Study of the Level of Consumption of Antidepressants in Ukraine Compared to Some European Countries

OBJECTIVES: assessment and comparison of the level of consumption of antidepressants (ADs) in Ukraine, Estonia and Norway for 2020-2021.

METHODS: the analysis of AD consumption indicators in Ukraine was carried out according to the data of the drug market research system "Proxima Research" of the company "Morion" using the ATC/DDD methodology. To estimate the indicators of ADs consumption in Estonia and Norway, published statistical data of these countries were used.

RESULTS: in Ukraine in 2020-2021 ADs was consumed 12.2-13.6 times less than in Estonia and 18.2-21.6 times less than in Norway. The leader in terms of consumption in the three countries was selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) - escitalopram. Escitalopram consumption in Estonia was 7.7-9.4 times higher (8.67-9.11 DID), and in Norway it was 16.8-21.3 times higher (19.52-19.84 DID) than in Ukraine. The SSRI paroxetine (0.41-0.46 DID) took the second place in Ukraine in terms of consumption, and in Estonia and Norway - the SSRI sertraline (6.02-7.16 DID in Estonia), (9.47-10.48 DID in Norway). Therefore, the level of ADs consumption in Ukraine was significantly inferior to the level of ADs consumption in Estonia and Norway.

CONCLUSIONS: ADs consumption volumes for 2020-2021 in Estonia (37.0-40.73 DID) and Norway (58.72-61.05 DID) significantly exceeded the indicators in Ukraine (2.72-3.35 DID). The leaders in consumption in the three countries were modern ADs from the SSRI group, which are among the most frequently used ADs in the world, because they do not have such pronounced side effects as non-selective ADs. The very low level of consumption of ADs in Ukraine indicates the existing problems of diagnosis and treatment of depression. According to researchers, less than 50% of depression patients in Ukraine receive treatment, while only 10.7% receive adequate therapy.