Electronic Prescription Database Research Articles

Increased prevalence of inflammatory arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis, during 2020-2023 versus 2016-2019 in a Nation-Wide Cohort Study.

Although several studies have explored the geoepidemiology of autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD), trends of their frequency overtime are under-investigated. Herein, in a nation-wide study, we examine trends in the prevalence of various ARD over-time, taking also into account the Covid-19 pandemic. In this retrospective study in the entire Greek adult population (approximately 10.000.000 people), we searched the electronic prescription database of the e-Government Centre for Social Security Services using prespecified ICD-10 codes to capture all adult patients with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) and Polymyalgia Rheumatica or Giant Cell Arteritis (PMR/GCA). Two sequential 4-year periods, namely 2016-2019 and 2020-2023 were compared. Prevalence of RA, PsA, AxSpA, SLE and SSc increased significantly during 2020-2023 compared to 2016-2019. This applies to both genders and to all age groups for RA, PsA and AxSpA, to female patients in SLE and SSc and to patients 18-39years in SLE and ≥ 60years in SSc. Overall, there was 47% increase in prevalence for AxSpA (0.100% in 2016-19 vs 0.147% in 2020-23), 36.5% for PsA (0.148% vs 0.202%), 20.6% for RA (0.467% vs 0.563%), 19% for SLE (0.137% vs 0.163%) and 13% for SSc (0.023% vs 0.026%). A 16.3% decrease was evident in GCA/PMR, limited to those ≥ 40years old. In a nation-wide study we confirm that ARD prevalence increases over-time, whereas a contribution of Covid-19 pandemic to our results during 2020-2023, cannot be excluded. Additional human, medical and financial resources will be needed to cover the increased needs of ARD patients.

Time Trends, Regional Variation and Associations of Low-Allergy Formula Prescribing in England.

Cow's milk allergy (CMA) overdiagnosis appears to be increasing and is associated with excessive low-allergy formula prescription. We evaluated recent trends and regional variation in low-allergy formula prescribing for CMA in England, and assessed potential risk factors for higher prescribing rates. Data on national and regional prescribing of low-allergy formulas were extracted from England's electronic prescription database using R. Region-level factors were evaluated for potential associations with regional low-allergy formula prescription rates using multivariate linear regression. Analysis of national prescribing trends covered 2007-2023, analysis of regional variation and region-level factors examined 2017-2019, prior to a re-organisation of the regional healthcare structure in England. Low-allergy formula prescribing increased from 6.1 to 23.3 L per birth nationally, between 2007 and 2023. Regional prescribing rate varied from 0.8 to 47.6 L per birth in 2017-2019. We found significant associations between regional low-allergy formula prescribing rate and regional prescribing rates for milk feed thickeners Gaviscon Infant and Carobel Instant (β = 0.10, p < 0.01), and for other anti-reflux medications used in young children (β = 0.89 p < 0.01). Inconsistent associations were seen with prescribing junior adrenaline auto-injectors and oral antibiotics. A model including these four variables accounted for 37% of regional variation in low-allergy formula prescribing rate. Region-level socio-economic deprivation, CMA guideline recommendations and paediatric allergy service provision were not associated with low-allergy formula prescribing. Low-allergy formula prescribing in England is increasing, varies significantly by region and is consistently associated with prescribing rates for milk feed thickeners and other anti-reflux medication for young children. Community prescribing behaviours may be important determinants of CMA overdiagnosis.

Prevalence and Incidence of Medication-Treated Diabetes and Pattern of Glucose-Lowering Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Real-World Data from the Electronic Greek Prescription Database.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and incidence of medication-treated diabetes mellitus and the evolving patterns of glucose-lowering treatments the year before and during the first two years of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Data from the Greek electronic prescription database were analyzed for 2019, 2020, and 2021. The study population included individuals with active social security numbers. Prevalence and incidence rates were calculated based on the dispensing of glucose-lowering medications according to their unique anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) code. The study population comprised 10,289,140 individuals in 2019, 10,630,726 in 2020, and 11,246,136 in 2021. Diabetes prevalence rates were 8.06%, 6.89%, and 7.91%, and incidence rates were 16.8/1000, 8.6/1000, and 13.4/1000 individuals, respectively. Metformin was the most prescribed medication, and newer classes, like sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors and glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists exhibited increasing trends. The study identified a decrease in medication-prescribed diabetes prevalence and incidence during the initial year of the COVID-19 pandemic, attributed to healthcare access restrictions. Subsequently, figures returned close to baseline levels. Glucose-lowering medication trends reflected adherence to local and international guidelines, with metformin as the cornerstone, and increasing preference for newer classes such as GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors.

Hazardous use of benzodiazepine receptor agonists in psychiatric clinics in China: electronic prescription database study.

Benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZRAs) are commonly used clinically and data on their hazardous use from large populations of psychiatric patients is limited. To assess the current status of hazardous BZRA use and related factors in Chinese out-patient psychiatric settings. The study included out-patients with at least one BZRA prescription from five psychiatric settings in east, central and west China in 2018. Demographic and prescription information were extracted from the electronic prescription database. We defined the co-occurrence of overdose and long-term use as hazardous use, and patients whose recorded diagnoses did not meet any indications approved by the Chinese Food and Drug Administration as over-indication users. Additionally, 200 hazardous users were randomly selected for follow-up interview to confirm the actual situation. Among 720 054 out-patients, 164 450 (22.8%) had at least one BZRA prescription; 55.9% of patients were prescribed over-indication and 3% were defined as hazardous users. Multilevel multivariate regression analysis with hospital as a random effect showed that factors associated with hazardous use were older age (18-64 years: β = 0.018; 95% CI 0.013-0.023; >65 years: β = 0.015; 95% CI 0.010-0.021), male (β = 0.005, 95% CI 0.003-0.007), over-indication (β = 0.013, 95% CI 0.012-0.015), more out-patient visits (β = 0.006, 95% CI 0.006-0.006) and more visits to different doctors (β = 0.007, 95% CI 0.007-0.008); 98.5% of hazardous users (197/200) could not be contacted. BZRAs are commonly used and there is a relatively large proportion of over-indication users among Chinese psychiatric out-patients. However, only a small proportion of hazardous users were detected. The study highlights how to use prescription data to support improvements in clinical practice.

Prescribing patterns of medication for respiratory diseases: cluster analysis of the Portuguese electronic prescription database.

We aimed to describe, for the first time, the prescribing patterns among patients on persistent respiratory treatment, from the Portuguese electronic prescription and dispensing database. This was a one-year retrospective population-based analysis of prescriptions (n = 39810) for medication for respiratory disease and exacerbations. Cluster analysis was applied based on medication and prescribers' specialty. Prescribing patterns were grouped and labelled as: possible medication for asthma and allergic rhinitis (General Practitioners-GPs and allergists to younger patients); COPD (GPs and pulmonologists to older patients); asthma or Asthma-COPD Overlap (GPs and pulmonologists); exacerbation, infection and relievers. This analysis was an important first step to understand the Portuguese reality on the treatment of respiratory diseases.

Measuring medication adherence of hypertensive patients with monotherapy treatment in a community health center by utilizing medication possession ratio

Adherence is a particular concern in treating hypertension, and non-adherence to antihypertensive drugs might cause uncontrolled hypertension. This study aimed to measure retrospectively the medication adherence of hypertensive patients with monotherapy treatment in a community health center (Puskesmas) in Bandung city, Indonesia. The retrospective patient data from 2011 to 2015 were obtained from an electronic prescription database. The patient data of those diagnosed with hypertension, &amp;gt;18 years old, and who received mono-antihypertensive therapy within a 12-month period were included in this study. To assess medication adherence, the medication possession ratio (MPR) was applied. Out of 780 patients, 93.6% of patients showed poor adherence, about 5.8% showed intermediate adherence, and 0.6% of patients had high adherence. Males and females showed different levels of adherence (p&amp;lt;0.05). Efforts should be focused on obtaining optimum clinical benefits and strengthening the effectiveness of health systems in Indonesia.

Primary Nonadherence to Antipsychotic Treatment Among Persons with Schizophrenia.

It has remained unclear what factors relate to primary nonadherence to antipsychotic treatment and whether specific agents and routes of administration differ in how patients adhere to them. We collected electronic prescriptions and their dispensings from the Finnish electronic prescription database for 29 956 patients with schizophrenia prescribed antipsychotics via electronic prescription during 2015–2016. We defined primary nonadherence as being prescribed an antipsychotic, which was not dispensed from the pharmacy within one year from prescription. Using logistic regression, we analyzed whether several sociodemographic and clinical factors related to nonadherence. We found that 31.7% (N = 9506) of the patients demonstrated primary nonadherence to any of their prescribed antipsychotics. We found that young age (OR = 1.77, 95%CI = 1.59–1.96), concomitant benzodiazepines (OR = 1.47, 95%CI = 1.40–1.55) and mood stabilizers (OR = 1.29, 95%CI = 1.21–1.36), substance abuse (OR = 1.26 95%CI = 1.19–1.35), previous suicide attempt (OR = 1.21, 95%CI = 1.11–1.31), diabetes (OR = 1.15, 95%CI = 1.06–1.25), asthma/COPD (OR = 1.14, 95%CI = 1.04–1.25), and cardiovascular disease (OR = 1.12, 95%CI = 1.05–1.19), were related to primary nonadherence to antipsychotic treatment. Patients using clozapine showed the lowest nonadherence (4.77%, 95%CI = 4.66–4.89), and patients using long-acting injectables were more adherent to treatment (7.27%, 95%CI = 6.85–7.71) when compared to respective oral agents (10.26%, 95%CI = 10.02–10.49). These results suggest that selection between different pharmacological agents and routes of administration while taking into account patients’ concomitant medications (benzodiazepines in particular) and comorbidities play a key role in primary nonadherence to antipsychotic treatment.

Risks and uncertainties about gabapentinoids

INTRODUCTION The use of gabapentinoids has increased in the recent years. Approved indications include epilepsy, peripheral neuropathic pain, diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia and anxiety disorder. However, these drugs are widely prescribed off-label for indications such as low back pain, fibromyalgia, migraine or restless legs syndrome. Side effects associated with these drugs are common, highlighting the risk of respiratory depression when combined with other drugs that depress the central nervous system, suicidal ideation, abuse and addiction. OBJETIVE To review the evidence available on the uses of gabapentinoids (epilepsy excluded) and its associated risks. METHODS A search in Tripdatabase and Dynamed was conducted for clinical practice guidelines. In addition, a PubMed search was performed including systematic reviews, clinical trials and observational studies in order to analyze the evidence available on these drugs for their different indications. Data about the use of gabapentinoids in Navarre were obtained from the electronic prescription database of the public health system of Navarre -Osasunbidea (SNS-O). CONCLUSIONS Off-label use of gabapentinoids is not recommended due to the lack of consistent evidence available and its potential risks (sedation, dizziness or respiratory depression). Some recommendations are provided for a safe prescription of gabapentinoids.

Introduction and switching of biologic agents are associated with antidepressant and anxiolytic medication use: data on 42 815 real-world patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease

ObjectivesDepression and anxiety are linked bi-directionally with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs) activity, which in turn, depends on subjective patient reported outcomes that can be distorted by comorbid mood disorders. We...

The incidence, risk factors and outcomes of chemotherapy related acute kidney injury in China.

e24161 Background: Nephrotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents remains a significant complication limiting the efficacy of the treatment. However, comprehensive data on the epidemiology and outcomes of chemotherapy related acute kidney Injury in China is lacking. Methods: We conducted a nationwide cohort study of hospitalized patients from 25 general and children’s hospitals in China during 2013-2015. Patient-level data were obtained from the electronic hospitalization information system, prescription database and laboratory databases of all cancer patients who received chemotherapy and had at least two serum creatinine tests within any 7-day window during the hospitalization. AKI was defined and staged according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria. The incidence of AKI in patients with various type of cancer and chemotherapeutic agents was examined. The outcomes of AKI, including in-hospital mortality, death after discharge, kidney recovery, and length of stay, were also assessed. Results: A total of 23,232 cancer patients, including 3,120 children ( &lt; 18 years old), 16,310 adult (19-65 years old) and 3,802 elderly patients ( &gt; 65 years old), were analyzed. Platinum compounds and pyrimidine analogues were the most common used chemotherapy agents for cancer patients. The overall incidence of AKI was 4.9%. Patients with urinary system malignancy (12.3%), hematological malignancy (10.2%) and nerve motor system malignancy (4.1%) have the highest incidence of HA-AKI. The top three types of chemotherapy drugs with the highest incidence of AKI were Purine analogues (30.1%), folic acid analogues (15.3%) and combinations of antineoplastic agents (14.1%). The nephrotoxicity of chemotherapy drugs was different among age groups. AKI is associated with a higher risk of in-hospital mortality and death after discharge. Conclusions: The risk of AKI in cancer patients varied in different age group, type of cancer and chemotherapeutic agents.

First insight to the Finnish nationwide electronic prescription database as a data source for pharmacoepidemiology research

Since 1994, the Finnish Prescription Register (FPR) has been the main data source for pharmacoepidemiology research in Finland. However, the FPR data are limited to reimbursed dispensations only. Implementation of electronic prescribing started in 2010 and after a stepwise extension, electronic prescribing became mandatory in all healthcare settings in 2017. Prescriptions issued and dispensed electronically are stored in the Prescription Centre of the nationwide Kanta database. To describe the contents of the Kanta database and to compare the coverage of Kanta with the FPR, using prescriptions and dispensations of oral anticoagulants (OACs) as an example. All prescriptions, dispensations, and their cancellations and corrections for OACs recorded in Kanta were retrieved for the period 2012-2016. In 2016, the total number of valid electronic prescriptions for OACs was 249 139 and the number of valid electronic OAC dispensations was 765 745. The number of identified direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) users was higher in Kanta compared to the FPR since 2014, although more users of all OACs were identified from the FPR during 2012-2015. In 2016, an indication was identified in 44.7% of OAC prescriptions and dosing instructions in 99.5% of DOAC prescriptions. The Kanta database is a promising source of data on medication exposure. Because of reimbursement restrictions, use of DOACs was under-ascertained through the FPR.

Intervention to reduce benzodiazepine prescriptions in primary care, study protocol of a hybrid type 1 cluster randomised controlled trial: the BENZORED study

IntroductionBenzodiazepines (BZDs) are mainly used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders, and are often prescribed for long durations, even though prescription guidelines recommend short-term use due to the risk of...

Main Elements of National Model of Electronic Prescription System from Physicians' Point of View: A Case Study in a Developing Country.

Identifying the factors and components of an electronic prescription system is of utmost importance in effective designing and implementation of this system. In this regard, the current study was conducted to determine the main factors affecting the national model of electronic prescription from the physicians' point of view. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical research carried out in 2015. Based on the census sampling method, 104 members of the boardofdirectors of the Iraniangeneral practitioners' associations, general practitioners' alumni association of Iran, and physicians owner of a website or weblog were selected as samples for this study. Data were collected using a valid and reliable questionnaire. After analyzing the data with SPSS software (v.16), a model was proposed using a regression algorithm. The findings indicated that accessing the current medication data and medication history of patients during prescription, and also creating the electronic patient medication record (ePMR) are the most important selective components for physicians with frequency percent of 92.1%. Moreover, from the physicians' viewpoint, the method of "transmission of prescriptions to the central national database and retrieving prescriptions information from the selected pharmacy of the patient" had the highest priority (weight coefficient) in the model of the national electronic prescriptionsystem. Therefore, the Iranian prescription system is required to be developed based on the centralized architecture and national electronic prescription database.

PDB31 - Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Treatment Before and After Implementing National Health Insurance Program in Babakan Sari Primary Health Care Bandung Indonesia: A Case Study

Indonesian government has commenced the national health insurance (BPJS program) in January 2014 and the program has widely implemented in healthcare facilities in 2015. The objective of this study was to analyze cost-effectiveness of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treatment in Babakan Sari Primary Health Care (PHC) Bandung, West Java Indonesia, before and after implementing BPJS program. This study was a cross-sectional study using patient data retrieved from electronic prescription database from 2013-2015. All patients who had been diagnosed T2DM without comorbidities, ≥ 18 years old, obtained medications and had complete fasting glucose data during treatment were included in this study. Total 610 T2DM-patients data (2,175 total visits) were recorded in database and only 84 T2DM-patients (203 total visits) who were eligible for analysis. Total cost after discounting in 2013, 2014 and 2015 was IDR 408,446, IDR 659,868 and IDR 1,367,426 respectively. Average Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ACER) in 2013 and 2014 was IDR 1, meanwhile in 2015 was IDR 9. The Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) in 2013 compare to 2014 was IDR 1,107, in 2014 compared to 2015 was IDR 720, and in 2013 compared to 2015 was IDR 599. The treatment of T2DM before the implementation of BPJS program is more cost-effective than after the implementation of BPJS program in Babakan Sari PHC. Changing in selection and quantity of medicines increases the total cost in 2015 and it allegedly affects to the cost-effectiveness of the T2DM treatment.

Epidemiology of Transthyretin Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy in Portugal: A Nationwide Study

Background: Transthyretin-associated familial amyloid polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP) is a rare, hereditary, progressive and neurodegenerative disease. We aimed to study ­TTR-FAP epidemiology in Portugal. Methods: National, observational, prospective and retrospective, case identification of adults with TTR-FAP. Countrywide patient multiple identification sources included reference centers registries and centralized medical electronic prescription database. Crude rates were reported per 100,000 adult inhabitants. Results: Over 2010–2016 period, mean incidence rates was 0.87/100,000 (95% CI 0.68–1.10) corresponding to 71 new patients yearly, that has decreased 31% in the last 7 years. The proportion of late-onset cases (age ≥50 years) among incident cases was 28.7%. Estimated crude 2016 prevalence was 22.93/100,000 adult inhabitants (95% CI 21.90–23.99) corresponding to 1,865 TTR-FAP individuals in Portugal (45.8% male; mean age: 52.3 ± 15.4 years). In 2016, the Portuguese region with the highest TTR-FAP prevalence shows a 16% prevalence increase over the last 25 years. Conclusions: In Portugal, TTR-FAP affects both genders and mainly young adults. TTR-FAP incidence appears to be decreasing while prevalence is increasing. In comparison to previous studies, there is an increased representativeness of late-onset patients. This epidemiological setting poses future and complex challenges for the social and healthcare system, strengthening the relevance of regular epidemiologic surveillance.

Gabapentin and Pregabalin and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in the Elderly: A Population-Based Cohort Study in an Electronic Prescription Database.

IntroductionGabapentin and pregabalin are widely prescribed to elderly people, but data on their pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy in this population are scarce. Neurological adverse effects are common. Atrial fibrillation (AF) associated with their use has been described in several case reports and case series, but the incidence is unknown.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the association between exposure to gabapentin or pregabalin and AF in the elderly.MethodsPatients ≥ 65 years of age starting treatment with either gabapentin or pregabalin between January 1 and March 31, 2015, free of cardiovascular disease, and who did not receive the alternate study medications were studied. They were compared with patients who initiated treatment with an analgesic opiate or with alprazolam or diazepam. The two primary outcome variables were a first claim of an oral anticoagulant plus an antiarrhythmic drug (OAC + AA), or of an oral anticoagulant or an antiplatelet agent plus an antiarrhythmic drug (OAC/APA + AA), in the 3 months after treatment initiation.ResultsCompared with opiate analgesics, both gabapentin and pregabalin were associated with an increased risk of initiating OAC/APA + AA. The incidence was 6 of 668 (9.0 per 1000 patients) with gabapentin, versus 12 of 3889 (3.1 per 1000) with opiates, relative risk (RR) 2.91 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10–7.73), and for pregabalin it was 6 of 698 (8.6 per 1000) RR 2.79 (95% CI 1.05–7.40). The comparison with alprazolam/diazepam gave similar results. The risks did not vary by age, sex, or co-treatment with NSAIDs, and they increased with dose.ConclusionIn elderly patients free of cardiovascular disease, an association between new exposure to gabapentin or pregabalin and initiating treatment for AF was found. These results should be confirmed in other studies.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s40264-018-0695-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Different approaches to the assessment of adherence and persistence with cardiovascular-disease preventive medications

Objective: To assess suitability and comparability of the most common methods of treatment adherence and persistence assessment, as applied to the same pharmacy dataset.Methods: Data on drugs prescribed for cardiovascular primary prevention to participants in the Aragon Workers’ Health Study (AWHS) were collected from a regional electronic drug prescription database. Several different approaches were used to measure treatment adherence (with the medication possession ratio [MPR]) and proportion of days covered [PDC]) and persistence in new users by therapeutic subgroup. Defined daily dose (DDD) was used as a proxy of the number of days’ supply, or substituted with surrogate daily dose values.Results: Higher mean adherence values and proportions of adherent patients were obtained using MPR versus PDC, with additional differences depending on the approach used. The proportion of adherent patients was lowest for oral antidiabetics (14.4%–30.6%) and highest for antihypertensives (70.2%–82.1%). The use of surrogate daily dose values increased adherence for antidiabetics and statins and decreased adherence for antihypertensives. After a 1 year follow-up, treatment persistence was observed for 21.1%, 58.7%, and 29.5% of antidiabetic, antihypertensive and statin users, respectively.Conclusions: Our findings indicate that use of multiple measures of treatment adherence and persistence provides a more complete overview of medication use patterns, and certain limitations associated with DDD for some drug groups can be overcome with replacement by surrogate doses. The PDC indicator seems to provide a more accurate reflection of patient behavior and treatment continuity than the MPR. Any comparison of adherence/persistence should always consider the method used, variables analyzed, and corresponding data collection process.

Clinical indications for antibiotic use in Danish general practice: results from a nationwide electronic prescription database

Objective: To assess the availability and applicability of clinical indications from electronic prescriptions on antibiotic use in Danish general practice.Design: Retrospective cohort register-based study including the Danish National Prescription Register.Setting: Population-based study of routine electronic antibiotic prescriptions from Danish general practice.Subjects: All 975,626 patients who redeemed an antibiotic prescription at outpatient pharmacies during the 1-year study period (July 2012 to June 2013).Main outcome measures: Number of prescriptions per clinical indication. Number of antibiotic prescriptions per 1000 inhabitants by age and gender. Logistic regression analysis estimated the association between patient and provider factors and missing clinical indications on antibiotic prescriptions.Results: A total of 2.381.083 systemic antibiotic prescriptions were issued by Danish general practitioners in the study period. We identified three main clinical entities: urinary tract infections (n = 506.634), respiratory tract infections (n = 456.354) and unspecified infections (n = 416.354). Women were more exposed to antibiotics than men. Antibiotic use was high in children under 5 years and even higher in elderly people. In 32% of the issued prescriptions, the clinical indication was missing. This was mainly associated with antibiotic types. We found that a prescription for a urinary tract agent without a specific clinical indication was uncommon.Conclusion: Clinical indications from electronic prescriptions are accessible and available to provide an overview of drug use, in casu antibiotic prescriptions, in Danish general practice. These clinical indications may be further explored in detail to assess rational drug use and congruence with guidelines, but validation and optimisation of the system is preferable.

Coding accuracy for Parkinson's disease hospital admissions: implications for healthcare planning in the UK

ObjectivesHospital Episode Statistics data are used for healthcare planning and hospital reimbursements. Reliability of these data is dependent on the accuracy of individual hospitals reporting Secondary Uses Service (SUS) which includes hospitalisation. The number and coding accuracy for Parkinson's disease hospital admissions at a tertiary centre in Birmingham was assessed. Study designRetrospective, routine-data–based study. MethodsA retrospective electronic database search for all Parkinson's disease patients admitted to the tertiary hospital over a 4-year period (2009–2013) was performed on the SUS database using International Classification of Disease codes, and on the local inpatient electronic prescription database, Prescription and Information Communications System, using medication prescriptions. Capture-recapture methods were used to estimate the number of patients and admissions missed by both databases. ResultsFrom the two databases, between July 2009 and June 2013, 1068 patients with Parkinson's disease accounted for 1999 admissions. During these admissions, the Parkinson's disease was coded as a primary or secondary diagnosis. Ninety-one percent of these admissions were recorded on the SUS database. Capture-recapture methods estimated that the number of Parkinson's disease patients admitted during this period was 1127 patients (95% confidence interval: 1107–1146). A supplementary search of both SUS and Prescription and Information Communications System was undertaken using the hospital numbers of these 1068 patients. This identified another 479 admissions. SUS database under-estimated Parkinson's disease admissions by 27% during the study period. ConclusionThe accuracy of disease coding is critical for healthcare policy planning and must be improved. If the under-reporting of Parkinson's disease admissions on the SUS database is repeated nationally, expenditure on Parkinson's disease admissions in England is under-estimated by approximately £61 million per year.

The prevalence and treatment patterns of diabetes in the Greek population based on real-world data from the nation-wide prescription database

AimsEpidemiological data regarding diabetes in Greece are based on regional, small-scale studies. We aimed to identify all citizens with prescribed pharmacological treatment for diabetes, to further explore type 1 diabetes prevalence and describe pharmacological treatment patterns in type 2 diabetes. MethodsThe electronic prescription database of the National Organization for Health Care Services Provision was used to identify individuals who received at least two prescriptions with an ICD-10 code relevant to diabetes, dispensed between June 1st, 2014 and May 31st, 2015. Type-1 diabetes was defined in those receiving at least two fully-reimbursable insulin prescriptions with an ICD-10 code of E10 (insulin-dependent diabetes). ResultsThe study population consisted of 10,222,779 individuals, accounting for 95% of the Greek population. Prevalence of medication-prescribed diabetes was 7.0% (720,764 individuals), ranging from 0.08% in children and adolescents, to 8.2% in adults, and 30.3% in those ⩾75years old. Prevalence of type 1 diabetes was 0.24%, with a clear male predominance and more than half of cases developing after 14years of age. Metformin was the most frequently prescribed medication (77.4%) in type-2 diabetes followed by DPP-4 inhibitors (44.8%) and sulphonylureas (34.5%), while insulin was used by 19.4% of patients. ConclusionsThis nation-wide real-world data analysis on medication-prescribed diabetes demonstrates that the current prevalence in Greece is 7.0%, with wide age variation and high figures in older adults. Identification of pharmacological patterns among patients with type 2 diabetes is a valuable guide in policy-makers’ efforts to balance a cost-effective, quality-acceptable disease management.