Regional Differences in Prescribing Patterns of Metamizole in Germany Based on Data from 70 Million Persons

Falk Hoffmann, Carsten Bantel, Frederik Tilmann von Rosen and Kathrin Jobski
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Falk Hoffmann: Department of Health Services Research, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
Carsten Bantel: University Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, Emergency and Pain Medicine, Klinikum Oldenburg, 26133 Oldenburg, Germany
Frederik Tilmann von Rosen: Department of Health Services Research, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
Kathrin Jobski: Department of Health Services Research, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-9

Abstract: The non-opioid analgesic metamizole (dipyrone) is commonly used in Germany despite its narrow indications and market withdrawal from several countries. In this study we analyzed prescribing patterns of metamizole focusing on regional differences. The source of data was the “Information system for health care data” which includes data from the statutory health insurance funds for about 70 million Germans. We received aggregated data of individuals with at least one metamizole prescription in 2010 as well as the number of prescribed packages by age, sex, state and district along with the number of insured persons in each stratum. We calculated prescription prevalence stratified by age, sex, state and district. Among 68.4 million insured persons (mean age: 43.6 years; 53.0% female) 5.5 million received at least one metamizole prescription (8.1%, overall 12.2 million packages). Prevalence increased with age, and women received metamizole more often than men. In adults (total prevalence: 9.4%), levels varied between 7.0% (Saxony) and 11.1% (Schleswig-Holstein), whereas on a district level use ranged from 4.3% to 14.3%. In 2010, one of 12 individuals received metamizole at least once. Noticeable were the large regional variations which certainly cannot be explained by patient-related factors.

Keywords: metamizole; dipyrone; prescribing patterns; prevalence; regional variations; Germany (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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