engleski

Cardiovascular drugs usage in Croatia and Slovenia during the nine-year period

OBJECTIVES The objective of this study is the analysis of cardiovascular drugs consumption (ATC C group) in two mid European countries, Croatia and Slovenia, for the 9-year period (from 2000 to 2008). Further, the aim was to identify the generic drugs usage in each country, the price for DDD for original and generic drugs, and to identify the most prescribed drugs in C group in both countries. METHODS The data on the consumption have been obtained from the IMS (International Medical Statistics) database for Croatia and Slovenia. Drugs usage is presented in defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/1000) according to the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Drugs Statistics Methodology. Financial expenditure data are presented in Euros (€). An average cost per DDD was calculated for each drug group. RESULTS The total usage of cardiovascular drugs is higher in Slovenia, but the prescribed generic drugs usage is higher in Croatia during the investigated period i.e. in Croatia 65.07% of all prescribed drugs from C group were generics in 2008., while in Slovenia it was 55.05%. The average price per 1 DDD, for both original and generic drugs in C group, was lower in Croatia. The cardiovascular drugs usage, according to C subgroups shows a higher prescription rate in Croatia for C01 (Cardiac therapy), C02 (Antihypertensives) and C09 (Agents acting on the renin-angiotensin system), while in Slovenia there is a higher consumption in C08 (Calcium channel blockers) and C10 (Lipid modifying agents). CONCLUSION Comparing the cardiovascular drugs prices in both countries, there is a possibility for price reduction in Slovenia. Drugs prescription patterns are different in Croatia and Slovenia. This indicates the need for a more thorough analysis and the introduction of national drugs guidelines for rational prescribing, monitoring and evaluation. Although the generic drugs usage in C group is relatively high, it should be further supported and promoted.

cardiovascular drugs; pharmacoeconomics; Croatia; Slovenia

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