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ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between gifts from pharmaceutical companies to French general practitioners (GPs) and their drug prescribing patterns.DesignRetrospective study using data from two French databases (National Health Data System, managed by the French National Health Insurance system, and Transparency in Healthcare).SettingPrimary care, France.Participants41 257 GPs who in 2016 worked exclusively in the private sector and had at least five registered patients. The GPs were divided into six groups according to the monetary value of the received gifts reported by pharmaceutical, medical device, and other health related companies in the Transparency in Healthcare database.Main outcome measuresThe main outcome measures were the amount reimbursed by the French National Health Insurance for drug prescriptions per visit (to the practice or at home) and 11 drug prescription efficiency indicators used by the National Health Insurance to calculate the performance related financial incentives of the doctors. Doctor and patient characteristics were used as adjustment variables. The significance threshold was 0.001 for statistical analyses.ResultsThe amount reimbursed by the National Health Insurance for drug prescriptions per visit was lower in the GP group with no gifts reported in the Transparency in Healthcare database in 2016 and since its launch in 2013 (no gift group) compared with the GP groups with at least one gift in 2016 (−€5.33 (99.9% confidence interval −€6.99 to −€3.66) compared with the GP group with gifts valued at €1000 or more reported in 2016) (P<0.001). The no gift group also more frequently prescribed generic antibiotics (2.17%, 1.47% to 2.88% compared with the ≥€1000 group), antihypertensives (4.24%, 3.72% to 4.77% compared with the ≥€1000 group), and statins (12.14%, 11.03% to 13.26% compared with the ≥€1000 group) than GPs with at least one gift between 2013 and 2016 (P<0.001). The no gift group also prescribed fewer benzodiazepines for more than 12 weeks (−0.68%, −1.13% to −0.23% compared with the €240-€999 group) and vasodilators (−0.15%, −0.28% to −0.03% compared with the ≥€1000 group) than GPs with gifts valued at €240 or more reported in 2016, and more angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors compared with all ACE and sartan prescriptions (1.67%, 0.62% to 2.71%) compared with GPs with gifts valued at €1000 or more reported in 2016 (P<0.001). Differences were not significant for the prescription of aspirin and generic antidepressants and generic proton pump inhibitors.ConclusionThe findings suggest that French GPs who do not receive gifts from pharmaceutical companies have better drug prescription efficiency indicators and less costly drug prescriptions than GPs who receive gifts. This observational study is susceptible to residual confounding and therefore no causal relation can be concluded.Trial registrationOSF register OSF.IO/8M3QR.

Background Isotretinoin is the only effective treatment for severe acne. An isotretinoin-related suicide risk is still debated and under scrutiny by regulatory agencies. Our objectives were: to assess the risk of suicide attempt before, during and after isotretinoin treatment; to detect any potential triggering effect of isotretinoin initiation on suicide attempt. Methods We implemented a cohort and nested case-time-control study of subjects treated with oral isotretinoin (course or initiation) aged 10–50 years, using the Nationwide French Health Insurance data (2009–2016). The main outcome was hospitalized suicide attempt. Standardized incidence ratios for hospitalized suicide attempts were calculated before, during and after isotretinoin treatment. The number of isotretinoin initiations was compared in risk and control periods of 2 months using a case-time-control analysis. Results In all, 443 814 patients (median age 20.0 years; interquartile range 17.0–27.0 years) were exposed to isotretinoin, amounting to 244 154 person-years, with a marked seasonality for treatment initiation. Compared with the French general population, the occurrence of suicide attempts under isotretinoin treatment was markedly lower, with a standardized incidence ratio of 0.6 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.53–0.67]; the same applied, to a lesser extent, before and after isotretinoin treatment. In the case-time-control analysis, among cases of suicide attempt, 108 and 127 isotretinoin initiations were observed in the risk and control periods respectively (i.e. 0–2 months and 2–4 months before the date of suicide attempt). The comparison with the 1199 and 1253 initiations observed among matched controls in the same two periods yielded a case-time-control odds ratio of 0.89 (95% CI = 0.68–1.16). A sensitivity analysis using three-month periods and a complementary analysis adding completed suicides for case definition showed consistent results. Conclusion Compared with the general population, a lower risk of suicide attempt was observed among patients exposed to isotretinoin and there was no evidence for a triggering effect of isotretinoin initiation on suicide attempt. A selection of patients at lower risk for suicidal behaviour and appropriate treatment management could explain these findings. Risk management plans should therefore be maintained.

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