Use of hypnotic drugs among children, adolescents, and young adults in Scandinavia
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Use of hypnotic drugs among children, adolescents, and young adults in Scandinavia. / Wesselhoeft, Rikke; Rasmussen, Lotte; Jensen, Peter Bjødstrup; Jennum, Poul Jørgen; Skurtveit, Svetlana; Hartz, Ingeborg; Reutfors, Johan; Damkier, Per; Bliddal, Mette; Pottegård, Anton.
In: Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Vol. 144, No. 2, 2021, p. 100-112.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Use of hypnotic drugs among children, adolescents, and young adults in Scandinavia
AU - Wesselhoeft, Rikke
AU - Rasmussen, Lotte
AU - Jensen, Peter Bjødstrup
AU - Jennum, Poul Jørgen
AU - Skurtveit, Svetlana
AU - Hartz, Ingeborg
AU - Reutfors, Johan
AU - Damkier, Per
AU - Bliddal, Mette
AU - Pottegård, Anton
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Background: Hypnotic use in children and adolescents is controversial. Objective: To describe the use of hypnotic drugs (melatonin, z-drugs, and sedating antihistamines) among 5- to 24-year-old Scandinavians during 2012 to 2018. Methods: Aggregate-level data were obtained from public data sources in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. We calculated annual prevalence (users/1000 inhabitants) stratified by age group, sex, and country. Quantity of use (Defined Daily Dose (DDD)/user/day) was estimated for Norway and Denmark. Results: Melatonin was the most commonly used hypnotic, and its use increased markedly from 2012 to 2018, particularly among females and 15- to 24-year-old individuals. Sweden had the highest increase in use (6.5 to 25/1000) compared with Norway (10–20/1000) and Denmark (5.7–12/1000). The annual prevalence of sedating antihistamine use was also highest in Sweden, reaching 13/1000 in 2018 in comparison to 7.5/1000 in Norway and 2.5/1000 in Denmark. Z-drug use decreased in all countries toward 2018, dropping to 3.5/1000 in Sweden, 4.4/1000 in Norway, and 1.7/1000 in Denmark. The quantity of hypnotic use in Norway and Denmark was 0.8–1.0 DDD/user/day for melatonin in 2018, as compared to 0.1–0.3 for z-drugs and antihistamines. Conclusion: The use of melatonin and sedating antihistamines increased among young Scandinavians during 2012–2018, and the increase was twice as high in Sweden compared with Norway and Denmark. In addition, Sweden had the highest use of sedating antihistamines. The Scandinavian variation of hypnotic use could reflect differences in frequency of sleep problems between populations or variation of healthcare access or clinical practice between countries.
AB - Background: Hypnotic use in children and adolescents is controversial. Objective: To describe the use of hypnotic drugs (melatonin, z-drugs, and sedating antihistamines) among 5- to 24-year-old Scandinavians during 2012 to 2018. Methods: Aggregate-level data were obtained from public data sources in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. We calculated annual prevalence (users/1000 inhabitants) stratified by age group, sex, and country. Quantity of use (Defined Daily Dose (DDD)/user/day) was estimated for Norway and Denmark. Results: Melatonin was the most commonly used hypnotic, and its use increased markedly from 2012 to 2018, particularly among females and 15- to 24-year-old individuals. Sweden had the highest increase in use (6.5 to 25/1000) compared with Norway (10–20/1000) and Denmark (5.7–12/1000). The annual prevalence of sedating antihistamine use was also highest in Sweden, reaching 13/1000 in 2018 in comparison to 7.5/1000 in Norway and 2.5/1000 in Denmark. Z-drug use decreased in all countries toward 2018, dropping to 3.5/1000 in Sweden, 4.4/1000 in Norway, and 1.7/1000 in Denmark. The quantity of hypnotic use in Norway and Denmark was 0.8–1.0 DDD/user/day for melatonin in 2018, as compared to 0.1–0.3 for z-drugs and antihistamines. Conclusion: The use of melatonin and sedating antihistamines increased among young Scandinavians during 2012–2018, and the increase was twice as high in Sweden compared with Norway and Denmark. In addition, Sweden had the highest use of sedating antihistamines. The Scandinavian variation of hypnotic use could reflect differences in frequency of sleep problems between populations or variation of healthcare access or clinical practice between countries.
KW - hypnotics
KW - insomnia
KW - melatonin
KW - Scandinavia
KW - sleep disorders
KW - utilization
U2 - 10.1111/acps.13329
DO - 10.1111/acps.13329
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 34021908
AN - SCOPUS:85107974696
VL - 144
SP - 100
EP - 112
JO - Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
JF - Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
SN - 0001-690X
IS - 2
ER -
ID: 302059975