Utilisation patterns and costs of lipid-lowering drugs in Switzerland 2013–2019
OBJECTIVE: To analyse utilisation patterns of lipid-lowering drugs and the related costs in Switzerland between the years 2013 and 2019. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study using administrative claims data of persons aged ≥18 years enrolled with the health insurance company H...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW)
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Swiss Medical Weekly |
| Online Access: | https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/3060 |
| _version_ | 1797974894611267584 |
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| author | Daphne Reinau Nadine Schur Sibylle Twerenbold Eva Blozik Mathias Früh Andri Signorell Matthias Schwenkglenks Christoph R. Meier |
| author_facet | Daphne Reinau Nadine Schur Sibylle Twerenbold Eva Blozik Mathias Früh Andri Signorell Matthias Schwenkglenks Christoph R. Meier |
| author_sort | Daphne Reinau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
OBJECTIVE: To analyse utilisation patterns of lipid-lowering drugs and the related costs in Switzerland between the years 2013 and 2019.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study using administrative claims data of persons aged ≥18 years enrolled with the health insurance company Helsana. To enable statements at the Swiss population level, results were extrapolated according to age, sex and canton of residence.
RESULTS: The overall prevalence of patients taking lipid-lowering drugs rose from 8.9% (n = 736,174) in 2013 to 11.6% (n = 841,682) in 2019, but varied markedly across regions, with highest values in Ticino and lowest values in Zurich. More than every third individual aged ≥65 years was treated with a lipid-lowering drug in 2019. Statins were by far the most commonly used drugs (>90% of prescriptions), followed by ezetimibe, fibrates and PCSK9 inhibitors. We observed a trend towards the prescription of more potent statins (atorvastatin, rosuvastatin) in recent years. Total costs of lipid-lowering drugs increased from CHF 222 million in 2013 to CHF 230 million in 2019 (+3.5%), whereas annual per capita costs decreased from CHF 302 in 2013 to CHF 273 in 2019 (−9.4%).
CONCLUSION: The increasing use of lipid-lowering drugs reflects current therapeutic guidelines, but results in high costs for the healthcare system.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T04:26:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-515ebac10f0e475190d902a29f9155cf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-3997 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T04:26:56Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | SMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Swiss Medical Weekly |
| spelling | doaj.art-515ebac10f0e475190d902a29f9155cf2022-12-29T16:01:20ZengSMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW)Swiss Medical Weekly1424-39972021-09-01151353610.4414/SMW.2021.w30018Utilisation patterns and costs of lipid-lowering drugs in Switzerland 2013–2019Daphne Reinau Nadine SchurSibylle Twerenbold Eva Blozik Mathias FrühAndri SignorellMatthias Schwenkglenks Christoph R. Meier OBJECTIVE: To analyse utilisation patterns of lipid-lowering drugs and the related costs in Switzerland between the years 2013 and 2019. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study using administrative claims data of persons aged ≥18 years enrolled with the health insurance company Helsana. To enable statements at the Swiss population level, results were extrapolated according to age, sex and canton of residence. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of patients taking lipid-lowering drugs rose from 8.9% (n = 736,174) in 2013 to 11.6% (n = 841,682) in 2019, but varied markedly across regions, with highest values in Ticino and lowest values in Zurich. More than every third individual aged ≥65 years was treated with a lipid-lowering drug in 2019. Statins were by far the most commonly used drugs (>90% of prescriptions), followed by ezetimibe, fibrates and PCSK9 inhibitors. We observed a trend towards the prescription of more potent statins (atorvastatin, rosuvastatin) in recent years. Total costs of lipid-lowering drugs increased from CHF 222 million in 2013 to CHF 230 million in 2019 (+3.5%), whereas annual per capita costs decreased from CHF 302 in 2013 to CHF 273 in 2019 (−9.4%). CONCLUSION: The increasing use of lipid-lowering drugs reflects current therapeutic guidelines, but results in high costs for the healthcare system. https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/3060 |
| spellingShingle | Daphne Reinau Nadine Schur Sibylle Twerenbold Eva Blozik Mathias Früh Andri Signorell Matthias Schwenkglenks Christoph R. Meier Utilisation patterns and costs of lipid-lowering drugs in Switzerland 2013–2019 Swiss Medical Weekly |
| title | Utilisation patterns and costs of lipid-lowering drugs in Switzerland 2013–2019 |
| title_full | Utilisation patterns and costs of lipid-lowering drugs in Switzerland 2013–2019 |
| title_fullStr | Utilisation patterns and costs of lipid-lowering drugs in Switzerland 2013–2019 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Utilisation patterns and costs of lipid-lowering drugs in Switzerland 2013–2019 |
| title_short | Utilisation patterns and costs of lipid-lowering drugs in Switzerland 2013–2019 |
| title_sort | utilisation patterns and costs of lipid lowering drugs in switzerland 2013 2019 |
| url | https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/3060 |
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