Women receive significantly more medicines

Arzneimittelreport 2012: Increased risk of drug dependence in women

06/26/2012

The medicine report 2012 of the health insurance Barmer GEK shows significant gender-specific maladministration in the prescription of drugs. So received according to statement in today's report, „Women about two to three times more psychotropic drugs than men.“ This is also associated with a significant increased risk of drug addiction.

Such gender differences are „medically hardly justified, contradict the guidelines and carry a high dependency risk“, the statement of the Barmer GEK in their press release to the medicament report 2012. The women get about 22 per cent more medicines prescribed than men, triggers with the experts concern however also clear criticism. Here, scientific studies are needed to better understand the specific needs of women and men and to achieve adequate medication in the future.

Women receive two to three times more antidepressants and hypnotics
The 2012 drug report is based on the regulations of approximately nine million insured persons of the largest German health insurance. On behalf of Barmer GEK, Professor Dr. Ing. Gerd Glaeske from the Center for Social Policy of the University of Bremen prepared the report and thereby uncovered the abuses in the gender-specific prescribing practice. According to the report, the physicians obviously make big differences between female and male patients. Conspicuous deviations can be observed particularly in the area of ​​antidepressants and hypnotics, of which women are prescribed two to three times more than men. According to the report, the risk of drug dependency is particularly high with these funds. Around 1.2 million people in Germany are already dependent on appropriate drugs, two-thirds of them are older women, the study authors report.

20 percent more drug prescriptions in women
According to 2012 Drug Revenue figures, an average of 937 prescriptions in 2011 were attributed to 100 women, while men were only 763 prescriptions per 100 insured. This meant that women were prescribed 22.3 percent more drugs than men. For example, according to study authors, women are more likely to receive psychotropic drugs because they are more willing to talk about their mental health problems and seek medical help than men. However, this increases the risk, already at „Abnormalities in everyday life "to be supplied with medicines, write Prof. Glaeske and colleagues on the basis of the results „be concluded that the drug addiction Female is ", so the over-top statement in the current drug report.

For women potentially dangerous drugs on a list
As a consequence of the disproportionately high drug prescriptions in women, Prof. dr. Glaeske not only a more intensive care research, but also a negative list - similar to the Priscus list for older patients - are listed on the all risky for women drugs. „We need a negative list that reliably informs physicians about substances that can cause dangerous effects in women“, stressed the expert. However, the current drug report also clarify that „the prescription quantities are no longer generally higher for women“ as in men, according to the Barmer GEK. Accordingly, older men are now well ahead in daily doses. Just ten years ago, this ratio was clearly at the expense of women, with 441 daily doses for women and 295 for men „Since 2004, non-prescription medicines such as venules or herbal remedies for menstrual disorders may no longer be prescribed“, Glaeske explained the changes in prescriptions. I also have „the decline in prescribed hormone supplements against menopausal symptoms“ led to a decline in prescriptions since earlier „30 to 40 percent of over 45-year-old women such preparations permanently“ received, so Prof. Dr. med. Glaeske on.

Criticism of antibiotic prescriptions of dentists
In addition to the gender-specific differences, the 2012 Medical Report also addresses other shortcomings in prescription practice. For example, the authors criticized the preferred by dentists prescribing the antibiotic clindamycin, since „recommend the guidelines amoxicillin as a first-line drug and clindamycin is more than twice as expensive.“ More than half of all dentists' antibiotic prescriptions are for clindamycin, according to the drug report. Also, the must „Dental Painkiller Regulation are partially questioned“, Dentists prefer analgesics that combine ASA, paracetamol, codeine and caffeine. Glaeske „Monopreparations like ibuprofen are undoubtedly preferable“ are. The study author further criticized the „drug-lowering lipid-lowering therapy“, which should prevent a heart attack or coronary heart disease. The effect of the therapy was not conclusively clarified and „Too many people are being treated with cholesterol-lowering drugs, "emphasized Prof. Dr. Glaeske.

Questionable prescription practice for painkillers
The practice of prescribing painkillers, according to the 2012 Pharmaceutical Report, also raises some questions. Around 120 million euros of pharmaceutical expenditures of Barmer GEK (three percent) are attributable to strong opioids, with the fentanyl regulations accounting for the bulk at 41 percent. The massive „Prescription of fentanyl-containing pain patches in primary care - contrary to guidelines recommending strong analgesics such as morphine or oxycodone at baseline and fentanyl patches only when patients no longer respond“, According to the experts, there are some risks. „Due to the offset effect and an existing after removal of the patch drug concentration is the risk of overdose given and the use in patients who had previously had no experience with opioids, critical“, said the Barmer GEK. In addition, fall „the frequent prescription of new strong and expensive pain killers like Targin and Palexia, though the „Studies for these funds so far shows no evidence“, so the message of the health insurance to the results of the drug report.

Four billion euros in pharmaceutical expenses at Barmer GEK
According to the 2012 Drug Report, Barmer GEK spent around 3.9 billion euros on medicines in 2011, plus another 400 million euros on prescriptions and imported medicines. At around 32 percent of the expenditure, a significant share was accounted for „new, expensive special preparations for rheumatism, multiple sclerosis or cancer“, Although these accounted for just under three percent of the regulations as a whole, the Barmer GEK reports. Nonetheless, the development of pharmaceutical expenses overall is gratifying, explained the deputy CEO of Barmer GEK. Rolf Ulrich Schlenker. By the drug market reorganization law (AMNOG) became „slowed spending momentum in the pharmaceuticals market“ and the benefit assessment of new drugs help „the wheat chaff“ to separate, stressed Schlenker. Under no circumstances, therefore, should the AMNOG be softened in the opinion of the Deputy Chairman of Barmer GEK. (Fp)

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Image: Sokaeiko