Abstract

MACHADO-ALBA, Jorge E; GARCIA, Santiago; CALVO-TORRES, L. Felipe  and  BANOL-GIRALDO, Alejandra M. Prescribing patterns of acetylsalicylic acid. Rev. Colomb. Cardiol. [online]. 2015, vol.22, n.3, pp.127-135. ISSN 0120-5633.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rccar.2015.03.008.

Objective: Determine the prescribing patterns of acetylsalicylic acid, costs and variables associated with its use in a population of patients affiliated to the Colombian Health System in 2014. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Using a database of approximately 3.5 million patients beneficiaries of the Colombian Health System in 88 cities; patients who were dispensed with acetylsalicylic acid continuously since 1st of January to 30th of March 2014 were selected. Sociodemographic, co-medication and pharmacologic variables were analyzed. Results: A total of 69,807 patients were receiving aspirin during the assessment period with a mean age of 66.7 ± 12.1 years; 57.1% were male; 99.8% received some co-medication: 94.8% received antihypertensive agents; 22.4% were receiving antihypertensive, antidiabetic and lipid-lowering drugs concomitantly; 95.4% were receiving monotherapy with aspirin, and 4.6% received combination therapy with 2 or more antiplatelet agents. Multivariate analysis found that it was more likely to receive combination therapy in Bogota, Barranquilla and Cartagena. The usual dose was 100 mg and defined daily dose/1,000 inhabitants/day was 19.9. Conclusions: The prescription of acetylsalicylic acid in Colombia was made at recommended doses by the WHO for the prevention of cardiovascular risk; and their frequency of use was lower when compared with other populations.

Keywords : Pharmacoepidemiology; Acetylsalicylic acid; Platelet aggregation inhibitors; Risk factors; Health economic evaluation.

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