UTILIZATION TRENDS OF THE 20 MOST USED PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE ACTIVE SUBSTANCES IN ESTONIA BETWEEN 2016 AND 2024 BASED ON STATISTICAL YEARBOOK DATA
Author(s)
Selin Okcun, MSc1, Yagmur Faiz, BSc2, Guvenc Kockaya, MSc, PhD, MD3, OZNUR SEYHUN, BSc, MFE, MSc3.
1Health Economist, Econix Research, İstanbul, Turkey, 2Econix Research, İstanbul, Turkey, 3Econix Research, Tallin, Estonia.
1Health Economist, Econix Research, İstanbul, Turkey, 2Econix Research, İstanbul, Turkey, 3Econix Research, Tallin, Estonia.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate utilization trends of the selected prescription medicine active substances in Estonia between 2016 and 2024. The analysis focused on the 20 most used prescription medicine active substances and assessed their annual use using Defined Daily Dose (DDD)/1,000 inhabitants/day values.
METHODS: A descriptive analysis was conducted using Statistical Yearbook data published by the Estonian State Agency of Medicines. Active substances were selected from the 2020-2024 table of the 20 most used prescription medicines by Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) code. Annual Daily Defined Dose (DDD)/1,000 inhabitants/day values were extracted for 2016-2024 and compiled in Excel without filtering, exclusion, or adjustment. Drug utilization was assessed using DDD/1,000 inhabitants/day, based on the ATC/DDD 2025 methodology.
RESULTS: For the top 20 prescription medicine active substances, utilization values in 2016 and 2024, respectively, were as follows in DDD/1,000 inhabitants/day: rosuvastatin, 27.4 and 66.2; ramipril, 57.4 and 52.5; atorvastatin, 17.5 and 48.5; metoprolol, 23.7 and 28.1; amlodipine, 28.8 and 26.0; omeprazole, 27.3 and 26.0; telmisartan, 20.7 and 22.6; nebivolol, 20.1 and 22.6; folic acid, 9.49 and 22.1; perindopril + indapamide, 13.2 and 21.9; levothyroxine sodium, 17.4 and 20.3; metformin, 19.7 and 20.3; perindopril + amlodipine + indapamide, 6.0 and 19.7; pantoprazole, 9.0 and 18.4; torasemide, 12.0 and 17.2; esomeprazole, 7.3 and 16.8; perindopril, 3.1 and 14.0; timolol, 8.6 and 13.3; and zopiclone, 16.0 and 13.3. Semaglutide was recorded at 1.6 in 2020 and 18.2 in 2024.
CONCLUSIONS: Estonia’s 2016-2024 prescription trends demonstrate clear therapeutic modernization, reflected in increased uptake of statins, perindopril-based fixed-dose combinations, and semaglutide, indicating evolving prescribing patterns across cardiovascular and metabolic care.Declines in older monotherapies such as ramipril, alongside shifts from omeprazole to pantoprazole and esomeprazole, suggest guideline-responsive prescribing and an evolving preference for more potent, contemporary, and strategically combined treatments across major therapeutic areas.
METHODS: A descriptive analysis was conducted using Statistical Yearbook data published by the Estonian State Agency of Medicines. Active substances were selected from the 2020-2024 table of the 20 most used prescription medicines by Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) code. Annual Daily Defined Dose (DDD)/1,000 inhabitants/day values were extracted for 2016-2024 and compiled in Excel without filtering, exclusion, or adjustment. Drug utilization was assessed using DDD/1,000 inhabitants/day, based on the ATC/DDD 2025 methodology.
RESULTS: For the top 20 prescription medicine active substances, utilization values in 2016 and 2024, respectively, were as follows in DDD/1,000 inhabitants/day: rosuvastatin, 27.4 and 66.2; ramipril, 57.4 and 52.5; atorvastatin, 17.5 and 48.5; metoprolol, 23.7 and 28.1; amlodipine, 28.8 and 26.0; omeprazole, 27.3 and 26.0; telmisartan, 20.7 and 22.6; nebivolol, 20.1 and 22.6; folic acid, 9.49 and 22.1; perindopril + indapamide, 13.2 and 21.9; levothyroxine sodium, 17.4 and 20.3; metformin, 19.7 and 20.3; perindopril + amlodipine + indapamide, 6.0 and 19.7; pantoprazole, 9.0 and 18.4; torasemide, 12.0 and 17.2; esomeprazole, 7.3 and 16.8; perindopril, 3.1 and 14.0; timolol, 8.6 and 13.3; and zopiclone, 16.0 and 13.3. Semaglutide was recorded at 1.6 in 2020 and 18.2 in 2024.
CONCLUSIONS: Estonia’s 2016-2024 prescription trends demonstrate clear therapeutic modernization, reflected in increased uptake of statins, perindopril-based fixed-dose combinations, and semaglutide, indicating evolving prescribing patterns across cardiovascular and metabolic care.Declines in older monotherapies such as ramipril, alongside shifts from omeprazole to pantoprazole and esomeprazole, suggest guideline-responsive prescribing and an evolving preference for more potent, contemporary, and strategically combined treatments across major therapeutic areas.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
HPR106
Topic
Health Policy & Regulatory
Topic Subcategory
Public Spending & National Health Expenditures
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas