Trends in risky prescriptions of opioid analgesics from 2011 to 2015 in Northern Germany
Beteiligte Einrichtungen
Abstract
Objective: This study describes 5-year trends in the prescription of opioid analgesics and risk indicators such as duration, dose and 'doctor shopping' in Northern Germany.
Methods: The annual rates of opioid analgesic prescriptions have been analysed for patients with statutory health insurance processed by the North German Pharmacy Data Center for the years 2011-2015. A distinction was made between non-cancer patients and cancer patients, and different groups according to prescription duration and dose level.
Results: Between 2011 and 2015, the annual number of patients with opioid analgesic prescriptions increased from 500,000 to 550,000. About half of non-cancer-patients (85% of the total sample) and cancer patients received opioid analgesics for 90 days or less. The rates for long-term prescriptions (⩾9 months) ranged between 6-7% for non-cancer patients and 7-8% for cancer patients. Between 1.2-1.8% received opioid analgesics in doses of more than two defined daily doses. The majority of non-cancer patients with opioid analgesic prescriptions were female. The average age of non-cancer patients was 66 years. About 80% of non-cancer patients with first opioid analgesic prescription received World Health Organization step II medication.
Conclusion: For the first time, this study provides comprehensive patient-related analyses of opioid analgesic prescriptions in Germany over a 5-year period. Despite a slight increase in the overall number of opioid analgesic prescriptions, an epidemic spread of opioid analgesics cannot be observed.
Bibliografische Daten
Originalsprache | Englisch |
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ISSN | 0269-8811 |
DOIs | |
Status | Veröffentlicht - 11.2020 |
PubMed | 32674662 |
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