Summary
Comparative wholesale statistics from the five Nordic countries show an increase of 15–42% in the total consumption of analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs (including antirheumatics) in the period 1978–1988. Denmark had the highest total consumption (112 DDD/1000 inhab/day in 1988) and Norway had the lowest (61 DDD/1000 inhab/day). Iceland and Finland, with the highest increases in total consumption (45% and 35%), overtook Norway in the early to mid 1980's. Division of total consumption into subgroups showed that Denmark had the highest consumption of analgesics (90 DDDs) and that Finland and Iceland had the lowest figure. The latter countries, however, had the highest consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), 35 and 30 DDDs, respectively, in 1988. The increase in NSAID consumption was 57% in Finland and 54% in Iceland, while Denmark had only an 18% increase. The new NSAIDs introduced in the 1970's appear to have increased the overall consumption of pain relievers in the Nordic countries, especially in Finland and Iceland.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baum C, Kennedy D, Knapp D, Juergens J, Faich G (1988) Prescription drug use in 1984 and changes over time. Med Care 26: 105–114
Leufkens H, Ameling C, Hekster Y, Bakker A (1990) Utilization pattern of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in an open Dutch population. Pharm Weekbl (Sci) edition 12: 97–103
Freer C (1980) Self Care: A health diary study. Med Care XVIII: 853–861
Levin L, Beske F, Fry J (1988) Self-Medication in Europe. World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen
Bjelle A, Mjorndal T (1984) Drug prescription patterns for rheumatic disorders in Sweden. J Rheumatol 11: 493–499
Freeborn S, Gibson P, Clinch D (1983) Prescribing patterns for NSAIDs in a typical urban area. Br J Pharm Pract 5: 20–25
Gustafsson L, Boethius G (1982) Utilization of analgesics from 1970 to 1978. Acta Med Scand 211: 419–425
Pommer W, Glaeske G, Molzahn M (1986) The analgesic problem in the Federal Republic of Germany: analgesic consumption frequency and analgesic nephropathy and regional differences. Clin Nephrol 26: 273–278
Nordisk lakemedelsstatistik 1978–1980 Del 1 (1982) NLN Publikation nr 9, Nordic Council on Medicines, Uppsala, Sweden
Nordisk lakemedelsstatistik 1981–1983 Del 1 (1986) NLN Publikation nr 14, Nordic Council on Medicines, Almqvist and Wiksell, Uppsala
Nordic Statistics on Medicines 1984–1986 (1988) NLN Publication no 21. Nordic Council on Medicines. Almqvist and Wiksell, Uppsala
Notkun Lyfja 1984–1988 (1989) Rig heilbrigdis-og tryggingamalaradisneytisins 2
Laegemiddelforbruget i Danmark 1988 (1989) Dansk Laegemiddelstatistik Herlev, Denmark
Legemiddelforbruket i Norge 1984–1988 (1989) Norsk Medisinal Depot, NMD-Oslo
Finnish Statistics on Medicines 1988 (1989) The Finnish Committee on Drug Information and Statistics. Helsinki
Svensk lakemedelsstatistik 1988 (1989) Apoteksbolaget, Stockholm
Nordisk lakemedelsstatistik 1978–1980 Del II (1982) NLN Publikation nr 9. Nordic Council on Medicines, Uppsala
Bjelle A, Allander E, Mgi M (1980) Rheumatic disorders in the Swedish population and Health Care System. Rheumatol 7: 877–885
Heliovaara M, Sievers K, Impivaara O et al. (1989) Descriptive epidemiology and public health aspects of low back pain. Ann Med 21: 327–333
Rafnsson V, Steingrimsdottir OA, Olafsson MH, Sveinsdottir T (1989) Musculoskeletal symptoms in the Icelandic population (in Swedish with an English summary). Nord Med 104: 104–107
Rasmussen NK, Groth MV, Bredkjaer SR, Madsen M, Kamper-Jorgensen F (eds) (1988) Sundhed & sygelighed i Danmark 1987. En rapport fra DIKEs undersogelse. (In Danish). Kobenhavn: Dansk Institut for Klinisk Epidemiologi
Sievers K, Klaukka T (1991) Back pain and arthrosis in Finland-How many patients by the year 2000? Acta Orthop Skand 62: [Suppl 241] 3–5
Yearbook of Nordic Statistics 1989/90 (1990) Nord 1990: 5. Norstedts Tryckeri, Stockholm
Vainio A (1990) Pain management in cancer patients. Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki (Thesis)
Fox J, Taggart M, Harron D (1988) Prescribing of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in Northern Ireland (1978–1986). Int Pharm J 2: 171–174
Baum C, Kennedy D, Forbes M (1985) Utilization of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Arthr Rheum 28: 686–692
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ahonen, R., Enlund, H., Klaukka, T. et al. Consumption of analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs in the nordic countries between 1978–1988. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 41, 37–42 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00280103
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00280103