Medicinski Glasnik (Feb 2009)
Quality of the cardiovascular drugs prescribing in Zagreb during the period 2001- 2004
Abstract
Aim To investigate the outpatient utilisation of cardiovasculardrugs in Zagreb, during the 2001-2004 period, and to identify thepossible association between the increase in the utilisation of particulardrug groups and decrease in the number of hospital admissions.Methods The number of DDD per thousand inhabitants per day(DDDs/TID) was calculated from data on the number and size ofdispensed drug packages, obtained from the Zagreb Pharmacies.Drug Utilisation 90% (DU90%) method was used on assessmentof drug prescribing quality.Results Total utilisation of the cardiovascular drugs was high inZagreb during the 2001-2004 period (between 402.9 DDDs/TIDand 406.9 DDDs/TID). Agents acting on the renin-angiotensinsystem (C09) (121.3 DDDs/TID) and calcium channel blockers(C08) (87.5 DDDs/TID) accounted for more than 50% of drugsused for the treatment of hypertension in 2004. The greatest utilisationincrease was observed for statins (78.3%). Comparison ofDU90% segment between 2001 and 2004 revealed pentoxifyllineand amiodarone to be absent, whereas cilazapril and ramipril intheir combination with HCTZ, bisoprolol, valsartan and losartanalone or in their combination with HCTZ were added in 2004,DU90% segment still contain doxazosin and propafenone, whichhad no grounds in therapeutic guidelines.Conclusion The outpatient utilisation of cardiovascular drugs washigh during the 2001-2004 period. The utilization pattern was improved.The result was a decrease in the number of hospital admissionsfor main cardiovascular events.
