Term: Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Drug Classification System

Printer friendly

Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2013-10-30

Definition:

A drug classification system widely used for research purposes. The drugs are divided into different groups at five levels according to the organ or system on which they act and/or therapeutic and chemical characteristics:

1. anatomical group;
   
2. therapeutic main group;
   
3. therapeutic/pharmacological subgroup;
   
4. chemical/therapeutic/pharmacological subgroup; and
   
5. subgroup for chemical substance.

ATC classifications are available online from the World Health Organization (WHO), and are updated and published once a year by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology. See the WHO On-line ATC / DDD Index: http://www.whocc.no/atc_ddd_index/ .

The ATC Drug Classification system is a component of the Health Canada Drug Product Database. See the Health Canada Web Site on the Drug Product Database (DPD): http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/prodpharma/databasdon/index-eng.php for more information.

Related concepts 

• Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification System
• Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB) Prescriptions - Defined
• Asthma - Measuring Prevalence
• Asthma Care Controlled by Medication Use
• Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Benzodiazepine Use / Benzodiazepine Dispensations
• Calculating Costs/Expenditures for Pharmaceuticals
• Costing Methods: An Overview of Costing Health Services in Manitoba
• Creating Drug Identification Number (DIN) Lists Using the SPD Server Updated DIN Master (UDM) File
• Depression - Defining in Administrative Data
• Diabetes - Measuring Prevalence
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Use
• Hypertension - Measuring Prevalence
• Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) / Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) - Measuring Prevalence
• Mood and Anxiety Disorders - Measuring Prevalence
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - Defining in Administrative Data
• Osteoporosis - Measuring Prevalence
• Stroke - Measuring Prevalence

Related terms 

• Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor Use
• Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEIs)
• Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists (A2RAs)
• Antibiotic Use
• Anticoagulants
• Antidepressant Prescription Follow-Up
• Antidepressant Use / Antidepressant Prescriptions
• Antidepressants
• Antipsychotic Medications (children)
• Antipsychotic Prescriptions
• Anxiolytic Medications
• Asthma
• Asthma Care: Controller Medication Use
• Beta 2-Agonist
• Beta-Blocker
• Cardiovascular Comorbidity
• Chronic Disease Score
• Corticosteroids (inhaled)
• Defined Daily Dose (DDD)
• Depression
• Diabetes / Diabetes Mellitus
• Different Drugs / Medications
• Drug Classification Systems
• Drug Data Support Files
• Drug Product Database (DPD)
• Drug Program Information Network (DPIN)
• Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
• Formulary
• Master (Common) Formulary
• Narcotic Analgesic Medications
• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
• Number of Different Types of Drugs Dispensed per User
• Opioids
• Poisoning
• Post-Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) Care: Beta-Blocker Prescribing
• Psychostimulant Medications
• Statin Use

References 

• World Health Organization (WHO). W.H.O.'s Collaborating centre for drug statistics methodology: Guidelines for ATC classification and DDD assignment. Oslo, Norway: 1996.(View)

Term used in 

• Brownell M, Chartier M, Santos R, Ekuma O, Au W, Sarkar J, MacWilliam L, Burland E, Koseva I, Guenette W. How are Manitoba's Children Doing? Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2012. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Doupe M, Brownell M, Kozyrskyj A, Dik N, Burchill C, Dahl M, Chateau D, De Coster C, Hinds A, Bodnarchuk J. Using Administrative Data to Develop Indicators of Quality Care in Personal Care Homes. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2006. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Fransoo R, Martens P, Prior H, Chateau D, McDougall C, Schultz J, McGowan K, Soodeen R, Bailly A. Adult Obesity in Manitoba: Prevalence, Associations, and Outcomes. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2011. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Fransoo R, Martens P, Burland E, The Need to Know Team, Prior H, Burchill C. Manitoba RHA Indicators Atlas 2009. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2009. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Fransoo R, Martens P, The Need to Know Team, Burland E, Prior H, Burchill C, Chateau D, Walld R. Sex Differences in Health Status, Health Care Use, and Quality of Care: A Population-Based Analysis for Manitoba's Regional Health Authorities. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2005. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Fransoo R, Martens P, The Need to Know Team, Prior H, Burchill C, Koseva I, Bailly A, Allegro E. The 2013 RHA Indicators Atlas. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2013. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Katz A, Martens P, Chateau D, Bogdanovic B, Koseva I, McDougall C, Boriskewich E. Understanding the Health System Use of Ambulatory Care Patients. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2013. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Kozyrskyj A, Raymond C, Dahl M, Ekuma O, Schultz J, Sklepowich M, Bond R. Effects of Manitoba Pharmacare Formulary Policy on Utilization of Prescription Medications. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2009. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Lix L, Smith M, Pitz M, Ahmed R, Quon H, Griffith J, Turner D, Hong S, Prior H, Banerjee A, Koseva I, Kulbaba C. Cancer Data Linkage in Manitoba: Expanding the Infrastructure for Research. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2016. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Lix L, Yogendran M, Burchill C, Metge C, McKeen N, Moore D, Bond R. Defining and Validating Chronic Diseases: An Administrative Data Approach. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2006. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Martens P, Nickel N, Forget E, Lix L, Turner D, Prior H, Walld R, Soodeen RA, Rajotte L, Ekuma O. The Cost of Smoking: A Manitoba Study. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2015. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Martens P, Fransoo R, The Need to Know Team, Burland E, Prior H, Burchill C, Romphf L, Chateau D, Bailly A, Ouelette C. What Works? A First Look at Evaluating Manitoba's Regional Health Programs and Policies at the Population Level. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2008. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Martens PJ, Bartlett J, Burland E, Prior H, Burchill C, Huq S, Romphf L, Sanguins J, Carter S, Bailly A. Profile of Metis Health Status and Healthcare Utilization in Manitoba: A Population-Based Study. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2010. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Metge C, Black C, Peterson S, Kozyrskyj A, Roos NP, Bogdanovic B. Analysis of Patterns of Pharmaceutical Use in Manitoba, 1996: Key Findings - A POPULIS Project. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation, 1999. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Metge C, Kozyrskyj A, Dahl M, Yogendran M, Roos NP. Pharmaceuticals: Focussing on Appropriate Utilization. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2003. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Morgan SG, Kozyrskyj A, Metge C, Roos NP. Pharmaceuticals: Therapeutic interchange and pricing policies. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2003. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Raymond C, Metge C, Alessi-Severini S, Dahl M, Schultz J, Guenette W. Pharmaceutical Use in Manitoba: Opportunities to Optimize Use. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2010. [Report] [Summary] (View)