In 2004, medication was prescribed or provided at more than 585 million physician office visits; multiple drug prescriptions were recorded at 38.9 percent of all visits. The percent of visits with one or more drugs prescribed or provided was similar for males and females (64.6 and 64.0 percent). Among females, 36.0 percent of visits did not involve prescribing or providing any drugs, 25.3 percent of visits involved the prescription or provision of one drug, and 14.4 percent of visits involved two drugs.¹

The prescription or provision of medications among females varies by age and drug type. In 2004, the rate of cardiovascular/renal and pain relief drugs prescribed or provided at physician office visits generally increased with age, while respiratory tract drugs decreased with age. Prescription or provision of nervous system drugs, including mental health medications such as antidepressants, during physician visits were most common among women 45–64 years (27.7 per 100 visits). The highest rate of drug prescription or provision was 65.7 per 100 visits, which was for cardiovascular/renal drugs among women 75 years and older. Among females under 15 years, the lowest rate of drug prescription or provision (0.9 per 100 visits) was for cardiovascular/renal drugs, and the highest rate was for respiratory tract drugs (31.3 per 100 visits).

¹ Hing E, Cherry DK, Woodwell DA. National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2004 summary. Advance Data from Vital and Health Statistics, No. 374; 2006 June.

> VERTICAL Bar CHART: Medication Use Reported for Females During Physician Office Visits, by Age, 2004