Use of driving-impairing medicines by a Spanish population: a population-based registry study

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess the use of driving-impairing medicines (DIM) in the general population with special reference to length of use and concomitant use.DesignPopulation-based registry study.SettingThe year 2015 granted medicines consumption data recorded in the Castile and León (Spain) medicine dispensation registry was consulted.ParticipantsMedicines and DIM consumers from a Spanish population (Castile and León: 2.4 million inhabitants).ExposureMedicines and DIM consumption. Patterns of use by age and gender based on the length of use (acute: 1–7 days, subacute: 8–29 days and chronic use: ≥30 days) were of interest. Estimations regarding the distribution of licensed drivers by age and gender were employed to determine the patterns of use of DIM.ResultsDIM were consumed by 34.4% (95% CI 34.3% to 34.5%) of the general population in 2015, more commonly with regularity (chronic use: 22.5% vs acute use: 5.3%) and more frequently by the elderly. On average, 2.3 DIM per person were dispensed, particularly to chronic users (2.8 DIM per person). Age and gender distribution differences were observed between the Castile and León medicine dispensation registry data and the drivers’ license census data. Of all DIM dispensed, 83.8% were in the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical code group nervous system medicines (N), which were prescribed to 29.2% of the population.ConclusionsThe use of DIM was frequent in the general population. Chronic use was common, but acute and subacute use should also be considered. This finding highlights the need to make patients, health professionals, health providers, medicine regulatory agencies and policy-makers at large aware of the role DIM play in traffic safety.

The Problem of Benzodiazepine Use and Its Extent in the Driver Population: A Population-Based Registry Study

“…The problem of consumption of such products may be greater in developing countries (WHO, 2005), and highlights differences existing concerning the use of benzodiazepines and other psychoactive drugs between these countries and developed countries. Finally, the CONCYLIA database does not contain information on consumption of medicines by drivers, and weighting was performed to adjust the consumption of benzodiazepines among licensed drivers by age and gender, as had made in a previous study (Gutierrez-Abejón et al, 2017). Therefore, there may be subtle differences with respect to other studies.…”

“…As previously made (Gutierrez-Abejón et al, 2017), weighting was performed to obtain the adjusted benzodiazepine consumption for licensed drivers according to age and gender using the Castile and León drivers' license census data up to December 2016 (Ministerio del Interior 5 ). With data on medicine dispensation per person, an anonymized dataset describing age and gender of consumers, benzodiazepines and concomitant DIM dispensed, number of doses, and date of dispensation, was generated.…”

“…Adjusted consumption for licensed drivers is also presented in order to know use pattern differences corresponding to these medicines (Gutierrez-Abejón et al, 2017). …”

Trends in Antidepressants Use in Spain between 2015 and 2018: Analyses from a Population-Based Registry Study with Reference to Driving

“…In Spain, a specific pictogram on "medicines and driving" was introduced in 2011 on the packaging of all driving-impairing medicines (DIM), including all antidepressants. The main objective of this pictogram was to improve patient and physician knowledge about the effects of these medicines on the ability to drive safely [24].…”

“…This study presents the data on antidepressants consumption from 2015 to 2018 in Castile and León, Spain, based on dispensation of such DIMs at pharmacies. The adjusted use of antidepressants by the driver population is also presented in order to assess differences in patterns of use with respect to the general population [24][25][26][27]. In addition, the duration and their concomitant use of antidepressants with other driving impairing medicines were also assessed.…”