A pharmacoepidemiological study of the consumption of antiparkinson drugs in the Basque Autonomous Community (Spain) (1992-2004).

Purpose: To monitor the rise in consumption of antiparkinson drugs as well as the prevalence of this illness in the Basque Autonomous Community (Spain) over a period of 13 years (1992-2004).

Methods: A retrospective population-based study where consumption of antiparkinson drugs was conducted using data obtained from the ECOM (Especialidades Consumo de Medicamentos) database of the Spanish Ministry of Health, which contains the number of prescriptions filled in community pharmacies and charged to the National Health System. The results are expressed as DID, Defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day.

Conclusions: Consumption of antiparkinson drugs has increased in the Basque Autonomous Community.