Trends in use of injection drugs in the Health Centre Novi Sad

Introduction. The Health Centre of Novi Sad deals primarily with prevention, but also provides curative health care. This paper was aimed at investigating trends in the use of injection drugs in out-patients visiting this institution in the period from 2005 to 2009. Material and Methods. The use of injection drugs was calculated according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Doses methodology. The results were expressed as the number of defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants/day. Results and Discussion. The total use of injection drugs was 21.2696 defined daily doses /1000 inhabitants/day in 2005, 31.8427 defined daily doses /1000 inhabitants/day in 2006, 36.0633 defined daily doses /1000 inhabitants/ day in 2007, 34.4823 defined daily doses /1000 inhabitants/ day in 2008 and 26.2189 defined daily doses /1000 inhabitants/ day in 2009. The drug with the highest number of defined daily doses was hydroxocobolamin during all five years (accounting for about 90% of the total number of defined daily doses). In the observed period, the use of low molecular weight heparins increased from 0.0599 in 2005 to 0.2705 in 2009. The use of anti-infective drugs decreased from 0.6133 in 2005 to 0.2634 in 2009. A change in the structure of use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was observed. Conclusion. The total use of injections in the observed period showed annual oscillations. The trend of use of low molecular weight heparins and the qualitative change in use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was in accordance with the trend and the use in developed countries, while the use of hydroxocobolamin and gentamicin increased. The promotion of oral medications and the reduced prescription of injection drugs are the possibilities to be taken into consideration, especially in the use of hydroxocobolamin.