TY - JOUR

T1 - Sedative drug-use in Denmark, 2000 to 2019

T2 - a nationwide drug utilization study

AU - Rosenqvist, Thomas Wolff

AU - Osler, Merete

AU - Wium-Andersen, Marie Kim

AU - Wium-Andersen, Ida Kim

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Aim: To describe trends in and characteristics of sedative drug use from 2000 through 2019 in relation to the introduction of central regulations and new drugs. Methods: In this descriptive study, we used individual prescription data on the entire Danish population from the Danish National Prescription Registry to calculate yearly incidence and prevalence of use of benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine-related drugs (Z-drugs), melatonin, olanzapine, low-dose quetiapine, mianserin/mirtazapine, pregabalin, and promethazine from 2000 through 2019. From the Danish National Patient Registry, we obtained data on drug users’ psychiatric and somatic comorbidity. Results: The use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs declined gradually from 2000 through 2019, whereas the newer alternatives, melatonin, low-dose quetiapine, pregabalin and promethazine, increased in use, while the use of olanzapine and mianserin/mirtazapine was relatively stable. This development was seen in both men and women and across all age groups except for hypnotic benzodiazepines which showed a steep increase in the oldest age group from 2010. For all sedative drugs depression, anxiety, alcohol and misuse disorder, pain and cancer were the most prevalent comorbidities. During our study period, the number of individuals without any of the selected diagnoses increased. Conclusion: In Denmark different central regulations have influenced prescription practice toward more restrictive use of Z-drugs and benzodiazepines, except for hypnotic benzodiazepine prescriptions increased after the introduction of special palliative care. An increase in use of newer sedative drugs, however, indicates that the regulations do not remove the need for sedative drugs in the population.

AB - Aim: To describe trends in and characteristics of sedative drug use from 2000 through 2019 in relation to the introduction of central regulations and new drugs. Methods: In this descriptive study, we used individual prescription data on the entire Danish population from the Danish National Prescription Registry to calculate yearly incidence and prevalence of use of benzodiazepines, benzodiazepine-related drugs (Z-drugs), melatonin, olanzapine, low-dose quetiapine, mianserin/mirtazapine, pregabalin, and promethazine from 2000 through 2019. From the Danish National Patient Registry, we obtained data on drug users’ psychiatric and somatic comorbidity. Results: The use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs declined gradually from 2000 through 2019, whereas the newer alternatives, melatonin, low-dose quetiapine, pregabalin and promethazine, increased in use, while the use of olanzapine and mianserin/mirtazapine was relatively stable. This development was seen in both men and women and across all age groups except for hypnotic benzodiazepines which showed a steep increase in the oldest age group from 2010. For all sedative drugs depression, anxiety, alcohol and misuse disorder, pain and cancer were the most prevalent comorbidities. During our study period, the number of individuals without any of the selected diagnoses increased. Conclusion: In Denmark different central regulations have influenced prescription practice toward more restrictive use of Z-drugs and benzodiazepines, except for hypnotic benzodiazepine prescriptions increased after the introduction of special palliative care. An increase in use of newer sedative drugs, however, indicates that the regulations do not remove the need for sedative drugs in the population.

KW - Comorbidity

KW - Health regulations

KW - Sedative drugs

KW - Trends

U2 - 10.1007/s00127-022-02409-5

DO - 10.1007/s00127-022-02409-5

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36562827

AN - SCOPUS:85144739290

VL - 58

SP - 1493

EP - 1502

JO - Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

JF - Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

SN - 0933-7954

ER -