USE OF DATABASES IN PHARMACOVIGILANCE - 2 EXAMPLES

The association between asthma exacerbations and use of antiasthmatics has been studied with a drug dispensing database. Exacerbations were identified through use of oral corticosteroids and the risk was determ ined for each medication. Use of fenoterol and oral xanthines increase s the frequency of exacerbations, but a channelling phenomenon is not excluded. This method could be used in the study of treatment combinat ions or new treatments, facilitating the monitoring of asthmatic popul ations. A second study collects ambulatory drug use data (POM and OTC drugs) of elderly patients. These data are analysed for the distributi on of several variables, such as concomitant use of several medication s of the same therapeutic class. As an example, about 15 per cent of N SAIDs users also use aspirin, exposing themselves to increased risk fo r gastrointestinal effects. These studies illustrate the use of drug d ispensing databases in monitoring populations at risk and assessing tr eatment quality.