Indications related to antidepressant drug prescribing in the elderly population during 2010-2015 in two primary care databases: the Netherlands and Catalonia (Spain)

Abstract

Introduction: Antidepressant drug consumption in 18 European countries doubled between 2000 and 2012. Increase in the use of antidepressant drugs includes indications other than depression, some studies showed that prevalence of prescription is higher in the elder. Objectives: To describe the indications related to new antidepressant drug prescriptions in two primary care databases from The Netherlands and Catalonia 2010-2015. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted, including new antidepressant users (excluding IMAO inhibitors) aged ≥65 years. Data was retrieved from the Dutch NIVEL Primary Care Database and SIDIAP (Information System for Research in Primary Care from Catalan Institute ofHealth) databases. Primary outcome was concurrent diagnoses for antidepressant prescribing as a proxy of indication, including: depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, migraine/headache, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, other mental and behavioral disorders or other diagnoses. Results were stratified by age and gender. Results: A total of 16 537 and 199 168 new antidepressant users were identified in NIVEL-PCD and SIDIAP, respectively during the study period. Women 65-69 years old prevailed in both databases (22% and 26.5%, respectively). Depression was the most frequent active diagnosis in both databases during the study period (24% and 31%, respectively). Tricyclic antidepressants were the most commonly prescribed (48.7%) in NIVELPCD mainly for neuropathic pain and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in SIDIAP (63.1%) mainly for depression. More details result below: Summary / Conclusions: Depression is the most common diagnosis related to antidepressant prescribing in both countries. Anxiety and Sleep disorders are other associated diagnoses which should be prescribed with caution in the elder.