Antibacterial drug prescription for outpatients: age, seasonal and pulmonary disease dependency

Acta Pol Pharm. 2008 May-Jun;65(3):391-7.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to analyze antibacterial drug prescribing in the 1-million-plus, strictly defined population in Poland. For the 2002-2005 years, data from National Health Fund on outpatient purchasing of antibiotics in Lubuskie's Province were collected and expressed in DDD per 1-thousand inhabitants per day (DID). In the period 2002-2005 the average rate of antibiotics purchasing was 19.8 DID. During the 3-year period, at least 64.3% of the population had prescribed antibiotics. 22.7% of patients purchased 62.6% of a three-year total purchasing of antibacterial drugs in the province. A tiny 1.9% of the population purchased 10.0% of the total. From the different age-group, the study showed that special attention should be paid to two different and relatively small groups of patients - those utilizing significant percentage of the year's supply, and group of 5-9 year-old children. Seasonal variation in antibiotic prescribing was strictly linked with the age of patients. Pulmonary diseases were indentified as a factor considerably elevating antibacterial drugs purchasing frequency. A useful way to present recurring patterns in this frequency has been proposed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Drug Utilization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lung Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Middle Aged
  • Outpatients / statistics & numerical data
  • Poland
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data*
  • Seasons

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents