Dataset Information

Pharmacoepidemiology and costs of medications dispensed during pregnancy: A retrospective population-based study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To describe the pharmacoepidemiology and costs associated with medications dispensed during pregnancy.

Design

Pharmacoepidemiological study and cost analysis.

Setting

Queensland, Australia.

Population

All women who gave birth in Queensland between January 2013 and June 2018.

Methods

We used a whole-of-population linked administrative dataset, Maternity1000, to describe medications approved for public subsidy that were dispensed to 255 408 pregnant women. We describe the volume of medications dispensed and their associated costs from a Government and patient perspective.

Main outcome measures

Prevalence of medication use; proportion of total dispensings; total medication costs in AUD 2020/21 ($1AUD = $0.67USD/£0.55GBP in December 2022).

Results

During pregnancy, 61% (95% CI 60.96-61.29%) of women were dispensed at least one medication approved for public subsidy. The mean number of items dispensed per pregnancy increased from 2.14 (95% CI 2.11-2.17) in 2013 to 2.47 (95% CI 2.44-2.51) in 2017; an increase of 15%. Furthermore, mean Government cost per dispensing increased by 41% from $21.60 (95% CI $20.99-$22.20) in 2013 to $30.44 (95% CI $29.38-$31.49) in 2017. These factors influenced the 53% increase in total Government expenditure observed for medication use during pregnancy between 2013 and 2017 ($2,834,227 versus $4,324,377); a disproportionate rise compared with the 17% rise in women's total out-of-pocket expenses observed over the same timeframe ($1,880,961 versus $2,204,415).

Conclusions

Prevalence of medication use in pregnancy is rising and is associated with disproportionate and rapidly escalating cost implications for the Government.

SUBMITTER: Jackson H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10952169 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Pharmacoepidemiology and costs of medications dispensed during pregnancy: A retrospective population-based study.

Jackson Hannah H Grzeskowiak Luke E LE Enticott Joanne J Callander Emily E

BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology 20230411 11

<h4>Objective</h4>To describe the pharmacoepidemiology and costs associated with medications dispensed during pregnancy.<h4>Design</h4>Pharmacoepidemiological study and cost analysis.<h4>Setting</h4>Queensland, Australia.<h4>Population</h4>All women who gave birth in Queensland between January 2013 and June 2018.<h4>Methods</h4>We used a whole-of-population linked administrative dataset, Maternity1000, to describe medications approved for public subsidy that were dispensed to 255 408 pregnant wo ...[more]

PMID: 37039252

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Dataset Information

Pharmacoepidemiology and costs of medications dispensed during pregnancy: A retrospective population-based study.

Objective

Design

Setting

Population

Methods

Main outcome measures

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Pharmacoepidemiology and costs of medications dispensed during pregnancy: A retrospective population-based study.

Similar Datasets

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