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Rise in Trends of Prescription Drugs Usage Among Adults in the US

by Reshma Anand on Nov 4 2015 4:21 PM

Rise in Trends of Prescription Drugs Usage Among Adults in the US
Prescription drug use is rising among people in the United states, revealed a new study.
A study which analyzed the trends of prescription drug usage between 1999- 2012. The study led by Dr. Elizabeth Kantor and her colleagues used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to determine trends in prescription drug use among nearly 38,000 adults aged 20 and older between 1999-2012.

They found that the percentage of use has risen by 51% and about 59% of adults used these drugs. Cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins), antidepressants and high blood pressure medications saw especially notable jumps in usage. 21% adults used blood pressure drugs, 17% used statins and 18% used antidepressants.

Significant increases were seen only in people aged 40 and older, not among those 20 to 39. Drugs such as Zocor, Prinivil, Levothroid, Lopressor, Aquazide H, Prilosec, Lipitor, etc, were popularly used in the United States. Researchers noted that increasing use of certain drugs reflected the growing need to treat conditions associated with obesity.

"We wanted to create a comprehensive resource on prescription drug use among U.S. adults, and I think that the implications of these trends vary across classes of drugs," said Elizabeth Kantor, lead researcher.

Reference: Elizabeth Kantor, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, Nov. 3, 2015, Journal of the American Medical Association, 314(17):1818-1830. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.13766.

Source-Medindia


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