Information Sheets

October 2009

 

NCHS Data on Prescription Drugs

 

PDF Version (87 KB)

 

About NCHS

The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is the nation's principal health statistics agency, providing data to identify and address health issues. NCHS compiles statistical information to help guide public health and health policy decisions.

Collaborating with other public and private health partners, NCHS employs a variety of data collection mechanisms to obtain accurate information from multiple sources. This process provides a broad perspective to help us understand the population's health, influences on health, and health outcomes.

 

NCHS Prescription Drug Data

Prescription drugs are a vital tool used by health care providers to treat both chronic and acute medical conditions and to improve the quality of life for Americans. NCHS collects prescription drug data from both individuals and health care providers. Data from individuals are used to describe what medications are being taken and the cost barriers in obtaining prescription medications. The medication prescribing practices of health care providers are collected from physicians in office based practices, hospital outpatient departments, emergency departments, nursing homes, home health agencies, and hospices.

In 1999-2002, almost half (45 percent) of Americans of all ages reported using at least one prescription drug in the past month. This percentage remained steady through 2003-2006, when 47 percent of all Americans reported using a prescription drug in the past month. However, the percentage taking three or more prescription drugs in the past month has increased from 18 percent in 1999-2002 to 21 percent in 2003-2006.

Source:  National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2002 and 2003-2006.

Reported prescription drug use increases with age. Prescription drug data from 2003-2006 show:

• About 38 percent of adults aged 18-44 years reported taking at least one drug in the past month, compared with 65 percent of adults aged 45-64, and 89 percent of adults 65 years and over.
• About 11 percent of adults aged 18-44 years reported taking three or more prescribed drugs in the past month, compared with 35 percent of adults aged 45-64, and 63 percent of adults 65 years and over.

 

Ambulatory Care Visits and Prescription Drugs

In 2006, medications were ordered or provided in over two-thirds of the 1.1 billion visits to physician offices, hospital outpatient departments, and emergency departments:

Physician office visits

• 1.8 billion drugs were ordered or provided
• 71 percent of visits involved drug therapy

Hospital outpatient department visits

• 247.7 million drugs were ordered or provided
• 75 percent of visits involved drug therapy

Hospital emergency department visits

• 212.1 million drugs were ordered or provided
• 91 percent of visits involved drug therapy

 

Common Medical Conditions and Prescription Drug Treatment

Diabetes is prevalent among adults aged 60 years and older. In 2003-2006, the percentage of diabetic adults (diagnosed or undiagnosed), was about 11 percent for adults aged 40-59, and 23 percent for those aged 60 years and older.

Approximately 25 percent of nursing home residents were diagnosed with diabetes in 2004. Among them:

• 34 percent took oral medications only
• 23 percent took insulin only
• 14 percent took both oral medications and insulin
• 29 percent took no medications

Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one component of emotional and behavioral health which affects child well-being. In 2005-2006, approximately 2.9 million children (about 5 percent of all children) were prescribed medication for emotional or behavioral difficulties. Most of these children (89 percent) were prescribed medication for difficulties with concentration, hyperactivity, or impulsivity, which are symptoms of ADHD.

Source:  National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2006.

Depression is a common and debilitating illness. In 2005-2006, more than one in twenty Americans aged 12 years and older had depression -- females (6.7 percent); males (4 percent).  Prescription drugs are often used to treat depression:

• Antidepressants classified as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are one of the most commonly prescribed classes of drugs used to treat depression and other medical conditions.
• In 2003-2006, 6.6 percent of Americans aged 12 years and older reported taking an SSRI like Prozac®, Paxil®, or Zoloft®.  Reported use was much higher among females (9 percent) than males (3.9 percent).

 

For further information about NCHS and its programs, visit the NCHS Website, or call the Office of Planning, Budget and Legislation at 301-458-4100.