Network analysis of drug prescriptions
Network analysis of drug prescriptions
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DOI：
10.1002/pds.3384
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发表时间：
2013-02-01
影响因子：
2.6
通讯作者：
Capunzo, Mario
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Cavallo, Pierpaolo;Pagano, Sergio;Capunzo, Mario
目的网络存在于世界的许多不同方面，在社会，经济，生物和分子水平上。网络科学研究它们的参数或定量指标;它的工具使从数学角度绘制和分析网络成为可能。本研究试图将网络科学技术应用于药物处方过程，这是公共卫生流行病学研究的一个典型主题。方法使用一组在6个月期间由意大利经营的99名全科医生（GP）撰写的药物处方集创建药物处方网络。在这个网络中，每种药物代表一个节点，在同一时刻给同一患者开的不同药物被认为是联系在一起的，称为共同处方网络。共研究了42965例患者和631232个药物包装的药物处方数据。根据不同年龄和性别的患者子集，获得并分析了一些共同处方网络。网络参数进行了测量和比较的各种子集。结果所研究的药品处方网络均具有标度不变性。与年龄和性别相关的共同处方网络显示出不同的模式，具有不同的复杂程度。结论本研究表明，药物处方过程具有特定的网络方面和动力学，更一般地说，它是可能的应用网络科学的仪器，从一个新的，不同的角度来研究公共卫生现象。应鼓励和开展进一步的研究。版权所有（c）2012约翰威利父子有限公司
Purpose Networks exist in many different aspects of the world, at social, economical, biological, and molecular levels. Network science studies their parameters, or quantitative indicators; its instruments make it possible to draw and analyze networks from a mathematical perspective. The present study is an attempt to apply network science techniques to the drug prescription process, a typical subject of Epidemiology for Public Health studies. Methods A drug prescription network was created using the set of drug prescriptions written during a 6-month period by a group of 99 general practitioners (GPs) operating in Italy. In this network, named co-prescription network, each drug represented a node, and different drugs prescribed to the same patient at the same moment were considered linked together. Drug prescription data for a total of 42965 patients and 631232 drug packages were studied. A number of co-prescription networks were obtained and analyzed on the basis of different subsets of patients by age and gender. The network parameters were measured and compared for the various subsets. Results All the drug prescription networks studied showed scale invariance behavior. The age- and gender-related co-prescription networks showed different patterns, with different levels of complexity. Conclusions The present study shows that the drug prescription process has specific network aspects and dynamics and, more generally, that it is possible to apply instruments of network science to study public health phenomena from a new, different perspective. Further studies should be encouraged and performed. Copyright (c) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.