Trends in the Outpatient Utilization of Antipsychotic Drugs in the City of Zagreb in the Ten-Year Period as a Tool to Assess Drug Prescribing Rationality.

Background: The aim was to determine distribution and trends in the outpatient utilization of antipsychotics to evaluate the rationality of antipsychotic drug prescribing during the ten year period.

Subjects And Methods: The epidemiological method of descriptive and analytical observation was used. Data on drug utilization from Zagreb Municipal Pharmacy were used to calculate the number of defined daily doses (DDD) and DDD per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/TID) using the World Health Organization Anatomical-Therapeutic-Chemical methodology.

Trends in statin consumption and cardiovascular mortality in Croatia 2004-2012.

Prescribing of statins showed an increasing trend in all developed countries, during the last two decades. The aim of this study was to research the trends in statin consumption in the period from 2004 to 2012 as well as trends of cardiovascular mortality during the 1990 to 2012 period, and to compare them between Croatia and several neighbouring countries. Data on statin expenditures and consumption expresed in defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/TID), were taken from annual reports of Croatian Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices (HALMED).

Trends in prescribing in primary care in Croatia, 2000-2012: prescribing volume, costs and regulatory measures.

The rise of pharmaceutical costs is a significant burden to overall health care expenditure. The Croatian Health Insurance Fund (CHIF) in attempts of its containment, use administrative measures directed toward the two greatest generators: pharmaceutical industry, through negotiating prices and periodic revisions of basic and suplemental drug lists, and primary care physicians, through limits in the volume of prescriptions, and annual financial expenditure. The aim of the study was to determine trends in quantity of issued prescriptions and pharmaceutical expanditure from 2000 to 2012.

Nine-year trends in the morbidity of mental disorders and psychotropic drug utilization in Croatia: over-diagnosis and over-utilization?

Overall drug overuse, including psychotropic, is the Croatian reality. Therefore, in between 2000 and 2012, the interventions to control drug overspending were undertaken. The main aims of the study are: to determine the morbidity trends of mental disorders registered in family medicine (FM), the trends in psychotropic drug utilization and to identify whether the trends of utilization have any relation to the interventions.

Implementation of the program of preventive examinations at primary health care in the city of Zagreb 2009-2013.

Background: The program covered all persons who had not been in contact with a physician for two years or had failed to notice symptoms themselves or to timely respond to the symptoms observed. The aim of the present study was to analyze the results of the program and try to draw conclusions regarding the necessity further implementation.

Subjects And Methods: This paper analyzes data on a cohort of 1375 subjects aged 45+, collected on preventive examinations by family physicians during the 2009-2013 period.

Comparison of Psychotropic Drug Prescribing Quality between Zagreb, Croatia and Sarajevo, B&H.

Background: The purpose of this paper was to compare outpatient consumption and quality of psychotropic drug prescribing between Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina 2006-2010.

Methods: Data on drug utilization from Zagreb Municipal Pharmacy and Sarajevo Public Pharmacy were used to calculate the number of defined daily doses (DDD) and DDD per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/TID) using the WHO Anatomical-Therapeutic-Chemical methodology.

Results: Total utilization of psychopharmaceuticals increased in both cities; however, it was higher in Zagreb than in Sarajevo throughout the study period.

Characteristics of self-medication for pain relief among first-year health care students in Zagreb, Croatia.

Background: Taking over the responsibility for one's own health and active participation in eliminating the existing health problems is ever more widespread in the world. Self-medication in the form of using any kind of therapy without previous consultation with medical professionals has been ever more common among student populations in many countries. The aim of this study was to determine the attitudes about self-medication for pain relief and features of self-medication in first-year students of the University of Applied Health Studies in Zagreb.

A study on the quality of outpatient prescription of psychopharmaceuticals in the City of Zagreb 2006-2009.

The lack of Croatian studies which could determine the justifiability of excessive psychopharmaceutical utilization was an encouragement to conduct this research. Furthermore, regarding the conduction of this study, it would be possible to determine whether the trend of drug utilization has increased, decreased or perhaps stabilized. The data on the outpatient utilization of psycholeptics and psychoanaleptics were collected from all Zagreb pharmacies, 2006-2009.

Cardiovascular drugs consumption--comparison between two Croatian regions, City of Zagreb and Lika-Senj County.

The aim of this paper is to determine the differences in the outpatient consumption of cardiovascular drugs between Croatian regions: the City of Zagreb and Lika-Senj County. The data on the number of packages and the purchase price for each drug have been obtained from all pharmacies in Lika-Senj County and all pharmacies in the City of Zagreb. Defined daily doses/1000 inhabitants/day (DDD/1000/day) was calculated for every drug in accordance with its code name and Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Dose (ATC/DDD) index of the World Health Organization (WHO) for 2007.

A study on utilization of oral contraceptives in the City of Zagreb (2008-2010).

Main aim of this study is to quantify and analyze the utilization and utilization trends of oral hormonal contraceptives in the City of Zagreb, 2008-2010, and to propose potential interventions, if necessary. Data gathered from Zagreb pharmacies were assessed by Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification of drugs and Daily Defined Dose methodology. An alarming decrease in total utilization of hormonal contraceptives by 76% from 2008-2009 was found as the main result of this study.

Distribution and trends in outpatient utilization of generic versus brand name psychopharmaceuticals during a ten-year period in Croatia.

Background: Drug costs increasingly pose a burden upon the otherwise inadequate health care resources and rational drug utilization is an important segment of every national health policy. Optimal patient care should be the goal of rational pharmacotherapy, whereby the economic burden of treatment is just one of the elements to be considered on choosing appropriate therapy.The aim of this study was to determine distribution and trends in the outpatient utilization of generic versus brand name psychopharmaceuticals and to evaluate the rationality of prescribing psychopharmaceuticals during a ten-year period.

Outpatient consumption of antibiotics in the City of Zagreb (2006-2010).

Aim: To investigate outpatient consumption of antibiotics during the 2006-2010 period in the City of Zagreb and compare it with other European countries.

Methods: Data on outpatient consumption of antibiotics were obtained from all pharmacies in the City of Zagreb. Based on the data obtained, the number of defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDDs/TID) were calculated for each ATC subgroup.

Outpatient utilization of psychopharmaceuticals: comparison between the cities of Zagreb and Sarajevo (2006-2009).

Aim: To determine the real outpatient utilization of psychiatric drugs in Zagreb (Croatia) and Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and to compare the outpatient utilization of psychiatric drugs between this two cities.

Methods: Data on the outpatient utilization of psycholpetics and psychoanaleptics (N05 and N06) in both cities were received from pharmacies and collected during 2006-2009. Based on the data obtained, a number of DDD and DDD per 1000 inhabitants perday (DDD/1000/day) has been calculated.

Quality of cardiovascular drugs prescribing in Croatia 2003-2008.

The aim of the study was to determine cardiovascular drugs utilization and quality of prescribing in Croatia from 2003 to 2008. Data on the outpatient utilization of cardiovascular drugs in Croatia were collected during 2003-2008. Data on the size and number of packages, were obtained from Croatian institute for Health Insurance (CIHI).

[Pharmacoeconomic indicators of cardiovascular drug utilization in the Republic of Croatia and city of Zagreb in 2008].

Background: In comparison with original drugs, generic drugs have the same efficacy but considerably lower price and should therefore be preferred to original drugs on prescribing. The aim of the present study was to assess outpatient utilization and rationality of cardiovascular drug prescribing in the City of Zagreb and Republic of Croatia based on the generic to original drug prescribing ratio.

Methods: Data on the financial indicators and number of cardiovascular drug packages issued in 2008 were obtained from the Croatian Institute of Health Insurance.

Emerging risk for viral hepatitis A in Croatian adults.

An objective of the study was to determine the changes in the risk of developing hepatitis A in the 30-years period and discuss the need for vaccination against HAV infection in Croatia and the city of Rijeka comparing incidence of hepatitis A between 1970-1974 and 2000-2004 periods. Hepatitis A declined in both populations and affected more prominently older population groups. Improvement of hygiene and sanitary conditions appears to have decreased hepatitis A incidence among children and adults, but only a seroepidemiological study can give more accurate data as a basis for discussion on the necessity of vaccination as a further measure in reducing hepatitis A incidence.

Utilization of cardiovascular drugs in Zagreb 2001-2005.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the outpatient utilization of cardiovascular drugs in Croatia, during the period 2001-2005, using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification of drugs/Defined Daily Dose (ATC/DDD) methodology.

Methods And Results: Data on outpatient drug utilization were obtained from the Zagreb Municipal Pharmacy to calculate the number of defined daily dose (DDD), and DDD per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/1000/day). The drug utilization 90% (DU90%) method was used on drug prescribing quality assessment.

Outpatient utilization patterns of the six main ATC drug groups in Republic of Croatia, city of Zagreb, and Croatia counties in 2004.

The aim of the study was to determine drug utilization according to Croatian counties, and to identify the causes of the possible between-county utilization variation. Zagreb Institute of Public Health in collaboration with the Croatian Drug Agency collected and analyzed data on outpatient utilization of the six main Anatomic-Therapeutic-Chemical (ATC) drug groups. Data on the number and size of packages, and on wholesale price were obtained from all pharmacies in Croatia.

[Statin prescribing in the City of Zagreb (2001-2006) and their role in secondary prevention of cardiovascular events].

Introduction: Cardiovascular drugs account for 40% of total outpatient drug utilization in the City of Zagreb. Among them, utilization of the group of hypolipemics showed greatest rise from 2001 to 2006.

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate outpatient utilization of hypolipemics in the City of Zagreb during the 2001-2006 period and to assess the quality of prescribing these drugs in primary health care.

Outpatient utilization of psychopharmaceuticals: comparison between Croatia and Scandinavian countries (2001-2003).

The aim was to estimate outpatient consumption of psychotropic drugs in Croatia in correlation with Scandinavian countries. Data on drug utilization, from Zagreb Municipal Pharmacy, were used to calculate the number of defined daily doses (DDD) and DDD per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/TID) using Anatomical-Therapeutic-Chemical methodology (ATC) by WHO. Data of the Nordic Medico-Statistical Committee were used for Scandinavian countries.

Outpatient utilization of psychopharmaceuticals in the City of Zagreb 2001-2006.

Background: A comprehensive insight into drug utilization as an economic and primarily a public health issue can only be acquired in the context of overall health state of the respective population. The objectives of the study were: 1) to determine the real outpatient utilization of psychopharmaceuticals in Zagreb, 2) to determine the psychopharmaceutical prescribing quality during the study period; and 3) to propose appropriate interventions in Zagreb on the basis of the results obtained.

Subjects And Methods: Data on drug utilization were obtained from all Zagreb pharmacies.

[Cross-sectional study of drug use in pregnancy].

The aim of the paper is to investigate the impact of drugs utilization during pregnancy in the City of Zagreb. This one-month cross-sectional study was conducted in all four Zagreb maternity hospitals using a questionnaire administered to 893 pregnant women. The women used a mean of 2.

Risk of pneumonia recurrence in patients previously hospitalized for pneumonia--a retrospective study (1998-2000).

Although elderly hospitalized patients, irrespective of the cause of hospitalization, are known to be at a high risk of subsequent development of pneumonia, some studies suggest the risk to be even higher in those hospitalized for pneumonia than in those hospitalized for other diseases. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the association of hospitalization for pneumonia and some other diseases with subsequent pneumonia morbidity and mortality. The risk of recurrent pneumonia in patients hospitalized for pneumonia was investigated.

Cost-efficiency of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug prescribing in Zagreb, Croatia.

The utilization and prescribing quality of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in Zagreb were assessed by calculating the number of defined daily doses (DDDs) from the number and size of packages of each prescription NSAID dispensed at 31 and 32 pharmacies during the years 2001 and 2002. NSAIDs accounting for 95% of overall NSAID utilization (DU95% segment) were analyzed. The proportion of NSAIDs associated with high (piroxicam), medium (diclofenac, naproxen, indometacin and ketoprofen) and low (ibuprofen) risk of gastrointestinal side effects, cost for each NSAID in DU95% segment, and cost per DDD were calculated.