OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of dying in the world. One of the groups for the treatment of CVD are hypolipidemic drugs. The aim of this study was to analyze the consumption of hypolipidemic drugs in Serbia in the period from 2013 to 2015, and to compare this data with Norway and Finland.

METHODS: The data about the use of drugs are taken from the official web site from the Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices Agency of Serbia, Norwegian Institute of Public Health and Agency for Drugs of Finland.

RESULTS: In Serbia, the use of hypolipidemic drugs is small and the drugs occupy a 4-5 % of all drugs in the treatment of CVD. In Norway and Finland consumption of hypolipidemic drugs is much more bigger, and among all drugs in the treatment of CVD the consumption of hypolipidemic drugs is on the second place during that period (Norway 30% and Finland 20% of all drugs in the treatment of CVD). Among all hypolipidemic drugs, the most used drugs are statins, and among statins the most used drugs are simvastatin and atorvastatin in all three investigated countries. In Serbia on first place in 2013/2014/2015 is atorvastatin (11.68/9.47/20.98 DDD ), and on second place in 2013/2014/2015 is simvastatin (3.67/3.53/3.36 DDD). In Norway on first place in 2013/2014/2015 is atorvastatin (58.10/62.85/70.43 DDD ), and on second place in 2013/2014/2015 is simvastatin (50.77/47.22/43.17 DDD). In Finland on first place in 2013/2014/2015 is simvastatin (46.87/43.80/44.43 DDD ), and on second place in 2013/2014/2015 is atorvastatin (27.52/31.72/36.65 DDD).

CONCLUSIONS: In observed period it is noticeable trend of increased consumption of statins in all three countries. We also notice that Serbia is the country with the lowest consumption of this drugs.