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Increasing use of disease modifying drugs for MS in Canada.

AbstractBACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:
The course of multiple sclerosis may be slowed by use of the disease modifying drugs (DMDs): subcutaneous or intramuscular interferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1b, glatiramer acetate, and natalizumab. We set out to compare utilization of these drugs in the Canadian provinces from 2002-2007.
METHODS:
Using a retrospective cohort analysis, we reviewed population data from International Medical Statistics (IMS) Health between November 2001 and October 2007.
RESULTS:
The total annual number of DMD prescriptions increased from 3.9, in 2002, to 5.1, in 2007, per 1,000 Canadians. The total annual cost of prescriptions rose from $187 million to $287 million. Of the four provinces responsible for the majority of prescriptions--Alberta, BC, Ontario, and Quebec--Quebec had the highest average annual prescription rate (7 per 1,000 population) and BC had the lowest rate (3.3 per 1,000 population). Subcutaneous interferon beta-1a was the most commonly used drug whereas glatiramer acetate showed the greatest growth in use from 2002 to 2007.
CONCLUSIONS:
Disease modifying drugs prescription rates and costs increased by more than 30% between 2002 and 2007. There was wide variation in DMD prescription rates and relative drug preferences across the provinces.
AuthorsDalia L Rotstein, Muhammad Mamdani, Paul W O'Connor
JournalThe Canadian journal of neurological sciences. Le journal canadien des sciences neurologiques (Can J Neurol Sci) Vol. 37 Issue 3 Pg. 383-8 (May 2010) ISSN: 0317-1671 [Print] England
PMID20481274 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Chemical References
  • Immunologic Factors
Topics
  • Canada (epidemiology)
  • Cohort Studies
  • Disease Progression
  • Drug Costs (statistics & numerical data, trends)
  • Drug Utilization (economics, statistics & numerical data)
  • Drug Utilization Review (statistics & numerical data)
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors (economics, therapeutic use)
  • Male
  • Multiple Sclerosis (drug therapy, epidemiology)
  • Retrospective Studies

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