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Acquisition cost of dispensed drugs in individuals with multiple medications--A register-based study in Sweden

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  • Hovstadius, Bo
  • Åstrand, Bengt
  • Persson, Ulf
  • Petersson, Göran

Abstract

Objectives To analyse the acquisition cost of dispensed prescription drugs for individuals with multiple medications in a national population.Methods We collected and analysed individual based data regarding the acquisition cost of dispensed prescription drugs for all individuals with five or more dispensed drugs (DPÂ >=Â 5) in Sweden 2006 (2.2 million).Results Individuals with DPÂ >=Â 5 (24.5% of the population) accounted for 78.8% of the total acquisition cost, and individuals with DPÂ >=Â 10 (8.6% of the population) and DPÂ >=Â 15 (3.0% of the population) accounted for 46.3% and 23.2%, respectively. The average acquisition cost per defined daily doses (DDD) generally decreased with increasing age. The highest average cost per DDD was observed for individuals with DPÂ >=Â 10. The acquisition cost for women with DPÂ >=Â 5 represented 56.0% of the total acquisition cost. Men with DPÂ >=Â 5 represented 44.0% of the total acquisition cost.Conclusions In an entire national population, individuals with multiple medication accounted for four fifths of the total acquisition cost of dispensed drugs. Actions to reduce the number of prescription drugs for the group of patients with a number of different drugs may also result in a substantial reduction of the total acquisition cost.

Suggested Citation

  • Hovstadius, Bo & Åstrand, Bengt & Persson, Ulf & Petersson, Göran, 2011. "Acquisition cost of dispensed drugs in individuals with multiple medications--A register-based study in Sweden," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(2), pages 153-161, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:101:y:2011:i:2:p:153-161
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Henriksson, Freddie & Hjortsberg, Catharina & Rehnberg, Clas, 1999. "Pharmaceutical expenditure in Sweden," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(2), pages 125-144, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Leena Saastamoinen & Jouko Verho, 2013. "Drug expenditure of high-cost patients and their characteristics in Finland," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 14(3), pages 495-502, June.
    2. Hovstadius, Bo & Petersson, Göran, 2013. "The impact of increasing polypharmacy on prescribed drug expenditure—A register-based study in Sweden 2005–2009," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(2), pages 166-174.

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