Use of medicines by adults in Germany

Abstract

The use of medicines is an essential aspect of treating disease. In this field, surveys that map the population’s use of medicines are of particular interest. The GEDA 2014/2015-EHIS study collected data on the use of medically prescribed and self-medicated drugs during the two weeks that preceded the survey. 58.9% of women and 52.0% of men reported that they had taken medically prescribed drugs during this period. 48.5% of women and 35.4% of men stated they had taken medication during this period that had not been prescribed by a doctor. The prevalence of the use of medically prescribed drugs and self-medication was higher among women than among men. Finally, the prevalence of the use of medically prescribed drugs increased significantly with age, whereas the prevalence of self-medication decreased with age.