Cited by 1,219Pharmaceutical Practices and Patient OutcomesOpioid Use Disorder TreatmentPharmacy and Medical Practices

Trends in Prescription Drug Use Among Adults in the United States From 1999-2012

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Kantor, Elizabeth D., Rehm, Colin D., Haas, Jennifer S., Chan, Andrew T., Giovannucci, Edward L.·2015·JAMA

Abstract

IMPORTANCE: It is important to document patterns of prescription drug use to inform both clinical practice and research. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate trends in prescription drug use among adults living in the United States. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Temporal trends in prescription drug use were evaluated using nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Participants included 37,959 noninstitutionalized US adults, aged 20 years and older. Seven NHANES cycles were included (1999-2000 to 2011-2012), and the sample size per cycle ranged from 4861 to 6212. EXPOSURES: Calendar year, as represented by continuous NHANES cycle. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Within each NHANES cycle, use of prescription drugs in the prior 30 days was assessed overall and by drug class. Temporal trends across cycles were evaluated. Analyses were weighted to represent the US adult population. RESULTS: Results indicate an increase in overall use of prescription drugs among US adults between 1999-2000 and 2011-2012 with an estimated 51% of US adults reporting use of any prescription drugs in 1999-2000 and an estimated 59% reporting use of any prescription drugs in 2011-2012 (difference, 8% [95% CI, 3.8%-12%]; P for trend <.001). The prevalence of polypharmacy (use of ≥5 prescription drugs) increased from an estimated 8.2% in 1999-2000 to 15% in 2011-2012 (difference, 6.6% [95% CI, 4.4%-8.2%]; P for trend <.001). These trends remained statistically significant with age adjustment. Among the 18 drug classes used by more than 2.5% of the population at any point over the study period, the prevalence of use increased in 11 drug classes including antihyperlipidemic agents, antidepressants, prescription proton-pump inhibitors, and muscle relaxants. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this nationally representative survey, significant increases in overall prescription drug use and polypharmacy were observed. These increases persisted after accounting for changes in the age distribution of the population. The prevalence of prescription drug use increased in the majority of, but not all, drug classes.

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Crossref · 10.1001/jama.2015.13766

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Authors
Kantor, E. D., Rehm, C. D., Haas, J. S., Chan, A. T., & Giovannucci, E. L.
Affiliations
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (US)
  • Tufts University (US)
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
Corresponding author
Kantor, Elizabeth D.
Venue
JAMA
Published
2015-11-03
Volume
314
Issue
17
Pages
1818
ISSN
  • 0002-9955 (ISSN-L)
  • 0098-7484
OpenAlex
W2128043538
Cited by
1,219
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 56 · 2025: 57 · 2024: 95 · 2023: 107 · 2022: 120 · 2021: 151 · 2020: 148 · 2019: 149 · 2018: 148 · 2017: 125 · 2016: 60 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1
FWCI
55.72
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • JAMA (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (UL1TR001102)
  • National Cancer Institute (T32CA009001)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (K24DK098311)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Geriatrics and Gerontology › Pharmaceutical Practices and Patient Outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Pharmacy and Medical Practices
Keywords
prescription drug use, temporal trends, polypharmacy, antidepressants, lipid-lowering drugs, proton pump inhibitors, muscle relaxants, NHANES, adults, United States, age adjustment, medication adherence, drug safety, drug costs
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Antidepressive Agents, Hypolipidemic Agents, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Nutrition Surveys, United States, Prevalence, Age Distribution, Polypharmacy, Prescription Drugs, Young Adult

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