Use of medicines in general practice.

TLDR

General practitioners’ prescriptions were examined in a cohort of approximately 40,000 patients. Over one year, 53.8 % of men and 65.7 % of women received at least one prescription, with higher rates in older age groups and women consistently more likely to be prescribed drugs; psychotropic medications were the most common, accounting for nearly 20 % of all prescriptions and 21 % of women, while antimicrobials were prescribed to more people overall.

Abstract

The prescriptions issued by general practitioners to a population of about 40 000 people were studied. During one year 53-8% of all males and 65-7% of all females had at least one drug dispensed. The proportion receiving medicines increased with age and was higher among females at all ages. Psychotropic drugs were prescribed more often than any other group and accounted for almost one-fifth of all prescriptions. Altogether 9-7% of the males in the population and 21-0% of the females received at least one psychotropic drug during the year. Among women aged 45-59 33-0% received a psychotropic drug, and 11-2% were given an antidepressant. Althoug antimicrobial drugs were prescribed less often than psychotropic drugs, they were given to more people.