The availability of the archives of the regional pharmaceutical federation has, in the last few years, given impetus to the development of epidemiological studies that use the data of drug prescriptions.

One of the main applications is the identification of patients with chronic diseases with prevalence estimates (e.g. COPD, diabetes mellitus), reinforced by integration with data from other information flows.

Within the framework of research programs funded by the Lazio Region with AIFA-pharmacovigilance funds, we are conducting studies on the appropriateness of drug use under specific conditions (e.g. prescription of platelet anti-aggregation agents after coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction) and on socio-economic differentials in the use of efficient drugs (e.g. polypharmacy with beta-blockers, platelet anti-aggregation agents, ACE inhibitors and statins in post-myocardial infarction treatment or long-acting inhalers in COPD treatment). Furthermore the studies estimate the long-term effect of drug treatments on clinical outcomes (e.g. two-year survival after acute myocardial infarction in patients treated with evidence-based drug therapy) in the context of observational studies based on data from health information systems.

The DEP is also coordinating an independent AIFA research project: “Long-term outcomes and adverse events of therapy with inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting beta-2-agonists and anticholinergic drugs in patients with hospitalized Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - a cohort study based on health information systems in three Italian regions”. This study has been the first one to be awarded the ENCePP European Network quality seal (European Network of Centres for Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance - on behalf of the European Medicines Agency).

The ENCePP promotes scientific research in pharmacoepidemiology and in post-marketing surveillance through collaboration between the centers and the sharing of tools and methodologies. From 2010, the DEP has become a member of the ENCePP.

Projects

	ACE-INIBIT	- - -		Farmaco Vigilanza - Gravidanza
	AIFA Anziani	- - -		Farmaco Vigilanza - PTCA
	Farmaco Vigilanza - Antibiotici	- - -		Farmaco Vigilanza - Sclerosi
	Farmaco Vigilanza - Anziani	- - -		Farmaco Vigilanza - Statine
	Farmaco Vigilanza - Farmaci	- - -		OUTPUL

Activities

• Supporto delle attività della Commissione per l’elaborazione e l’aggiornamento del Prontuario Terapeutico Ospedaliero Territoriale
• Consumo di farmaci in gravidanza e appropriatezza prescrittiva nella regione Lazio

To know more

• European Network of Centres for Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance