Associations between socioeconomic deprivation and pharmaceutical prescribing in primary care in England.
primary care
public health
Journal
Postgraduate medical journal
ISSN: 1469-0756
Titre abrégé: Postgrad Med J
Pays: England
ID NLM: 0234135
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Mar 2022
Mar 2022
Historique:
received:
29
08
2020
revised:
09
11
2020
accepted:
14
11
2020
pubmed:
15
12
2020
medline:
23
2
2022
entrez:
14
12
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Socioeconomic deprivation is associated with health inequality. Previous studies have described associations between primary care prescribing rates and deprivation for individual drugs or drug classes. We explore the correlation between socioeconomic deprivation and the rate of prescribing of individual pharmaceutical drugs, and drug classes, in primary care in England, to identify prescribing inequalities that would require further investigation. In this cross-sectional study, national primary care prescribing data, by primary care practice, were retrieved for the calendar year 2019 in England. Socioeconomic deprivation was quantified using the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) score. Correlations were calculated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (ρ), adjusting for practice list size and demographics, with a Bonferroni-corrected p value threshold of 5×10 We included 1.05 billion prescription items dispensed from 6896 England practices. 142/206 (69%) drug classes and 505/774 (65%) drugs were significantly correlated with IMD score (p<5×10 We identify novel associations of prescribing with deprivation. Further work is required to identify the underlying reasons for these associations so that appropriate interventions can be formulated to address drivers of inequality.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Socioeconomic deprivation is associated with health inequality. Previous studies have described associations between primary care prescribing rates and deprivation for individual drugs or drug classes. We explore the correlation between socioeconomic deprivation and the rate of prescribing of individual pharmaceutical drugs, and drug classes, in primary care in England, to identify prescribing inequalities that would require further investigation.
METHODS
METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, national primary care prescribing data, by primary care practice, were retrieved for the calendar year 2019 in England. Socioeconomic deprivation was quantified using the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) score. Correlations were calculated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (ρ), adjusting for practice list size and demographics, with a Bonferroni-corrected p value threshold of 5×10
RESULTS
RESULTS
We included 1.05 billion prescription items dispensed from 6896 England practices. 142/206 (69%) drug classes and 505/774 (65%) drugs were significantly correlated with IMD score (p<5×10
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
We identify novel associations of prescribing with deprivation. Further work is required to identify the underlying reasons for these associations so that appropriate interventions can be formulated to address drivers of inequality.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33310893
pii: postgradmedj-2020-138944
doi: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-138944
doi:
Substances chimiques
Pharmaceutical Preparations
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
193-198Informations de copyright
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Competing interests: None declared.