Consumption of psychotropic medications in primary healthcare in Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo State, Brazil

Ferreira de Oliveira, Julia Raso; Varallo, Fabiana Rossi; Jiron, Marcela; de Lima Ferreira, Iahel Manon; Siani-Morello, Manuela Roque; Lopes, Vinicius Detoni; Leira Pereira, Leonardo Regis

Abstract

The consumption of psychotropic drugs is considered a public health problem, due to the potential for addiction and the occurrence of adverse events. In this context, the current study aimed to characterize the consumption of psychotropic medications dispensed in primary healthcare units in Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. This ecological study consulted the Hygia database from 2008 to 2012. The following variables were extracted: psychotropic drugs dispensed, amount dispensed per year, and patients' sex and age bracket. For each psychotropic drug, we calculated the defined daily dose per 1,000 inhabitants/day (DDD/1,000PD), defined daily dose per 1,000 inhabitants/day considering 75% of the population (DDD75%/1,000PD) who withdrew medicines through the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS), and the prescribed daily dose (PDD). The study compared the population growth rate to the growth in the medicines' consumption. A total of 1,577,241 patients were identified who withdrew medications during the study period, of whom 287,373 (18.2%) used at least one drug subject to special control. There was an increase in the total consumption of psychotropic drugs (DDD/1,000PD), but comparison to the population growth rate showed that only sertraline (p = 0.021), risperidone (p = 0.034), and clonazepam (p = 0.043) presented higher growth rates. The PDD for seven drugs were higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) DDD. Identifying discrepancies between DDD and PDD can be useful as a strategy for screening patients eligible for pharmaceutical care, since they can contribute to the prevention of morbidity and mortality related to medications.

Más información

Título según WOS: Consumption of psychotropic medications in primary healthcare in Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo State, Brazil
Título de la Revista: CADERNOS DE SAUDE PUBLICA
Volumen: 37
Número: 1
Editorial: CADERNOS SAUDE PUBLICA
Fecha de publicación: 2021
DOI:

10.1590/0102-311X00060520

Notas: ISI