Profile of continuous use drugs prescribed in primary health care and presence in list of essential drugs

Paula Lorenzoni Nunes,Karine Raquel Uhdich Kleibert,Andressa Oss-Emer Soares Bottega,Vanessa Boeira Flores,Christiane De Fátima Colet,Vanessa Adelina Casali Bandeira

doi:10.4322/2179-443x.0725

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the profile of the drugs for continuous use prescribed in Primary Health Care (PHC) in Santa Rosa / RS and to identify presence in the official lists of essential drugs. Methods: Cross-sectional, analytical and quantitative study, with analysis of the digital prescriptions of users of primary health care in Santa Rosa. There was no gender restriction and patients who used at least one chronic drug were included. Data were collected through a printed report from users. Results: The study included 642 participants, with a mean age of 60.40±14.48, 64.3% were female and 47.4%, using polypharmacy. A total of 3.009 drugs were identified, with an average of 4.69±2.82 medications/prescription. There was a higher frequency of the cardiovascular system (46.9%), nervous system (16.8%) and digestive tract and metabolism (14.8%). The most commonly used drugs were hydrochlorothiazide, fluoxetine and omeprazole. Regarding the presence of drugs in the official lists, 90.9% are in RENAME and 90.8% in REMUME, and 80% of users have obtained full access to medicines. In the prescriptions, 0.3% contained antibiotics, 1.3% injectable drugs and all drugs were prescribed by the generic name and in a computerized way. Conclusions: The pharmacotherapeutic profile is similar to the national reality and most indicators are as recommended by the WHO, demonstrating the organization of the PA of the city, which facilitates the access of users to essential medicines. However, there was a high number of drugs per prescription and presence of polypharmacy, evidencing the importance of access to it as well as the promotion of the rational use of these drugs.

Highlights

Public consumption and expenses on medicines are increasing and represent the second largest item of expenditure of the health care system, surpassed only by hospital care[1]
In Brazil, there was an increase of 30% between 2010 and 2016 on investments in Pharmaceutical Assistance (PA) in the Unified Health System (UHS)[2]
In view of the above, the objective of this study was to evaluate the profile of the drugs for continuous use prescribed in Primary Health Care (PHC) in Santa Rosa / RS and to identify presence in the official lists of essential drugs

Summary

Introduction

Public consumption and expenses on medicines are increasing and represent the second largest item of expenditure of the health care system, surpassed only by hospital care[1]. In Brazil, there was an increase of 30% between 2010 and 2016 on investments in Pharmaceutical Assistance (PA) in the Unified Health System (UHS)[2]. The increase in PA funding aims to ensure the population’s access to essential medicines, having as guiding instruments of the management process and pharmaceutical policies the National List of Essential Medicines (RENAME), the State List of Essential Medicines (RESME) and the Municipal List of Essential Medicines (REMUME)[3]. Adequate access to drug therapy is associated with more effective control of acute and chronic non-communicable diseases, which allows reducing morbidity and mortality and improving the user’s quality of life[4]. In Brazil 50.7% of the general population use medications[5] and this percentage rises to 80% among patients with chronic diseases[6]. Some of the most used classes of medications are: cardiovascular system, alimentary tract and metabolism, and nervous system[7,8]

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Discussion

Conclusion