An Updated Analysis of Psychotropic Medicine Utilisation in Older People in New Zealand from 2005 to 2019.
Drugs Aging
; 39(8): 657-669, 2022 08.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1930610
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Psychotropic medicine utilisation in older adults continues to be of interest because of overuse and concerns surrounding its safety and efficacy.OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to characterise the utilisation of psychotropic medicines in older people in New Zealand.METHODS:
We conducted a repeated cross-sectional analysis of national dispensing data from 1 January, 2005 to 31 December, 2019. We defined utilisation using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification defined daily dose system. Utilisation was measured in terms of the defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 older people per day (TOPD).RESULTS:
Overall, the utilisation of psychotropic medicines increased marginally by 0.42% between 2005 and 2019. The utilisation increased for antidepressants (72.42 to 75.21 DDD/TOPD) and antipsychotics (6.06-19.04 DDD/TOPD). In contrast, the utilisation of hypnotics and sedatives (53.74-38.90 DDD/TOPD) and anxiolytics decreased (10.20-9.87 DDD/TOPD). The utilisation of atypical antipsychotics increased (4.06-18.72 DDD/TOPD), with the highest percentage change in DDD/TOPD contributed by olanzapine (520.6 %). In comparison, utilisation of typical antipsychotics was relatively stable (2.00-2.06 DDD/TOPD). The utilisation of venlafaxine increased remarkably by 5.7 times between 2005 and 2019. The utilisation of zopiclone was far greater than that of other hypnotics in 2019.CONCLUSIONS:
There was only a marginal increase in psychotropic medicines utilisation from 2005 to 2019 in older adults in New Zealand. There was a five-fold increase in the utilisation of antipsychotic medicines. Continued monitoring of psychotropic medicine utilisation will be of interest to understand the utilisation of antidepressants and antipsychotic medicines during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic year.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Antipsychotic Agents
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
English
Journal:
Drugs Aging
Journal subject:
Geriatrics
/
Drug Therapy
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S40266-022-00965-8
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS