USE OF SUMATRIPTAN IN DENMARK IN 1994-5 - AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC ANALYSIS OF NATIONWIDE PRESCRIPTION DATA

Aims We describe the use of medication with symptomatic relief of migr aine as specific indication by analysing prescription data from the en tire Danish population in 1994 and 1995. Methods The data for sumatrip tan were analysed at the level of the individual user. We used aggrega ted data for ergotamine drugs. Results Sumatriptan constituted 46% of the total amount of defined daily doses (DDD) sold and 94% of the tota l pharmacy retail price expenses in the drug-group studied. In total, 43 389 users of sumatriptan were identified who presented 340 148 pres criptions, corresponding to 2.2 million DDD of sumatriptan. The quarte rly consumption increased by 50% during the study period. Tablets acco unted for 92% of consumption. The 1 year period prevalence of use of s umatriptan among persons 16 years and older was 7.8 per 1000 in 1995 w ith a female to male prevalence ratio of 3.8:1. Use was most common in the age interval 35-54 years. Regional differences in use, which were not large, were positively correlated to the degree of urbanization. The incidence of use of sumatriptan was estimated at 3.6 per 1000 pers on-years. The intensity of use of sumatriptan varied greatly with 1.1% of patients (n = 507) using 60 DDD or more within 30 days at some tim e during the observation period. Long-term high use of tablets was com mon in this group. Conclusions We conclude that sumatriptan had a cons iderable impact on the treatment of migraine with prescription drugs i n Denmark. The underlying reasons for high use of the drug in a smalle r fraction of the patients deserve further study.