| Popis: |
Drug consumption was investigated retrospectively in arthritic patients who had been treated with a non steroidal antiinflammatory drug in general practice. The average consumption, 3.4 drugs per patient, increased with increasing age (p = 0.04). Due to a switch to drugs with a more convenient dosage regime, total drug consumption (number of tablets etc. per day per patient) did not increase with increasing age. The most common diagnoses in addition to osteoarthritis were heart/coronary disease (44%) and anxiety/sleep disorders (34%). In order to prevent compliance problems, patients on long term treatment should be given drugs with convenient dosage regimes. |
