The defined daily dose system (DDD) for drug utilization review

Area of Science:

• Pharmacoeconomics
• Drug Utilization Research

Background:

• Traditional drug utilization studies in North America focus on individual prescribing and patient use.
• Scandinavian countries developed a macroscopic approach to assess total drug consumption within defined regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Defined Daily Dose (DDD) system for drug utilization review.
• To present the DDD system as a tool for pharmacy and therapeutics committees.
• To evaluate the potential benefits of the DDD system for North American hospitals.

Main Methods:

• The Defined Daily Dose (DDD) system was developed by the Nordic Council on Medicines.
• It utilizes the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) diagnostic code system.
• Drug sales are divided by an agreed-upon average daily dose to calculate DDDs.

Main Results:

• The DDD system provides a standardized unit of measure for comparative drug utilization studies.
• It allows for a macroscopic focus on drug consumption at regional or national levels.
• Examples of the DDD system's format, benefits, and limitations are provided.

Conclusions:

• The DDD system is a valuable tool for drug utilization and regimen review.
• Hospital pharmacists can use the DDD system to evaluate drug consumption patterns.
• The system facilitates comparative analysis of drug use across different geographical areas.