General characteristics of the study population, the Netherlands, in 2013–2014, 2015–2016 and 2017–2018
| 2013–2014 | 2015–2016 | 2017–2018 | |
| Total, n | 17 112 982 | 17 269 164 | 17 473 459 |
| Age, mean (SD) | 41.76 (23.18) | 42.19 (23.32) | 42.54 (23.43) |
| Age categories, n (%) | |||
| 0–15 | 2 867 188 (16.75) | 2 815 725 (16.30) | 2 776 878 (15.89) |
| 15–25 | 2 079 263 (12.15) | 2 105 049 (12.19) | 2 138 442 (12.24) |
| 25–45 | 4 368 952 (25.53) | 4 299 213 (24.90) | 4 305 414 (24.64) |
| 45–65 | 4 755 790 (27.79) | 4 834 007 (27.99) | 4 880 562 (27.93) |
| >65 | 3 041 779 (17.77) | 3 215 170 (18.62) | 3 372 163 (19.30) |
| Sex, n (%) | |||
| Men | 8 482 826 (49.57) | 8 568 391 (49.62) | 8 679 186 (49.67) |
| Women | 8 630 156 (50.43) | 8 700 773 (50.38) | 8 794 273 (50.33) |
| Received a prescription for a medication | |||
| NSAIDs, n (%) | 4 094 856 (23.93) | 3 906 368 (22.62) | 3 735 730 (21.38) |
| Antithrombotic agents, n (%) | 1 962 912 (11.47) | 2 033 817 (11.78) | 2 091 111 (11.97) |
| Anticancer medication, n (%) | 247 017 (1.44) | 226 766 (1.31) | 223 665 (1.28) |
| Systemic corticosteroids, n (%) | 1 243 385 (7.27) | 1 336 613 (7.74) | 1 378 921 (7.89) |
| Drugs for stomach-acid disorders, n (%) | 2 377 506 (13.89) | 2 535 825 (14.68) | 2 603 371 (14.90) |
| Antidepressants, n (%) | 1 223 285 (7.15) | 1 242 787 (7.20) | 1 256 602 (7.19) |
| Antihypertensives, n (%) | 3 419 241 (19.98) | 3 454 098 (20.00) | 3 484 030 (19.94) |
| Antidiabetic medication, n (%) | 854 240 (4.99) | 867 259 (5.02) | 877 046 (5.02) |
All medications were identified through prescription reimbursement data, based on their ATC codes per two calendar years. Identified medication: NSAIDs (ATC code: M01A), antithrombotic agents (B01A), anticancer medication (L01, L02), systemic corticosteroids (H02A, H02B), drugs for stomach-acid related disorders (A02A, A02B, A02X), antidepressants (N06A), antihypertensives (C02, C03, C07, C08, C09), antidiabetic medication (A10). People might have received several medications in a given year, for example, could have used NSAIDs and antithrombotic agents at the same time in a given year.
ATC, Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.