Objective:
To analyse
economic burden of selected
analgesic drugs prescription by
dentists in
Slovakia over a 24-month period. Material and
Methods:
In this
economic burden study, the data were provided from the largest
public health insurance company in
Slovakia. It was analysed 23,256
prescriptions of selected
analgesic drugs (
Acetylsalicylic Acid,
Diclofenac, Nimesulide,
Tramadol and
Metamizole Sodium) by
dentists in
Slovakia.
Results:
The highest
analgesics prescription by
dentists was found in
Diclofenac in 2016 with 11.2%
prescription increase in 2017. The significant decrease of
analgesic drug prescription by
dentists in 2017 was observed in
Tramadol (-29.9%). The
economic burden of selected
analgesic drugs by
patients were 33,926 in 2017 with 21.3% significant decrease of average percentage differences (APD) in
Tramadol and 84.6% significant increase of APD in
Metamizole sodium in 2017.
Patients participated 65.5% share in payment of selected
analgesic drugs and
Health Insurance Company participated only 34.5% share in payment of selected
analgesic drugs in 2017. It was found increase of percentage
analgesic drugs prescription in
Diclofenac and Nimesulide and decrease of percentage
drug prescription in
Metamizole sodium from 1/2016 to 12/2017.
Conclusion:
Economic burden on
analgesic drugs prescribed by
dentist was low per Slovak inhabitant in calculated.
Diclofenac was most frequent prescribed
analgesic drug with the highest
economic burden. We recommend prescribing cheaper
analgesic drugs with a lower
economic burden and with the same effect.