Table 3 Relative drug purchase rates (main ATC groups) for immigrants from China, Colombia, Morocco and Poland in Spain and Norway compared with the native population. Odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals adjusted by age and sex

Alimentary tract and metabolism

Spain

0.54 (0.49–0.59)

0.87 (0.83–0.92)

1.13 (1.09–1.17)

0.33 (0.29–0.37)

Norway

0.65 (0.59–0.71)

0.97 (0.86–1.11)

1.71 (1.58–1.84)

0.35 (0.33–0.36)

Blood and blood forming organs

Spain

0.59 (0.51–0.69)

0.91 (0.84–0.98)

1.09 (1.03–1.15)

0.47 (0.39–0.56)

Norway

0.45 (0.39–0.52)

0.77 (0.61–0.98)

0.63 (0.55–0.72)

0.34 (0.31–0.37)

Cardiovascular system

Spain

0.39 (0.33–0.45)

0.72 (0.68–0.78)

0.65 (0.61–0.69)

0.46 (0.39–0.53)

Norway

0.55 (0.50–0.61)

0.69 (0.57–0.83)

0.70 (0.63–0.77)

0.35 (0.33–0.37)

Dermatologicals

Spain

0.60 (0.54–0.67)

0.91 (0.86–0.96)

1.16 (1.11–1.21)

0.35 (0.3–0.41)

Norway

0.81 (0.75–0.87)

0.88 (0.80–0.97)

1.09 (1.00–1.18)

0.32 (0.3–0.33)

Genito-urinary system and sex hormones

Spain

0.50 (0.41–0.61)

1.49 (1.38–1.60)

1.79 (1.70–1.89)

0.57 (0.46–0.71)

Norway

0.28 (0.26–0.31)

0.80 (0.73–0.88)

0.70 (0.63–0.76)

0.26 (0.25–0.27)

Systemic hormonal preparations, excluding sex hormones and insulins

Spain

0.43 (0.37–0.51)

0.67 (0.61–0.73)

0.79 (0.75–0.85)

0.42 (0.35–0.51)

Norway

0.47 (0.42–0.54)

1.06 (0.92–1.23)

0.87 (0.77–0.98)

0.3 (0.28–0.33)

Antiinfectives for systemic use

Spain

0.29 (0.26–0.31)

0.57 (0.55–0.60)

0.84 (0.81–0.86)

0.4 (0.36–0.43)

Norway

0.44 (0.41–0.47)

0.89 (0.83–0.96)

0.92 (0.86–0.98)

0.35 (0.33–0.36)

Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents

Spain

0.12 (0.04–0.36)

0.61 (0.46–0.82)

0.47 (0.37–0.61)

0.24 (0.1–0.57)

Norway

0.40 (0.27–0.56)

1.05 (0.71–1.54)

0.53 (0.38–0.75)

0.23 (0.19–0.28)

Musculo-skeletal system

Spain

0.32 (0.29–0.35)

0.75 (0.72–0.78)

1.15 (1.11–1.18)

0.38 (0.34–0.41)

Norway

0.39 (0.36–0.43)

0.96 (0.88–1.06)

1.18 (1.10–1.26)

0.33 (0.32–0.34)

Nervous system

Spain

0.36 (0.33–0.40)

0.73 (0.70–0.77)

1.13 (1.09–1.16)

0.37 (0.33–0.41)

Norway

0.29 (0.27–0.32)

1.29 (1.19–1.39)

1.36 (1.28–1.45)

0.31 (0.3–0.32)

Antiparasitic products, insecticides and repellents

Spain

0.41 (0.25–0.68)

0.94 (0.76–1.16)

1.15 (0.99–1.33)

0.33 (0.17–0.64)

Norway

0.53 (0.43–0.67)

1.35 (1.11–1.64)

0.88 (0.71–1.08)

0.34 (0.3–0.38)

Respiratory system

Spain

0.40 (0.37–0.44)

0.56 (0.53–0.59)

0.63 (0.61–0.65)

0.28 (0.25–0.31)

Norway

0.64 (0.61–0.70)

1.11 (1.04–1.19)

0.92 (0.86–0.99)

0.25 (0.24–0.26)

Sensory organs

Spain

0.45 (0.40–0.51)

0.69 (0.65–0.74)

0.93 (0.88–0.97)

0.21 (0.17–0.26)

Norway

0.67 (0.62–0.72)

1.15 (1.05–1.26)

1.09 (1.01–1.20)

0.28 (0.26–0.29)