engleski

Antihypertensive drugs usage in Croatia

The aim of our study was to identify and analyze changes in the antihypertensive drugs usage in Croatia during the period 2001-2005. Information data on antihypertensive drugs utilization for the period 2001-2005 were obtained from the Croatian National Health Insurance. According to the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, drug utilization data are presented in defined daily doses/1000 inhabitants/day (DDD/1000). Comparing 2005 vs. 2001, total CV drugs utilization increased 64.65% from 176.80 to 291.10 DDD/1000. Drugs acting on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) (C09) had the largest and steady share around 32% inside the cardiovascular drugs group (C group). The utilization of angiotensin II antagonists and the combination of ACE inhibitors and diuretics increased from 1.12 to 9.85 and from 10.07 to 31.77 DDD/1000, respectively. The share of plain ACE inhibitors between C09 decreased from 80.03% to 56.16% and the shares of angiotensin II antagonists increased from 2.00% to 10.38% and the combination of ACE inhibitors and diuretics increased from 17.96% to 33.46% (Figure 1). The diuretics usage increased during five-year period from 10.7 to 14.31 DDD/1000. The usage of nifedipine continuously decreases during investigated period (38% decrease). The most frequently used antihypertensive drugs were amlodipine, lisinopril and lisinopril+hydrochlorothiazide. The utilization of antihypertensive drugs in Croatia increased during this study period. Lowered target values for optimal regulation of the blood pressure and better information availability by health care consumers (their possible pressure for drug prescribing) may contribute to these antihypertensive drug pattern changes. The analysis showed considerable antihypertensive drugs utilization increase in 2003 comparing to previous years and the explanation is a legal change (the new Insurance Act) with the introduction of supplementary health insurance.

antihypertensive drugs; drug utilization; health insurance

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