Consumption of antidepressants in Chile from 1992 to 2004 / Consumo de antidepresivos en Chile desde 1992 hasta 2004

Abstract

Background: Data from the Ministry of Health show that in Chile in 2004, 17% of the population had some form of depression and mood disorders are the tenth cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALY) loss. Aim: To determine comsumption of antidepressants (ADs) in Chile from 1992 to 2004. Material and methods: National sales data were obtained from the company IMS Health Chile and converted into defined daily doses (DDDs) per 1,000 inhabitants per day. Available ADs were classified in four pharmacological groups (i.e., serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, SNRIs: selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs; tricyclic antidepressants, TCAs; and others). Total economic burden of ADs utilization and cost per DDDs were also calculated. Trends over time were analyzed using Pearson-R2. Results: Total ADs consumption in Chile measured by DDDs per 1,000 inhabitants per day (DHD) increased (y=0.901x+1.9129; R2 = 0.9296; p < 0.001) from 2.5 in 1992 to 11.7 in 2004 (total growth of 470.2%). SSRIs were the drug class with higher consumption, and fluoxetine the most commonly consumed antidepressant. SSRIs were the drugs that dominated the market representing 79% of the total drug consumption throughout the years. Total economic burden of ADs in Chile (total cost of DDDs consumed) increased from US$65.4 million in 2001 to US$74.6 million in 2004 (14% increase) Average cost per DDD of all AD increased linearly, however not significantly from US$ 0.94 in 2001 to US$ 1.04 in 2004 (y = 0.0362x+0.8784; R2 = 0.7382; p=0.262). Conclusions: DDDs per 1,000 inhabitants per day increased linearly over 470% from 1992-2004. SSRIs were the most commonly consumed drugs in Chile. Future research should evaluate the cost-effectiveness of antidepressants in Chile, comparing the results with drug utilization, and determining if unnecessary expenditures have been paid out.