XXXX utilization in the Netherlands 1998-2007.

@entity1 @entity4082 @entity249
BACKGROUND: Infertility is a growing problem in western societies. Few studies have examined the drug utilization of common treatments for @entity249 . @entity4082 (CC) is the first-line treatment for normogonadotropic @entity1 with absent or irregular ovulation. We examined CC use among @entity1 at reproductive age in the northern Netherlands. METHODS: Drug dispensing data of CC between 1998 and 2007 were retrieved from the IADB.nl database. Two-year prevalences of CC use per 1000 @entity1 covered by the database were calculated and stratified by 5-year age group. The duration of CC use was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: From the IADB.nl database, a total of 1854 @entity1 aged 20-44 years initiated ovulation induction treatment with CC only in the northern Netherlands during 1998 and 2007. The 2-year prevalence of CC use increased from 6.66 per 1000 @entity1 during 1998-1999 to 7.24 per 1000 during 2002-2003, followed by a decrease to 4.82 per 1000 in 2006-2007 (P < 0.05). Median duration of CC use was four cycles for @entity1 <30 years of age, three cycles for @entity1 aged 30-39 and two cycles for @entity1 aged above 40. CONCLUSIONS: There is no increase of CC use during 1998-2007, and indeed a decrease of CC use during recent years, among @entity1 at reproductive age in northern Netherlands.
