Trends in Statin Consumption and Cardiovasvular Mortality in Croatia 2004 – 2012

Abstract

Prescribing of statins showed an increasing trend in all developed countries, during the last two

decades. The aim of this study was to research the trends in statins consumption in the period

from 2004 to 2012 as well as the trends of cardiovascular mortality during the  1990 to 2012

period, and to compare it between Croatia and several neighbouring countries. Data on statins

expenditures and consumption expresed in DDD/TID,  were taken  from annual reports of

Croatian Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices (HALMED). Data on crude

Mortality rates and standardized cardiovascular mortality rates, were taken from the Croatian

Health Statistics Yearbooks. During the observed period utilization of statins increased  by

196,7% with the highest consumption of atorvastatin and simvastatin. Financial expenditure of

statins expanded at much faster rate in comparison with drug costs in total. Cardiovascular

mortality rates decreased slightly, while maintaining higher level in comparison with  some

neighbouring countries.