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The use of medication against attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Denmark: a drug use study from a national perspective

  • Pharmacoepidemiology and Prescription
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to characterize the utilization of medication against attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Denmark between 1995 and 2011 from a national perspective, by using population-based prescription data.

Methods

National data on drug use in Denmark between 1 January 1995 and 30 September 2011 were extracted from the Registry of Medicinal Product Statistics (RMPS). Drug utilization was characterized using descriptive statistics.

Results

A total of 1,085,090 prescriptions issued to 54,020 persons were identified. The incidence rate was stable in the last 3 years of the study period, and a slightly decreasing incidence rate and a stabilizing prevalence were observed towards the end of this period. The therapeutic intensity was 6.7 defined daily dose/person/day, with large regional differences that ranged from 64 to 145 % of the national average. Methylphenidate accounted for 92.6 % of DDDs used. The general practitioner (GP) rarely initiated treatment, although treatment initiation based on the GP’s advice increased with older age of the patient. Maintenance treatment was found to be distributed roughly equally between prescriber types. For methylphenidate, 1 % of users accounted for 6.1 % of the drug volume and 50 % of users accounted for 84.4 %. The data therefore do not suggest a high proportion of heavy users.

Conclusion

The findings of this analysis are mostly reassuring, with the data indicating a seemingly stagnant incidence and prevalence rate and lacking evidence of heavy users. However, the prescriber profile for incident users and the large regional variances raise concerns. It is therefore vital that the use of ADHD drugs is closely monitored.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Steffen Thirstrup for comments on the study protocol and Tora Hammer and Lisbeth Kortegaard for valuable comments on the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

Jesper Hallas has organized courses for the Danish Association of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and has received grants for research from Nycomed, Pfizer, Menarini, MSD, and ALKABELLO. The remaining authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Pharmacology, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Winsløwparken 19, 5000, Odense C, Denmark

    Anton Pottegård & Jesper Hallas

  2. Institute for Rational Pharmacotherapy, Danish Medicines Agency, Axel Heides Gade 1, 2300, København S, Denmark

    Anton Pottegård, Dorte Glintborg & Søren Ilsøe Moreno

  3. Medicines Control Division, Statistics and Analysis, Danish Medicines Agency, Axel Heides Gade 1, 2300, København S, Denmark

    Bine Kjøller Bjerregaard

  4. Clinical Pharmacology, University of Southern Denmark, JB Winsløwsvej 19, 2, 5000, Odense C, Denmark

    Anton Pottegård

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  1. Anton Pottegård
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Correspondence to Anton Pottegård.

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Pottegård, A., Bjerregaard, B.K., Glintborg, D. et al. The use of medication against attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Denmark: a drug use study from a national perspective. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 68, 1443–1450 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-012-1265-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-012-1265-y

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