Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the structure and development of consumption of hypolipidemic agents. Data concerning utilization of individual hypolipidemic drugs from 2002 to 2009 were obtained from the State Institute for Drug Control database and General Health Insurance Company, Karvina district database. Utilization of hypolipidemic drugs were stated in DDDs in correspondence with the anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) classification, and the costs in CZK. Information on utilization is expressed in the number of DDD per 1,000 inhabitants per 1 day (DID). The utilization of fibrates slightly decreased, while statins increase from 13.55 DID (2002) to 60.10 DID (2009) was observed. The total utilization of hypolipidemic drugs in DID have been continuously increasing (32.34 DID in 2002, 76.30 DID in 2009). In the compared data from the Karvina district, an increased utilization of fibrates and decreased utilization of statins were observed. The most significant difference was noted in the utilization of ezetimibe (the utilization of which from 2006 to 2009 was 2 to 3 times higher than was the average in the Czech Republic). Increasing availability of hypolipidemics was noticed with some regional discrepancies and sex differences in consumption of this group of medicines.

Key words: Utilization of medicinal products, lipid modifying agents, hypolipidemic drugs, statins, fibrates, ezetimibe.