The association between demographic factors and increased antibiotic consumption in Denmark 2001 to 2010

Abstract

From 2001 to 2010, the consumption of antibiotics in Denmark increased by 32%. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential demographic factors associated with this increase. Defined daily doses (DDD) per 1000 inhabitant-days for the leading antibiotic groups and substances in primary health care in 2001 and 2010 were adjusted for population size and compared between and within age groups and genders. An increased antibiotic consumption was observed for all age groups between 2001 and 2010. Particular age-specific increases in the consumption of tetracyclines, extended-spectrum penicillins, and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid were observed. The generally increased consumption of antibacterial agents in the Danish population during the past decade was driven by people older than 65 y and, to a lesser extent, those aged 20–39 y. Evidence suggests that this increase may reflect general practitioners prescribing more antibiotics per visit and in larger doses.

Keywords::

• Consumption
• antibiotics
• surveillance

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Maja Laursen from the Danish Medicines Agency for providing consumption data. We also thank the staff of the Department of Microbiology and Infection Control at Statens Serum Institut for comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by the Danish Ministry of Health and Prevention as part of The Danish Integrated Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring and Research Programme (DANMAP) and as part of the work for the Danish Antibiotic Council.

Declaration of interest: No conflict of interest to declare.