Ten-year trend of analgesic drug use (1984 to 1995): results of three MONICA-based surveys in Augsburg)

Abstract

Use of drugs, especially analgesics, is thought to be responsible for the rising cost of the health system in Germany, but there are no published population data for analgesic intake in Germany. Data derived from the three MONICA surveys (Monitoring of Trends and Determinants of Cardiovascular Diseases) in Augsburg and its adjacent districts were analysed for the prevalence of analgesic usage between 1984 and 1995 (the first such survey for Germany). A total of 5,899 males and 6,005 females (aged 25-64 years), representative of the population, were selected and examined in 1984/85, 1989/90 and 1994/95 (participation rate of those selected, 75-79%). Using a standardized protocol, all analgesic drugs taken during the previous 7 days were recorded and classified. The analysis was standardized for age and classified according to sex. Strong analgesics were not significantly used under the ambulatory conditions of this survey and were therefore excluded from the analysis. Intake prevalence of mild to moderately strong analgesics varied from 5.9-8.9% in males and 9.9-13.4% in females. Prevalence was significantly at its lowest in 1989/90, but similar at the beginning and end of the 10-year period. Changes in prevalence of analgesic usage were similar to those of on-demand medication. Salicylic acid preparations containing higher dosages of the active ingredient were the drugs most commonly used, followed by aniline preparations, heteroaryl- as well as aryl-acetate and propionic acid derivates, pyrazole derivates, oxicam and anthranylic acid derivates. The prevalence of taking mild of moderately strong analgesics was at a similar low level at the beginning and end of the 10-year period.