Adrenaline autoinjectors utilisation analysis, October 2020
Page last updated: 15 March 2021
Drug utilisation sub-committee (DUSC)
October 2020
Abstract
Purpose
To analyse the utilisation of adrenaline PBS listed for the treatment of acute allergic reaction with anaphylaxis, as requested by DUSC at its June 2020 meeting.
Date of listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
The first adrenaline autoinjector was PBS listed 1 November 2003.
Data Source / methodology
Data from 1 November 2003 to 30 June 2020 were extracted from the PBS data maintained by Department of Health, processed by Services Australia (SA) on or before 12 August 2020, for the current and historical PBS item codes for adrenaline autoinjectors.
Key Findings
- In 2019:
- There were 260,593 adrenaline autoinjectors supplied to 122,271 patients.
- The number of initiating patients was 23,534.
- The mean number of adrenaline autoinjectors supplied per prescription was 1.87.
- The mean number of prescriptions per patient was 1.14.
- Although the number of treated patients and prescriptions supplied per year have been steadily increasing, expenditure has remained fairly consistent since 2014, likely due to price decreases.
Geospatial analysis suggests fewer patients were supplied adrenaline autoinjectors in some remote areas in central Australia, compared to populated areas.
