Economic, cultural, and social inequalities in potentially inappropriate medication: A nationwide survey- and register-based study in Denmark

Background: Potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) is associated with negative health outcomes and can serve as an indicator of treatment quality. Previous studies have identified social inequality in treatment but often relied on narrow understandings of social position or failed to account for mediation by differential disease risk among social groups. Understanding how social position influences PIM exposure is crucial for improving the targeting of treatment quality and addressing health disparities. This study investigates the association between social position and PIM, considering the mediation effect of long-term conditions. Methods and findings: This cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2017 Danish National Health Survey, including 177,495 individuals aged 18 or older. Data were linked to national registers on individual-level. Conclusions: The findings highlight significant social inequalities in PIM exposure, driven by both economic, cultural, and social capital despite a universal healthcare system. Understanding the social determinants of PIM can inform policies to reduce inappropriate medication use and improve healthcare quality and equity. Amanda Paust and colleagues leverage data from the 2017 Danish National Health Survey and linked to national registers to explore how economic, cultural, and social inequalities contribute to inappropriate medication prescribing.Why was this study done?: What did the researchers do and find?: What do these findings mean?: