Use of antituberculosis drugs in Spain 1996

✍ Scribed by A. Blázquez Pérez; R. Mateos Campos

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 279 KB
• Volume: 8
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1053-8569
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1557(199912)8:7<523::aid-pds459>3.0.co;2-b

✦ Synopsis

Purpose Ð To determine and analyse the consumption of antituberculosis agents in Spain. Methods Ð Pharmacoepidemiological study on the use of antituberculosis agents during 1996 using data from prescriptions redeemed by the National Health Service.

Results Ð During 1996, 5 533 233 de®ned daily doses (DDD) were consumed. Of these, 2 215 890 DDDs belonged to a combination commercialized as Ri®nah (Rifampicin Isoniazid). The use of daily doses per inhabitant in Spain was 0.37. Regarding the percentage of use, this re¯ects a use of 40.05% of the Ri®nah combination, followed by Rifampicin, 17.59%. Regarding estimation of tuberculosis, the ®ndings of the study revealed 11 202 cases, implying a prevalence of 27.7 cases per 100 000 inhabitants. The total cost of this group of drugs was 863 275 147 Pts (0.1% of the total amount met by the NHS). Expenditure in Pts per 1000 inhabitants was 21 326 . Of total costs, 40.26% was from Ri®nah. Isoniazid was the drug with the lowest cost, 0.17%.

Conclusions Ð The most prescribed drug in Spain was the Rifampicin Isoniazid combination. However, dierences exist in the dierent regions of the country and these should receive further study. The estimated prevalence of tuberculosis is higher than that expected for a developed country such as Spain.