Considerable paediatric drug dispensing - A nationwide study of more than 2 million Swedish children.

Aim: The aim of the nationwide study was to describe paediatric drug utilisation in Sweden.

Methods: Drug prescriptions dispensed to all children aged 0-17 years in 2019 were analysed using data from the Swedish National Prescribed Drug Register.

Results: We retrieved data on 2 180 508 unique children. Nearly 4.6 million prescriptions were dispensed to children aged 0-17 years, and 52% of these were to boys. Just under half of the children (47%) were dispensed at least one drug: 48% of girls and 45% of boys (p < 0.01). More than a third (34%) were dispensed three or more different drugs during 2019. The number of dispensed prescriptions per 1000 children was higher in boys than girls up to 12 years of age (p < 0.01), and the opposite trend was observed from 13 years and above, even when we excluded contraceptives (p < 0.01). The most common therapeutic areas were drugs for the respiratory tract (25%), namely antihistamines, antiasthmatics and cough medication. These were followed by psychoanaleptics and melatonin for the nervous system (19%) and dermatologicals (16%), namely cortisone creams and emollients.

Conclusion: Paediatric drug use was common, and a considerable proportion of children were dispensed multiple drugs.