Dataset Information

Gender Differences in Medication Use: A Drug Utilization Study Based on Real World Data.

ABSTRACT: A gender-specific drug utilization study was performed in the Campania region, Southern Italy. Data were based on outpatient drug prescriptions collected from administrative databases. The study population included all patients with at least one drug prescription in 2018. Prevalence was used as a measure to estimate the degree of exposure to drugs. A total of 3,899,360 patients were treated with at least one drug (54.2% females). The number of prescriptions was higher in females than males (55.6% vs. 44.4%). Females recorded higher prevalence for the majority of therapeutic groups (ATC II-anatomical therapeutic chemical), as well as for anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic products drugs (M01) (25.6% vs. 18.7%, risk ratio (RR): 0.73), beta blocking agents (C07) (14.5% vs. 11.6%, RR: 0.80), psychoanaleptics (N06) (7.1% vs. 3.7%, RR: 0.52), and antianemic preparations (B03) (2.8% vs. 6.7%, RR: 0.4). Higher prevalence was identified for males only for drugs used in diabetes (A10) (6.8% vs. 6.2%, RR: 1.1), particularly for biguanides (A10BA). Conversely, treatment duration was longer among males, explaining the higher mean cost per treated patient. This real-world study showed substantial gender differences in terms of medication use and duration of treatment and costs. These results are relevant to promoting and supporting the emerging role of precision and personalized medicine.

SUBMITTER: Orlando V

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7312791 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Gender Differences in Medication Use: A Drug Utilization Study Based on Real World Data.

Orlando Valentina V Mucherino Sara S Guarino Ilaria I Guerriero Francesca F Trama Ugo U Menditto Enrica E

International journal of environmental research and public health 20200601 11

A gender-specific drug utilization study was performed in the Campania region, Southern Italy. Data were based on outpatient drug prescriptions collected from administrative databases. The study population included all patients with at least one drug prescription in 2018. Prevalence was used as a measure to estimate the degree of exposure to drugs. A total of 3,899,360 patients were treated with at least one drug (54.2% females). The number of prescriptions was higher in females than males (55.6 ...[more]

PMID: 32492925

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Project description:ObjectiveTo gather real-world evidence on antiseizure medications (ASMs) treatment patterns and related outcomes in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy.MethodsMedical insurance claims from the start of 2014 till the end of 2019 were used. Patient selection criteria included International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes followed by documented ASM use. Baseline patient demographics along with ASM and rescue medication use patterns and related patient outcome were documented for first (index) ASM regimen. Patients who failed the first regimen and then failed the second regimen were considered drug resistant. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify risks and other characteristics for positive or negative treatment outcomes.ResultsStudy cohort consisted of 46 474 patients with a mean age of 47.23 (SD: 16.94). Levetiracetam was the most first-encountered ASM (37.94%). At baseline, 87.14% were treated with ASMs prior to having study-confirmed diagnoses. Mental comorbidities were present in 37.86% of patients. After first-year ASM treatment, 34.61% of patients persisted on their index regimen and 5.91% were seizure-free. Patients failing first ASM regimen numbered 12 868 (27.69%). Drug-resistant patients who failed first and then second ASM regimens numbered 6335 (49.23%). Percentages of patients who had successful second treatment and seizure-free were 21.32 and 3.65, respectively. Initiating patients on lamotrigine or carbamazepine (relative to levetiracetam), baseline use of index ASM, rescue medications, and older age or male gender all lowered the risk for treatment failure. Having higher comorbidity, comorbid mental illness, headache, or neoplasty increased such a risk. Baseline use of index ASM, depressive episode, or anxiety disorder all entailed higher risk of failing second ASM treatment.SignificanceOverall, reported findings indicated that patient history at baseline and the early selection of an ASM all influenced treatment outcomes. Findings pointed to the complex nature of ASM treatment in drug-resistant focal epilepsy patients calling for additional research to identify the optimal treatment to achieve beneficial patient outcomes.

Dataset Information

Gender Differences in Medication Use: A Drug Utilization Study Based on Real World Data.

Publications

Gender Differences in Medication Use: A Drug Utilization Study Based on Real World Data.

Similar Datasets

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