Use of topical glucocorticoids: a population‐based cohort study. (24th February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: El‐Khoury, M.; Thay, R.; N'Diaye, M.; Fardet, L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. Volume 31:Number 6(2017)
• Page Start: 1044
• Page End: 1047
• Publication Date: 2017-02-24
• Subjects: Dermatology -- Periodicals; Sexually transmitted diseases -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/jdv.14149
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0926-9959

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Little is known about the prescriptions of topical glucocorticoids in the general population. Objectives: To report an overall picture of topical glucocorticoid prescriptions in France. Methods: This study used the Echantillon Généraliste de Bénéficiaires (EGB) database, a 1/97th random sampling of the French population covered by the main national healthcare insurance system (approximately 90% of the whole population). All patients prescribed topical glucocorticoids over a 5‐year period (1 January 2011 to 31 December 2015) were identified using a specific code list for topical glucocorticoids. Results: Over the 5‐year study period, 662 531 individuals were recorded for at least 1 day in the EGB. Among them, 220 345 (33.3%) were prescribed at least once topical glucocorticoid. The prevalence of topical glucocorticoid prescription increased regularly from 2011 (11.7%) to 2015 (12.5%). A total of 922 026 tubes of topical glucocorticoids were dispensed, mainly high‐potency glucocorticoids, and were mainly prescribed by general practitioners (73.1%). A total of 1713 (0.8%) patients were prescribed at least 24 tubes over a calendar year. These patients were more frequently men ( P < 0.001) and older ( P < 0.001) than the overall population of patients prescribed topical glucocorticoids. The 124 844 tubes prescribed to these patients had stronger potency than those prescribed to the overall population ( P < 0.001) and were mostly prescribed by general practitioners (68.1%). The reasons for prescription were available for only 371 patients (21.7%) and were mainly psoriasis, auto‐immune bullous dermatoses and eczema. Conclusion: About 12% of the French general population is prescribed topical glucocorticoids at least once each year. Most prescriptions are issued by general practitioners, dermatologists being the prescribers in less than one‐quarter of cases.