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Economic assessment of actual prescription of drugs for treatment of atopic dermatitis: Differences between dermatology and pediatrics in large‐scale receipt data
Author(s) -
Komura Yoko,
Kogure Takamichi,
Kawahara Kazuo,
Yokozeki Hiroo
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1346-8138
pISSN - 0385-2407
DOI - 10.1111/1346-8138.14133
Subject(s) - medicine , atopic dermatitis , medical prescription , tacrolimus , dermatology , pharmacy , pediatrics , family medicine , pharmacology , transplantation
Using large‐scale receipt data, we analyzed the differences in the prescription of drugs and their costs between dermatology and pediatrics in the treatment of atopic dermatitis ( AD ) in children. Between August 2010 and July 2011, 50 706 patients were diagnosed as having AD , and the data of 21 075 (15 257 dermatology, 5818 pediatric) patients aged 0–14 years were included in this study. The use of classes I (strongest), II (very strong), and III (strong) topical corticosteroids and tacrolimus was significantly higher in dermatology than in pediatrics (class I, 2.88% vs 0.76%; class II , 27.68% vs 8.32%; class III , 52.53% vs 39.88%; tacrolimus, 5.05% vs 2.82%; all P < 0.05). Although total drug costs were higher in dermatology than in pediatrics, mean drug costs per person were significantly higher in pediatrics. Moisturizers and protective agents had the highest cost (~ ¥690 million). The introduction rate of generic drugs was low at 8.3% among classes I–V. The introduction rate of moisturizers and protective agents, for which costs were the highest, was approximately 9%. The prescription of generic classes II –V topical corticosteroids and moisturizers and protective agents was also significantly higher in dermatology than in pediatrics ( P < 0.05). Among patients younger than 2 years, 4405 received drugs for AD ; classes I and II topical corticosteroids and tacrolimus (against the guidelines) were administrated in 35 (0.8%), 474 (10.8%) and 29 patients (0.7%), respectively. The introduction of generic drugs is still low, and the use of generic moisturizers and protective agents should be addressed further.