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STATISTICAL BRIEF #154:
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December 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marie N. Stagnitti, MPA |
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Highlights
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IntroductionThis Statistical Brief provides a summary of the top five therapeutic classes of outpatient prescription drugs for adults age 18 and older when ranked by total expense, as reported by households in the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population in calendar year 2004. The brief also provides estimates for the population age 18 and older on the percentage of annual prescribed drug expenses the top five therapeutic classes represented, the percentage of those with a prescribed drug expense having an expense in these classes of drugs, and the mean expense in these classes of drugs. The estimates in this brief are derived from the Household Component of the 2004 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS-HC). Only prescribed medicines purchases in an outpatient setting are included in the estimates. Insulin and diabetic supplies and equipment are included in MEPS prescribed medicines estimates. Over-the-counter medicines are excluded from these estimates as are prescription medicines administered in an inpatient setting or in a clinic or physician's office. All differences discussed in the text are statistically significant at the 0.05 level. |
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FindingsIn 2004, the top five therapeutic classes for prescribed drugs purchased by adults age 18 and older when ranked by total expense totaled $119.3 billion and represented 65.9 percent of the $181.0 billion total prescription drug expenses by adults (estimates not shown). Cardiovascular agents ranked first in terms of total expenses at $31.7 billion and was higher than the total expenses spent on any of the remaining top four therapeutic classes (hormones ($24.5 billion), central nervous system agents ($23.7 billion), antihyperlipidemic agents ($21.5 billion), and psychotherapeutic agents (17.9 billion)). Total annual expenses for hormones and total expenses for central nervous system agents were higher than total expenses for psychotherapeutic agents. (figure 1) In 2004, annual expenses for cardiovascular agents accounted for 17.5 percent of total prescription drug expenses by the adult population, and was a higher percentage than each of the remaining four therapeutic classes in the top five represented. The 9.9 percent that psychotherapeutic agents represented of total prescribed drugs purchased by adults in 2004 was lower than the percentage that hormones (13.5 percent), central nervous system agents (13.1 percent) and antihyperlipidemic agents (11.9 percent) represented. In addition, the 13.5 percent of total drug expenses by adults that hormones represented was higher than the percentage represented by antihyperlipidemic agents (11.9 percent). (figure 2) In 2004, for adults with a prescribed drug expense, central nervous system agents had the highest percentage of adults purchasing at least one (44.2 percent) as compared to the other four categories in the top five therapeutic classes of prescription drugs when ranked by total expense. The percentage of adults purchasing a cardiovascular agent (37.5 percent) and the percentage of adults purchasing a hormone (36.9 percent) were higher than the percentage of adults purchasing antihyperlipidemic agents (22.0 percent) and psychotherapeutic agents (20.1 percent). (figure 3) Of the top five therapeutic classes when ranked by total expense for adults in 2004, antihyperlipidemic agents had an average expense per prescription of approximately $100 ($100.44), which was higher than the average expense for the remaining four classes in the top five: cardiovascular agents ($47.55), hormones ($54.32), central nervous system agents ($61.58), and psychotherapeutic agents ($80.76). The average expense for psychotherapeutic agents ($80.76) was higher than the average expense for central nervous system agents ($61.58) and hormones ($54.32), and the average expense for central nervous system agents was higher than the average expense for hormones. In contrast, the average expense for cardiovascular agents, $47.55, was lower than the average expense for the other classes in the top five therapeutic classes. (figure 4) |
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Definitions/MethodologyTherapeutic classes were assigned to drugs using Multum Lexicon variables from Cerner Multum, Inc. Please note, the therapeutic class of central nervous system agents includes the large subclass of analgesics; the therapeutic class of antihyperlipidemic agents includes the large subclass of HMG-COA reductase inhibitors; and the therapeutic class of psychotherapeutic agents includes the large subclass of antidepressants. For additional information on these and other Multum Lexicon variables, as well as the Multum Lexicon database itself, refer to the following Web site: http://www.multum.com/Lexicon.htm. |
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About MEPS-HCMEPS-HC is a nationally representative longitudinal survey that collects detailed information on health care utilization and expenditures, health insurance, and health status, as well as a wide variety of social, demographic, and economic characteristics for the civilian noninstitutionalized population. It is cosponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Center for Health Statistics. For more information about MEPS, call the MEPS information coordinator at AHRQ (301-427-1656) or visit the MEPS Web site at http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/. |
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ReferencesFor a detailed description of the MEPS survey design, sample design, and methods used to minimize sources of nonsampling error, see the following publications: Cohen, J. Design and Methods of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component. MEPS Methodology Report No. 1. AHCPR Pub. No. 97-0026. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, 1997. Cohen, S. Sample Design of the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component. MEPS Methodology Report No. 2. AHCPR Pub. No. 97-0027. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, 1997. Cohen, S. Design Strategies and Innovations in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Medical Care, July 2003: 41(7) Supplement: III-5-III-12. |
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Suggested CitationStagnitti, M. N. The Top Five Therapeutic Classes of Outpatient Prescription Drugs Ranked by Total Expense for Adults Age 18 and Older in the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2004. Statistical Brief #154. December 2006. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/st154/stat154.shtml AHRQ welcomes questions and comments from readers of this publication who are interested in obtaining more information about access, cost, use, financing, and quality of health care in the United States. We also invite you to tell us how you are using this Statistical Brief and other MEPS data and tools and to share suggestions on how MEPS products might be enhanced to further meet your needs. Please e-mail us at mepspd@ahrq.gov or send a letter to the address below: Steven B. Cohen, PhD, Director Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 540 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850 |
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