Objectives: To analyze the prescriptions in patients aged over 60 and more in the North-East area of France during a summer and a winter month, to analyze the impact of the seasonal factor and the number of prescriptions, and to classify in frequency the families and classes of medicinal products prescribed.
Methods: This study was conducted on two samples of prescriptions presented for reimbursement to the public health scheme of the Meurthe-et-Moselle, Vosges and Meuse areas, i.e. 4409 prescriptions (717 men, 1244 women) in July 1998 and 4400 prescriptions (772 men and 1335 women) in January 1999. The prescriptions concerned non-hospitalised persons aged over 60. Each prescription was identified according to the international medication classification codes, and classified according to the anatomical, therapeutic and chemical classification.
Results: The survey in July 1998 concerned 1961 patients and that of January 1999 2107 patients, representing respectively 4409 and 4400 prescriptions. The number of prescriptions of July and January were comparable (4409 vs 4400), but the number of prescription lines was greater in the winter month (3.51 +/- 2.3 vs 3.43 +/- 2.3; p<0.001). Among the prescriptions, 63% were for women and the number of prescription lines was greater than those for men (3.54 vs 3.24 in July, p<0.01; 3.59 vs 3.35 in January, p<0.01). Around 90% of the prescriptions were drawn-up by general practitioners. Ophthalmology was the specialty that prescribed the greatest number of prescriptions. The mean amount reimbursed for a prescription was higher in men with 32.10 in July (26.79 in women) and 32.28 in January (27.13 in women). Independently of age, gender and month, the most prescribed medication families in decreasing order were: cardio-vascular system (35%), central nervous system (15%), and digestive and metabolic system (14.5%). Prescriptions for the family of respiratory system treatments were greater in January than in July (9.4% vs 6.1%, p<0.01).
Conclusion: In this study the women consumed more medicinal products than the men, but the mean cost of reimbursement per prescription was higher in the men. The most prescribed class of medication concerned the cardiovascular system. The seasonal factor was characterised by an increase in the number of lines per prescription and a greater prevalence of respiratory system products in January