adverse events.
BACKGROUND: Research investigating trends in the general prescription medicine use of older people in New Zealand is limited. AIM: To examine trends in the use of outpatient medicines by older adults and assess changing patterns in use from 2010 to 2015. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study including all New Zealand primary care patients over 65 years of age utilising data from the national pharmaceutical claims database. We calculated the prevalence of use within three age groups and by sex in each year by anatomical therapeutic class, therapeutic group and individual medicine. Rate ratios were calculated to compare the prevalence of use in 2010 and 2015. RESULTS: The study included 829,026 patients with a mean of 4.4 years of potential drug exposure. Overall prevalence of medicine use was 92% in 2010 and 93% in 2015. The mean number of prescriptions per patient-year for patients >=85 years of age (39.2) was almost double that of patients 65-74 years (21.8). Prevalence of use was similar between females (94%) and males (92%). Antibacterials, analgesics, cardiovascular drugs and proton pump inhibitors were the most widely used medicines. The use of systemic antibiotics increased by 2% between 2010 and 2015, but there were significant decreases in use of antithrombotics (6%), beta blockers (6%), diuretics (19%), nitrates (19%) and antiarrhythmics (24%). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate both positive changes in response to guidance on safe and appropriate medicine use and several areas of concern. Continued monitoring of changing patterns in the medicine use of older people will be important, particularly with regard to the use of combinations of medicines that increase their risk of adverse events.
Authors: Sara M Hanning; Changji Hua; Saeid Baroutian; Rob Burrell; Matthew Taylor; L James Wright; Darren Svirskis Journal: J Mater Cycles Waste Manag Date: 2022-05-10 Impact factor: 3.579
Authors: Sharon Leitch; Susan M Dovey; Wayne K Cunningham; Alesha J Smith; Jiaxu Zeng; David M Reith; Katharine A Wallis; Kyle S Eggleton; Andrew W McMenamin; Martyn I Williamson; Steven Lillis Journal: Br J Gen Pract Date: 2021-07-29 Impact factor: 6.302