ArticleBMJ open2013
Profile, cost and pattern of prescriptions for polymedicated patients in Catalonia, Spain.
Article in BMJ open, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Prevalence and factors associated with polypharmacy: a systematic review and Meta-analysis.BMC geriatrics · 2022Pooled it
- Inappropriate Use of Medication by Elderly, Polymedicated, or Multipathological Patients with Chronic Diseases.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2018Pooled it
- Evaluation of electronic prescription implementation in polymedicated users of Catalonia, Spain: a population-based longitudinal study.BMJ open · 2014Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesPolypharmacy is one of the main management issues in public health policies because of its financial impact and the increasing number of people involved. The polymedicated population according to their demographic and therapeutic profile and the cost for the public healthcare system were characterised.
designCross-sectional study.
settingPrimary healthcare in Barcelona Health Region, Catalonia, Spain (5 105 551 inhabitants registered).
participantsAll insured polymedicated patients. Polymedicated patients were those with a consumption of ≥16 drugs/month. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: The study variables were related to age, gender and medication intake obtained from the 2008 census and records of prescriptions dispensed in pharmacies and charged to the public health system.
resultsThere were 36 880 polymedicated patients (women: 64.2%; average age: 74.5±10.9 years). The total number of prescriptions billed in 2008 was 2 266 830 (2 272 920 total package units). The most polymedicated group (up to 40% of the total prescriptions) was patients between 75 and 84 years old. The average number of prescriptions billed monthly per patient was 32±2, with an average cost of €452.7±27.5. The total cost of those prescriptions corresponded to 2% of the drug expenditure in Catalonia. The groups N, C, A, R and M represented 71.4% of the total number of drug package units dispensed to polymedicated patients. Great variability was found between the medication profiles of men and women, and between age groups; greater discrepancies were found in paediatric patients (5-14 years) and the elderly (≥65 years).
conclusionsThis study provides essential information to take steps towards rational drug use and a structured approach in the polymedicated population in primary healthcare.
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