Time trend analysis and variations in statins prescribing in the Czech Republic

The aim of the study was to describe the effect of regulatory changes on the development of statins prescribing in individual districts of the Czech Republic. Retrospective analysis of reimbursed medical prescriptions for statins was based on the data from the General Health Care Insurance Company. The situation was assessed in 75 districts starting from the last quarter of 2001 and repeatedly every quarter up to the last quarter of the 2003. Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification system (ATC) and Defined Daily Dose (DDD) as a unit of measurement were used. In the followed up time period the average consumption of statins in DDDs increased 2.12 times. Nearly tenfold variation across the regions in the number of DDDs per 1000 insured persons per day was found ranking from 4.53 to 46.48 in the last quarter of 2001, while corresponding values in 2003 were 6.10 and 37.55. The amount of DDDs was correlated with numbers of practising internist, general practitioners in individual districts in the same time periods. In the observed period opposite trend of the correlation coefficients was noted for internists and GPs. While the correlation of DDD/1000 persons/day to the number of internists decreased over time, the relation to the number of GPs gradually increased. Almost linear trend with gradual increase of the correlation coefficients between DDD/1000 persons/day and the number of insured persons was noted (T(t) = 0.659 + 0.009.t). Time trend analysis of statins utilization development could help to follow the effect of regulatory changes on its prescribing.