Prescription trends for preservative free glaucoma medication in a public health system

Purpose To analyze the prescribing trends over a 7-years period, between 2013 and 2020, in a tertiary hospital (Hospital Clinico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain) and its health area. Material and methods A retrospective study on the data collected from the information systems, farm@web and Farmadrid, of glaucoma prescriptions in the framework of a public health system (Spanish National Health System) during the last seven years. Results Prostaglandin analogues were the most commonly used drugs in monotherapy during the study period (range: 36.82% - 47.07%). Fixed combinations of topical hypotensives had an upward trend since 2013 (range: 39.99% - 54.21%), becoming the most dispensed drugs in 2020 (48.99%). Preservative-free eye drops (lacking benzalkonium chloride, BAK) have displaced preservative containing topical treatments in all pharmacological groups. In 2013, BAK-preserved eye drops accounted for 91.1% of the total prescriptions, however in 2020 they only accounted for 34.2% of total prescriptions. Conclusions The results of the present study highlight the current trend to avoid BAK-preserved eye drops for the treatment of glaucoma.

Automated summary

The purpose of this study was to analyze the prescribing trends for glaucoma medications in a tertiary hospital and its health area in Madrid, Spain, between 2013 and 2020. The results showed that prostaglandin analogues were the most commonly prescribed drugs for monotherapy during the study period. Fixed combinations of topical hypotensives showed an upward trend and became the most dispensed drugs in 2020. The study also found a shift towards preservative-free eye drops, which replaced preservative-containing treatments in all pharmacological groups.