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Biomédica
versión impresa ISSN 0120-4157versión On-line ISSN 2590-7379
Resumen
VALLADALES-RESTREPO, Luis Fernando et al. Study of the indications for macrolide prescriptions in a Colombian population. Biomed. [online]. 2022, vol.42, n.2, pp.302-314. Epub 01-Jun-2022. ISSN 0120-4157. https://doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.6116.
Introduction:
The inappropriate use of antibiotics is associated with a greater risk for antimicrobial resistance, high health care costs, adverse events, and worse clinical outcomes.
Objective:
To determine the prescription patterns and approved and nonapproved indications for macrolides in a group of patients from Colombia.
Materials and methods:
This was a cross-sectional study on the indications for the use of macrolides in outpatients registered in a drug-dispensing database of approximately 8.5 million people affiliated with the Colombian health system. Sociodemographic, pharmacological, and clinical variables were considered.
Results:
A total of 9.344 patients had received a macrolide prescription; their median age was 40.1 years (interquartile range: 27.1-53.3 years) and 58.3% were women. The most commonly prescribed macrolide was azithromycin (38.8%) most frequently for Helicobacter pylori infection (15.9%) and pneumonia treatment (15.8%).
A total of 31.3% of the prescriptions were used for unapproved indications: common cold (7.8%), COVID-19 (4.0%), and acute bronchitis (3.5%). Residence in the Caribbean region (OR=1.17; 95%CI 1.05-1.31), dental prescriptions (OR=2.75; 95%CI 1.91-3.96), presence of chronic respiratory comorbidities (OR=1.30; 95%CI 1.08-1.56), and prescription of erythromycin (OR=3.66; 95%CI 3.24-4.14) or azithromycin (OR=2.15; 95%CI 1,92-2.41) were associated with a higher probability of macrolide use for unapproved indications while being 18-64 years old (OR=0.81; 95%CI 0.71-0.93) or 65 years or older (OR=0.77; 95%CI 0.63-0.94) and residing in Bogotá-Cundinamarca (OR=0.74; 95%CI 0.65-0.85) were associated with reduced risk.
Conclusions:
Most patients received macrolides for respiratory tract infections; erythromycin and azithromycin were used for unapproved indications in people under 18 years of age and those with chronic respiratory diseases.
Palabras clave : Macrolides; azithromycin; pneumonia; inappropriate prescribing; coronavirus infections; pharmacoepidemiology; Colombia.