Prescribing Z-drugs in Greece: an analysis of the national prescription database from 2018 to 2021
Abstract Background The Z-drugs are indicated for the short-treatment of insomnia, but they are associated with abuse, dependence and side-effects. There are only sparse data about Z-drug prescribing in Greece. Methods We analyzed data from the Greek prescription database, considering prescriptions...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04793-x |
| _version_ | 1797817825250770944 |
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| author | Spyridon Siafis Konstantinos N. Fountoulakis Vasileios Fragkidis Georgios Papazisis |
| author_facet | Spyridon Siafis Konstantinos N. Fountoulakis Vasileios Fragkidis Georgios Papazisis |
| author_sort | Spyridon Siafis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The Z-drugs are indicated for the short-treatment of insomnia, but they are associated with abuse, dependence and side-effects. There are only sparse data about Z-drug prescribing in Greece. Methods We analyzed data from the Greek prescription database, considering prescriptions for the available Z-drugs in Greece, i.e., zolpidem and zopiclone, during the period from 01.10.2018 to 01.10.2021 in order to examine the prevalence, monthly number and characteristics of Z-drug prescriptions in Greece. Results There were 1,229,842 prescriptions for Z-drugs (zolpidem: 89.7%) during the investigated period from 2018 to 2021, which corresponded to 156,554 patients (73.1% ≥ 65 years, 64.5% female). More than half of the patients (65.8%) had more than one prescription with a median number of 8, interquartile range IQR [3, 17], prescriptions during the three-year study period. Most patients (76.1%) were prescribed by medical specialties other than psychiatrists and neurologists, despite a considerable frequency of psychiatric comorbidities (53.7%). About half of patients with anxiety/depression were not prescribed anxiolytics or antidepressants, a practice more frequently observed among medical specialties other than psychiatrists and neurologists. The average annual prevalence of at least one prescription for Z-drugs in the Greek population during 2019–2020 was approximately 0.9% (higher in females and older adults). The monthly number of prescriptions was relatively stable with a median number of 334.2 IQR [310.4; 351.6] prescriptions per 100,000 persons. Conclusions A considerable number of patients are prescribed Z-drugs in Greece, more often older adults, females and patients with psychiatric comorbidities. The prescribing physicians were in the majority (70%) internists and general practitioners, while psychiatrists (10.9%) and neurologists (6.1%) accounted for a smaller proportion. Due to the limitations inherent to medical claims databases, further research is warranted in order to elucidate the potential abuse and misuse of Z-drugs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T08:59:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-274af1f512c647e49570a3b919fab115 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T08:59:08Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-274af1f512c647e49570a3b919fab1152023-05-28T11:24:23ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2023-05-012311810.1186/s12888-023-04793-xPrescribing Z-drugs in Greece: an analysis of the national prescription database from 2018 to 2021Spyridon Siafis0Konstantinos N. Fountoulakis1Vasileios Fragkidis2Georgios Papazisis3Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich3rd Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiAbstract Background The Z-drugs are indicated for the short-treatment of insomnia, but they are associated with abuse, dependence and side-effects. There are only sparse data about Z-drug prescribing in Greece. Methods We analyzed data from the Greek prescription database, considering prescriptions for the available Z-drugs in Greece, i.e., zolpidem and zopiclone, during the period from 01.10.2018 to 01.10.2021 in order to examine the prevalence, monthly number and characteristics of Z-drug prescriptions in Greece. Results There were 1,229,842 prescriptions for Z-drugs (zolpidem: 89.7%) during the investigated period from 2018 to 2021, which corresponded to 156,554 patients (73.1% ≥ 65 years, 64.5% female). More than half of the patients (65.8%) had more than one prescription with a median number of 8, interquartile range IQR [3, 17], prescriptions during the three-year study period. Most patients (76.1%) were prescribed by medical specialties other than psychiatrists and neurologists, despite a considerable frequency of psychiatric comorbidities (53.7%). About half of patients with anxiety/depression were not prescribed anxiolytics or antidepressants, a practice more frequently observed among medical specialties other than psychiatrists and neurologists. The average annual prevalence of at least one prescription for Z-drugs in the Greek population during 2019–2020 was approximately 0.9% (higher in females and older adults). The monthly number of prescriptions was relatively stable with a median number of 334.2 IQR [310.4; 351.6] prescriptions per 100,000 persons. Conclusions A considerable number of patients are prescribed Z-drugs in Greece, more often older adults, females and patients with psychiatric comorbidities. The prescribing physicians were in the majority (70%) internists and general practitioners, while psychiatrists (10.9%) and neurologists (6.1%) accounted for a smaller proportion. Due to the limitations inherent to medical claims databases, further research is warranted in order to elucidate the potential abuse and misuse of Z-drugs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04793-xSleep disordersPharmacoepidemiologyZ-drugsZolpidemZopicloneGreece |
| spellingShingle | Spyridon Siafis Konstantinos N. Fountoulakis Vasileios Fragkidis Georgios Papazisis Prescribing Z-drugs in Greece: an analysis of the national prescription database from 2018 to 2021 BMC Psychiatry Sleep disorders Pharmacoepidemiology Z-drugs Zolpidem Zopiclone Greece |
| title | Prescribing Z-drugs in Greece: an analysis of the national prescription database from 2018 to 2021 |
| title_full | Prescribing Z-drugs in Greece: an analysis of the national prescription database from 2018 to 2021 |
| title_fullStr | Prescribing Z-drugs in Greece: an analysis of the national prescription database from 2018 to 2021 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prescribing Z-drugs in Greece: an analysis of the national prescription database from 2018 to 2021 |
| title_short | Prescribing Z-drugs in Greece: an analysis of the national prescription database from 2018 to 2021 |
| title_sort | prescribing z drugs in greece an analysis of the national prescription database from 2018 to 2021 |
| topic | Sleep disorders Pharmacoepidemiology Z-drugs Zolpidem Zopiclone Greece |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04793-x |
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