Table 2.
Dispensing pattern for all exclusive OTC and POM NSAIDs
| OTC (n = 44 484) | POM (n = 121 208) | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of different NSAIDs used within the study period | ||
| Mean | 1.0 | 1.5 |
| 1 | 97.6% | 65.6% |
| 2–3 | 2.4% | 31.4% |
| ≥4 | 0.0% | 2.9% |
| Total number of dispensations | ||
| Mean | 1.7 | 2.6 |
| 1 | 68.7% | 49.4% |
| 2 | 18.5% | 21.6% |
| 3 | 6.2% | 10.6% |
| ≥4 | 6.6% | 18.4% |
| Users with at least two dispensations of NSAIDs [n (%)] | 13 919 (31.3) | 61 282 (50.6) |
| Time interval between two dispensations (months) | ||
| Mean | 5.8 | 5.0 |
| <1 | 11.4% | 11.9% |
| 1–2 | 13.1% | 16.1% |
| 2–3 | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| 3–6 | 26.9% | 28.5% |
| 6–12 | 25.5% | 21.4% |
| ≥12 | 11.6% | 8.2% |
| Total number of DDD dispensed | ||
| Mean | 14.6 | 53.0 |
| Median | 6.7 | 22.5 |
| Number of DDD per dispensation | ||
| Mean | 7.7 | 17.3 |
| Numbers of DDD dispensed over 2 years (%) | ||
| 1–7 | 51.2 | 6.3 |
| 7–14 | 27 | 12.4 |
| 14–21 | 10.3 | 27.5 |
| 21–28 | 3.5 | 8 |
| 1–30 | 93.3 | 60.2 |
| 30–60 | 4.3 | 20.9 |
| 60–90 | 1 | 7.3 |
| 90–120 | 0.4 | 3.6 |
| 120–150 | 0.3 | 2 |
| 150–180 | 0.2 | 1.3 |
| 180–210 | 0.1 | 0.8 |
| 210–24 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| 240–270 | 0.1 | 0.5 |
| 270–300 | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| 300–330 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
| 330–360 | 0 | 0.3 |
| 360–390 | 0 | 0.2 |
| >390 DDD | 0.1 | 1.7 |
Abbreviations are as follows: DDD, defined daily dose; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; OTC, over-the-counter preparations; and POM, prescription-only preparations. Any difference of >0.1% can be considered significant (P < 0.05).