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Network Pharmacology, 2017, 2(4): 105-111
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Article

A long-term trend of drug-induced deaths in European countries

WenJun Zhang
School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Hong Kong

Received 20 December 2016;Accepted 16 January 2017;Published 1 December 2017
IAEES

Abstract
In present study, data of drug-induced deaths in 29 European countries were used to analyze the profile and trend of drug-induced deaths recorded for total population, males and females in order to provide some basic information on adverse effects and misuse of drugs. The results showed that Germany (28501 deaths) and United Kindom (22537 deaths) have the greatest accumalted number (1995-2014) of drug-induced deaths, followed by Italy (14134 deaths) and Spain (11133 deaths). Germany (23%) and United Kingdom (18%) held the highest percentage of drug-induced deaths in Europe, followed by Italy (12%), Spain (9%), Sweden (4%), and Norway (4%), etc. For males, United Kindom (24%) and Germany (20%) held the highest percentage, followed by Poland (8%), Italy (6%), etc. Similarly, Germany (25%) and United Kingdom (18%) are the highest in death percentage of males, followed by Italy (13%), etc. Not less than 1 death/yr, the European countries with the highest linear growth of drug-induced deaths for total population (p<0.05) are Turkey (33.2 deaths/yr) and Sweden (21.6 deaths/yr), followed by Ireland (8.9 deaths/yr), Estonia (7.3 deaths/yr), Finland (6.5 deaths/yr), Lithuania (2.6 deaths/yr), and Romania (2.3 deaths/yr). Not less than 1 death/yr, the European countries with the highest linear decline of drug-induced deaths for total population (p<0.05) are Italy (-53.9 deaths/yr) and Germany (-42.1 deaths/yr), followed by Spain (-21.6 deaths/yr), Portugal (-9.8 deaths/yr), Czech Republic (-2.9 deaths/yr), and Hungry (-1.5 deaths/yr). In average, the number of drug-induced deaths for both total population and males in Europe declined at the annual rate of 2 deaths, and that for females grew at the annual rate of 0.1 death. Generally the continuous growth of drug-induced deaths was mostly attributed to the growth of drug uses, the deteriorated medical service, or the promotion of diagnostic levels, etc. However, the continuous decline of drug-induced deaths was mostly attributed to the enhancement of medical service and the improvement of drug uses. More attention may be focused on females for proper drug uses. Both proper drug uses and improved drug design in reducing adverse effects are needed in the future.

Keywords drug;toxicity;adverse effects;abuse;deaths;Europe.

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