Variations and increase in use of statins across Europe: data from administrative databases

Austria—Ingrid Rosian, Sabine Vogler, ÖBIG, Austrian Institute of Health, Vienna

Belgium—Robert vander Stichele, Matus Ferech, Heymans Instituut, University of Gent

Denmark—Lasse Larsen, Bettina Ødegaard, Anne Kirstine Brahm, Lægemiddelstyrelsen Danish Medicines Agency, Brønshøj

Finland—Jaana Martikainen, Tutkimusosasto-Kansaneläkelaitos (Kela), Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki

France—Eric van Ganse, Guihlem Pietri, Unité de Pharmacoépidémiologie, University of Lyon

Germany—Ulrich Schwabe, Pharmacologisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität, Heidelberg. Helmut Schröder, Research Institut of the AOK (WIdO)

Greece—Athena Linos, Elena Riza, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Athens

Ireland—Michael Barry, Lesley Tilson, Irish National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, Dublin

Italy—Pietro Folino, Fabio Palazzo, Giuseppe Stirparo, Institute for Research on Population and Social Policies, National Research Council, Rome. Alessandra Righi, ISTAT-Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (National Institute for Statistics), Rome. Mario Bruzzone, Emma Puca, Comitato Interministeriale per la Programmazione Economica-Farmaci, Ministero dell’ Economia e delle Finanze (Ministry of Economics), Rome. Nello Martini, Antonio Addis, Direzione Generale per la Valutazione dei Medicinali e la Farmacovigilanza, Ministero della Salute (Ministry of Health), Rome

Netherlands—Petra Jansen, Directie Genees, en Hulmiddlenvoorziening, Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Wlzijn en Sport (Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport), The Hague

Norway—Marit Rønning, Irene Litleskare, WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistic Methodology, Oslo

Portugal—Antonio Faria Vaz, Angela Antonio, INFARMED-Instituto Nacional da Farmacia e do Medicamento (National Institute of Pharmacy), Lisbon

Spain—Alfonso Carvajal, Maria Sainz, Centro Regional de Farmacovigilancia de Castilla y Leon, IFE-Instituto de Farmacoepidemiología, University of Valladolid

Sweden—Karolina Antonov, Anders Carlsten, Apoteket AB, National Corporation of Swedish Pharmacies, Stockolm

United Kingdom—Tom Walley, Prescribing Research Centre, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool

WHO-Europe—Kees de Joncheere, Regional Adviser for Pharmaceuticals and Technology, WHO, Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen

Web appendix 2: Information sources for state expenditure on and use of statins

Austria—Hauptverband der Österreichischen Sozialversicherungsträger/PEGASUS (Federation of Austrian Social Insurance Institutions)

Belgium—Farmanet (RijksInstituut voor Ziekte en InvaliditeitsVerzekering/Institut National d’Assurance Invalidité) (National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance)

Denmark—Lægemiddelstyrelsen (Danish Medicines Agency)

Finland—Lääkemyyntirekisteri, Lääkelaitos (drug sales register owned by the National Agency for Medicines)

France—Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Maladie (CNAM) base de données Médicam (National Health Insurance—database Medicam)

Germany—Database of the German Drug Index, Research Institute of the AOK (WIdO)

Ireland—Reimbursement files from the General Medical Services Payments Board

Italy—Ministero della Salute-Osservatorio Nazionale sull’Impiego dei Medicinali (OsMed) (Ministry of Health-Observatory on Utilisation of Medicines)

Netherlands—College voor Zorgverzekeringen, Geneesmiddelen Informatie Project Amstelveen/Stichting Farmaceutische Kengetallen Den Haag (Health Care Insurance Board, Pharmaceutical Products Information Project Amstelveen/Foundation for Pharmaceutical Statistics, The Hague)

Norway—Norwegian Institute of Public Health (data based on total sales from all Norwegian wholesalers)

Portugal—INFARMED-National Institute of Pharmacy

Spain—Agencia Española del Medicamento, Especialidades y consumo de medicamentos (database ECOM) (Ministry of Health, Spanish Medicines Agency)

Sweden—Apoteket, National Corporation of Swedish Pharmacies

United Kingdom—Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA)