PRESCRIPTIONS FOR MESALAZINE AND SULFASALAZINE - A PREVALENCE ESTIMATE OF PATIENTS TREATED FOR INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE IN ROME

Background: Sulphasalazine and 5-amino salicyclic acid drugs are speci fically indicated for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Aim : To use drug consumption by a given population as a marker to estimat e the number of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: Pre scriptions for sulphasalazine and mesalazine were identified for the 1 33 000 inhabitants of a local health unit in Rome, Other prescriptions received by the patients, who were users of sulphasalazine or mesalaz ine, were also studied. Results: 99 465 patients received at least one prescription for any drug in 1991. Three hundred and seventy-six pati ents were prescribed sulphasalazine and/or mesalazine, an average of 3 .8 prescriptions per patient, These patients were exposed more frequen tly than the general population to other drugs often used in inflammat ory bowel disease treatment, for example, corticosteroids, anti-diarrh oeal drugs and intestinal anti-infectives. We identified that 258 of 1 00000 inhabitants were prescribed either sulphasalazine or mesalazine; 127 of 100000 inhabitants received full-dose treatment for at least 3 0 days, and 42.8 of 100000 inhabitants received prescriptions of eithe r drug, also associated with systemic corticosteroids, Conclusion: The consumption of drugs used specifically for inflammatory bowel disease may act as a marker for the prevalence of the condition in a communit y.