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Biomedical subjects

B Westerholm

Publications and source records attributed to B Westerholm.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Sources of information on drug usage in Sweden.

Based on sales statistics, prescription habits and figures, interviews, and, in certain instances, on determinations of drug plasma levels, various aspects of drug usage in Sweden are examined. The working of the drug regulatory agency in Sweden is elucidated against the background of the above sources from which drug usage information is obtained.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Is the use of hypnotics, sedatives and minor tranquilizers really a major health problem?

An analysis has been made of individual purchases of hypnotics, sedatives and minor tranquilizers made during 1973 by patients who had bought such drugs either only once (group S, n= 417) or regularly (group R, n=76) during a 16-month period five years earlier from pharmacies in the town of Ostersund, county of Jmtland, Sweden. By 1973, 17% of the patients in each group had either died or moved out of the country and were therefore excluded from the comparison. In group S, 81 patients (23%) bought the above drugs once or more in 1973, while the corresponding figure for group R was 55 (87%). Compared with 1968-69, there was a decrease in the number of prescriptions and also in the number of tablets obtained per individual. Furthermore, the number of tablets per prescription was lower in 1973. Among the drugs prescribed, benzodiazepines dominated during both periods, followed by barbiturates. In 1973 there was a substantial increase in the use of nitrazepam, mostly at the expense of diazepam and combined products. One patient in group S and one in group R showed a tendency to decrease the interval between purchases. The latter was already known to be a drug abuser five years earlier. Without knowing the reason why the drugs were prescribed and to what extent they were actually taken, it is impossible to say whether the other patient should be classified as drug abuser or not. Although the number of patients in this study is limited, it might be concluded that the risk of an occasional user of hypnotics, sedatives and minor tranquilizers living in this area becoming an abuser of such drugs within a five-year period is less than 1/345.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

The measurement of drug consumption. Drugs for diabetes in Northern Ireland, Norway and Sweden.

The consumption of insulin and oral antidiabetic drugs was measured at the gross sales level in Sweden and Norway and at the prescription level in Northern Ireland. ""Agreed daily doses'' were used as units of comparison, which defined as follows: insulin 40 I.U., tolbutamide 1 g, acetohexamide 500 mg etc. Consumption was expressed as the number of ""agreed daily doses'' per 1,000 inhabitants per day. This provided a rough estimate of the number of subjects for whom the drug had been prescribed per 1,000 population. The data were collected during the three months April-June 1971. Marked differences in the consumption of antidiabetic drugs were found between the three countries and also between areas within each country. The consumption of insulin was similar in Norway and Northern Ireland (3.5 and 3.9 agreed daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day), but almost twice as high in Sweden. In Norway much lower use was found in certain rural areas. The variation in the consumption of oral antidiabetic drugs was even more marked. Surprisingly, consumption was considerably higher in Sweden (15.8) than in the nearby Norway (7.3), and was even lower in Northern Ireland (4.3). The major use was of sulphonylureas, especially chlorpropamide. Within the countries there was marked regional variation in the choice of individual biguanides and sulphonylureas. The data are discussed in relation to such factors as the incidence of diabetes, the sole use of dietary treatment etc. It is concluded that studies in depth, which link the actual use of drugs by patients to diagnosis, diabetic symptoms and clinical outcome of treatment are necessary in order to explore the reasons behind the marked geographical differences and to define a rational drug policy. However, the methods described in the study may be used for early detection of gross national differences in drug utilization, the further investigation of which may reveal to be of great public health interest.

Diabetes Mellitus↗
PubMed1975

Drug-induced febrile mucocutaneous syndrome with a survey of the literature.

A retrospective investigation of 89 cases of the Stevens-Johnson and/or Lyell's syndrome showed that 77 patients (87%) had been treated with drugs, 2/3 of them for symptoms of respiratory and/or urinary infections. The most frequent drugs were longterm sulfonamide preparations, penicillins, butazones and antiepileptics. Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common infective agents of those reported. More than 40% of the patients were below 20 years of age. There were more women than men. The mortality was 1-2% for the Stevens-Johnson syndrome and 4 of 11 patients for Lyell's syndrome. It must be pointed out that, in the individual patient, it can be difficult to determine the etiology, especially in cases with infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1973

Drug-induced blood dyscrasias in Sweden.

Cases of drug-induced aplastic anaemia, haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia, and agranulocytosis reported to the Swedish Adverse Drug Reaction Committee during the five-year period 1966-70 have been analysed and compared with cases of the same cytopenias from "all" causes. Oral diuretics were a dominant cause of drug-induced thrombocytopenia, methyldopa of haemolytic anaemia, and oxyphenbutazone of aplastic anaemia. Computer systems should help such studies, particularly in showing a changing pattern of complications and causes.

Administration, Oral↗