SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE Nov. 6 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The doctoral dissertation presented at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of La Laguna (ULL) by Ana Vanessa Moreno Galván, supervised by professors Alexis Oliva Martín and Sandra Dévora Gutiérrez, reveals that between 2016 and 2021, there was a notable increase in the consumption of antidepressants in the province of Las Palmas, amounting to 32.80%.
The aim of the thesis was to conduct a retrospective and descriptive observational study regarding the usage of antidepressant medications in the province, while also fulfilling additional purposes such as creating a comprehensive database based on raw sales data obtained from wholesalers.
Understanding the distribution of antidepressant use across various geographical regions and determining the distribution of the different therapeutic subgroups of antidepressants according to the anatomical-chemical-therapeutic classification were also key objectives of this scholarly work, as well as examining whether antidepressant consumption in these areas correlates with sociodemographic factors (such as aging rate and population density), economic factors (like income per capita), and urbanity levels (rural versus urban areas).
The researcher emphasises that studies concerning drug use are vital to the field known as Drug Epidemiology.
These studies began emerging in the 1960s, driven by the pharmaceutical industry’s need to acquire data on drug usage for monitoring the efficacy of their representatives, while providing a foundation for marketing strategies and identifying future medicine development and research areas.
In this dissertation defended at the University of La Laguna, the antidepressant medications authorised and available in Spain up until December 31, 2020 were analysed.
Antidepressants are categorised within therapeutic group N06A according to the ATC classification and, within this group, are further divided into five therapeutic subcategories: Non-selective monoamine reuptake inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants (N06AA), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (N06AB), non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitors (N06AF), selective monoamine oxidase type A inhibitors (N06AG), and other antidepressants (N06AX).
The comprehensive database established in this research is based on a methodology that allows for the aggregation of drug data irrespective of dosage and formulation, enabling a standardised comparison of drug usage across selected geographical locations, particularly in isolated areas as examined in this study.
SEROTONIN INCREASES
Across all the geographical regions examined, the findings indicate that the most frequently dispensed classes of antidepressants were selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (N06AB) and other antidepressants, while the dispensing of non-selective monoamine reuptake inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants (N06AA) remained stable or exhibited a decrease.
This trend is consistent with studies conducted in other European nations.
The lowest dosages, the fewest units per container, and generic medications, when a registered brand is not available, are the top-selling formats across all regions analysed.
The proposed statistical model enables an understanding of the variation in the DHD (Daily Dose per Inhabitant) throughout the study period across different levels. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura display a similar trend, while distinctions can be observed in Gran Canaria.
Nevertheless, this trend remains unchanged over the study period. The inclusion of sociodemographic and economic variables in the model is not pivotal in this analysis concerning the geographical areas studied, and at the municipal level, similar findings are observed, albeit with greater variability due to data heterogeneity.
Each island, municipality, or region, specifically in the case of Gran Canaria, presents a unique ranking of the most frequently consumed antidepressants, consistently adhering to the prevailing guidelines for treating depression.
AGING
In the case being examined, factors such as the aging rate, socioeconomic status, population density, level of urbanity, or access to healthcare services serve to elucidate the rates of antidepressant dispensing and the prescription patterns across all islands and their respective municipalities.
However, such conclusions cannot be applied to other provinces or European nations due to the varied sociodemographic, cultural, and economic characteristics inherent to each geographical area, as noted in the doctoral thesis.
Currently, Moreno Galván practises as an assistant in a pharmacy in Tenerife and, with support from the Official College of Pharmacists, collaborates with the mental health and healthy lifestyle promotion group of the Delegate Council of Education for Prevention Insular Area of Employment, Education, and Youth of the Cabildo of Tenerife.
As a medical professional, she has been able to conduct various courses on the appropriate use of antidepressants, and alongside Alexis Oliva, she continues to publish in scientific journals.
The School of Doctoral and Postgraduate Studies at the University of La Laguna has initiated a platform for upcoming doctoral thesis readings at the academic centre.
Consequently, the designated website provides information regarding forthcoming scientific works of this nature, including details about the presenter, knowledge area, location, time, title, and supervisors for the mentioned theses.
Additionally, another link features the repository of theses defended from October 2023 through to the end of November 2024, totalling 180.