Professional paper

Utilisation of topical dermatologicals in Croatian primary health care: retrospective study, 2005-2015

Branka Živković Duvnjak ; Privatna specijalistička ordinacija obiteljske medicine "Dr. Branka Živković Duvnjak", Silba
Vesna Tabak ; Privatna specijalistička ordinacija obiteljske medicine "Dr. Vesna Tabak", Zagreb
Mladenka Vrcić Keglević ; Zaklada za razvoj obiteljske medicine, Zagreb

Abstract

Background & Aim: Skin disorders are highly prevalent in primary care, including family practice, but rather neglected as research topic. The study aim was to investigate eleven-year trends in the utilisation of dermatologicals in Croatia. Method: Data were collected from the annual reports of the Croatian Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices, 2005 – 2015; anatomical therapeutic chemical classification (ATC) is used and pharmaceutical utilization is expressed in Defined Daily Doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/TID) and financial spending in Croatian kunas. According to the ATC classification, dermatologicals belong to the group D, subgroups D01 - D11, and they are mostly (more than 95%) prescribed in primary care. Due to their mainly topical use, DDD/TID cannot be given exactly, consumption is only presented as financial spending. Results: In the observational period, the financial spending on dermatologicals shares is between 2-3% of the total drug consumption in Croatia, with downward trend. But looking separately, dermatologicals exhibit a slightly increased trend. The largest share in utilisation (around 50%) is in sub-group D07 (corticosteroids), which since 2009 have a declining trend. It is followed by sub-group D01 (antifungal) with a stable trend in about 20%, and sub-group D08 (disinfectants and antiseptics) with about 15% share. The largest growing trend is observed in sub-group D03 (cicatrizants) and subgroup D04 (antiprurics); the spending for antiprurics increased in 1467.3%, and for cicatrizants in 1666.4%. The largest fluctuation is observed in sub-group D10 (anti-acne drugs). Conclusions: During the ten-year period, the utilisation of dermatologicals slightly increased, but in comparison to the total drug utilisation, it shows decreasing trends. The most used are topical corticosteroids, and the most increasing trends are observed in the groups of cicatrizants and antiprurics. The quality of the utilisation of dermatologicals, should, in the future, be investigated within skin disorders morbidity trends.

Keywords

skin diseases; dermatological; utilisation; trends

Hrčak ID:

208262

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/208262

Publication date:

6.11.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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