Who prescribes quetiapine in Denmark?

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Quetiapine, a second-generation antipsychotic, is widely used off-label for anxiolytic and hypnotic effects.
• Despite its efficacy, quetiapine is linked to adverse side effects, necessitating careful monitoring of its utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the utilization patterns of quetiapine in Denmark from 2001 to 2020.
• To determine the proportion of quetiapine prescriptions issued by different prescriber types, including general practitioners (GPs) and specialists.
• To examine how quetiapine prescription patterns vary across different age groups.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Danish Medicinal Product Statistics and a 20% random sample of prescription fills (2001-2020).
• Described quetiapine utilization and the proportion of prescriptions from various prescriber types (GP, private specialist, hospital physician, other).
• Analyzed prescription data for first-time and subsequent prescriptions, stratified by age group.

Main Results:

• In 2020, 92% of quetiapine was dispensed outside hospitals, with an average daily dose of 100 mg/user/day.
• GPs issued 53% of first-time and 75% of subsequent quetiapine prescriptions in 2020.
• The proportion of GP-issued quetiapine prescriptions ranged from 14% (0-17 years) to 93% (≥80 years).

Conclusions:

• General practitioners play a significant role in quetiapine prescribing, especially for older adults.
• Future initiatives promoting rational quetiapine use should primarily target general practitioners, particularly for adult populations.
• Understanding prescriber patterns is crucial for optimizing the use of off-label medications like quetiapine.