Gender differences in dispensed analgesics in Sweden during 2006–2015 – an observational, nationwide, whole-population study

Abstract

IntroductionA potentially illuminating way of looking at gender differences in health and disease is to study differences in drug utilization. The aim of this study was to describe gender differences in dispensed analgesics (including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]) in Sweden during 2006–2015.Materials and MethodsThe Swedish Board of Health and Welfare holds an open, Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC)–based statistical database containing aggregated data on all dispensed prescription drugs in Swedish pharmacies since 2006. The database is searchable according to sex, age (5-year intervals), and Swedish regions.ResultsNationwide, whole-population information was retrieved for all ATC codes at the second level for individuals ≥20 years of age, focusing on sex-related differences. More in-depth analyses were made for analgesics, including NSAIDs. Descriptive statistics were used. Gender differences in drug prescription are pervasive in Sweden; the yearly prevalence in 2015 was higher in women for 72 out of 84 ATC groups (not adjusted for age). Analgesics, including NSAIDs, were more commonly used by women in all age groups. Gender differences were sustained over time (2006–2015) and were particularly striking for triptans. For both men and women, the yearly prevalence of opioids was stable during 2006–2015, whereas it increased for paracetamol and decreased for NSAIDs. The increase in paracetamol prescription was most noticeable for young females, and the decrease in NSAID prescription was largest in older patients (irrespective of sex).ConclusionGender differences in the use of analgesics probably mirror the higher prevalence of chronic pain in women.

Younger age is associated with greater pain expression among patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis scheduled for a joint arthroplasty

“…Consistent with previous research [29], women in our study reported higher pain levels as measured with VAS than men. We also found that women reported more frequent use of analgesics than men, which is consistent with a previous study reporting that women across ages are prescribed more non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs than men [30]. This may reflect different pain coping strategies between sexes [31] or tentatively, that women are more likely to undertake preventive care and thereby, use analgesics as a way to prevent pain.…”

Generic versus brand-name over-the-counter analgesics: knowledge and attitudes among Swedish pharmacy customers

“…Two thirds of the participants in this study were women, which reflects that there are more women than men among pharmacy customers and that women use OTC drugs more frequently compared with men [3,23,24]. Regarding analgesics, this may be related to menstrual pain and that women seem to suffer from pain at rates higher than men and are more sensitive to pain [25].…”

Influence of single nucleotide polymorphism of LAT1 on therapeutic response to gabapentinoids in Pakistani patients with neuropathic pain

“…The number of female participants enrolled in our study was higher as has been reported by previously conducted studies observing more females using gabapentinoids for neuropathic pain. 20,21 Higher ratio of females could be due to a higher propensity of females for chronic pain due to gender-based biological differences in pain modulation, neural structures, sex hormones and neuroimmune differences. 20 In our study, the most common aetiology was diabetic neuropathy followed by radicular pain which could be due to a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (16.98%) in the Pakistani population.…”

“…20,21 Higher ratio of females could be due to a higher propensity of females for chronic pain due to gender-based biological differences in pain modulation, neural structures, sex hormones and neuroimmune differences. 20 In our study, the most common aetiology was diabetic neuropathy followed by radicular pain which could be due to a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (16.98%) in the Pakistani population. 22 Our results are in agreement with a study carried out in a tertiary care hospital of Saudi Arabia reporting diabetic neuropathy as the most common aetiology; another study reported radiculopathies and post-surgical pain as the most common conditions associated with neuropathic pain.…”