Prescription patterns for diabetes mellitus and therapeutic implications: a population-based analysis

Objective: To analyze drug prescriptions for insulin and oral antidiabetic drugs in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus patients seen in the Brazilian Public Healthcare System (Unified Health System - SUS) in Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil. Subjects and methods: All the patients with diabetes seen in the SUS in the western district of Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil between March/2006 and February/2007 were included in the study. Results: A total of 3,982 patients were identified. Mean age of the patients was 60.6 years, and 61.0% were females. Sixty percent of the patients were treated with monotherapy. Doses of oral antidiabetic drugs were lower in monotherapy than in polytherapy. Ten patients received doses of glibenclamide or metformin above the recommended maximum doses, and in elderly patients there was no reduction in drug doses. Conclusion: Monotherapy with oral antidiabetic drugs was the predominant procedure, and the doses were not individualized according to age. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2012;56(2):120-7

Objetivo: Analisar as prescrições medicamentosas dos antidiabéticos orais e insulina em pacientes portadores de diabetes melito tipo 1 e tipo 2 atendidos pelo Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) em Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil. Sujeitos e métodos: Todos os pacientes com diabetes atendidos no distrito sanitário oeste de Ribeirão Preto, SP, do SUS, entre março/2006 e fevereiro/ 2007, foram incluídos no estudo. Resultados: Foram identificados 3.982 pacientes com diabetes. Idade média dos pacientes foi de 60,6 anos e 61,0% do gênero feminino. Sessenta por cento foram tratados com monoterapia. A dose dos antidiabéticos foi menor em monoterapia quando comparada à politerapia. Dez pacientes receberam doses de glibenclamida e metformina acima da dose máxima recomendada. Além disso, em pacientes idosos, não houve redução da dose. Conclusão: A monoterapia com antidiabéticos orais foi prevalente e não houve individualização da dose de acordo com a faixa etária.

The authors are grateful to the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for the Master's Degree Grant awarded to Camilo Molino Guidoni. They are also grateful to Dr. Pablo Diniz for collaboration in the development of the software used to collect and organize database information. They would also like to thank the city of Ribeirao Preto, SP, for allowing access to the database.