Gender and age differences in medications dispensed from a national chain drugstore.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to compare sex and age differences in the medications dispensed in pharmacies from a large national drugstore chain.


METHODS
Using a list for the 200 most commonly prescribed medicines, we assessed prescriptions dispensed by a large national chain drug store over 1 year (2002-2003). The analysis used U.S. census data adjusted for the population by sex and age and weighted by the number of pharmacies per state. Results are reported as an odds ratio (OR) of prescriptions dispensed to females and males.


RESULTS
Under age 18, 24 drug classes were dispensed more commonly to females (OR > 1) and 18 drug classes more commonly to males (OR < 1). In the 18-24 age group, 48 of 53 drug classes were dispensed more frequently to females. Across other adult groups, females were dispensed more medications than males for 156 of 180 medications. There was greater dispensing to females of antibiotics (OR = 1.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.74-1.74), analgesics (OR = 1.70, 95% CI 1.70-1.70), antihistamines and sympathomimetics (OR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.45-1.46), benzodiazapines (OR = 2.08, 95% CI 2.07-2.08), antidepressants (OR = 2.40, 95% CI 2.39-2.40), diuretics (OR = 1.9328, 95% CI 1.93-1.94), and thyroid drugs (OR = 4.80, 95% CI 4.78-4.82). However, males had higher dispensing of antianginal drugs (OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.83-0.85), anticoagulants (OR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.88-0.90), glycosides (OR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.79-0.81), and antihypertensives (OR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.91-0.91). More females were dispensed propoxyphene with acetaminophen (OR = 2.23, 95% CI 2.23-2.24), which has been associated with adverse outcomes (hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and deaths).


CONCLUSIONS
Females, especially during the reproductive years, are dispensed more medications than males.
The Critical Path Institute, Tucson, Arizona 85718, USA. maanthony@c-path.org
Marietta
M
Anthony
Kwan Y
KY
Lee
Carl T
CT
Bertram
Jacob
J
Abarca
Rick A
RA
Rehfeld
Daniel C
DC
Malone
Marlene
M
Freeman
Raymond L
RL
Woosley
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002755:Choice Behavior; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006027:Glycosides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006027:Glycosides; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs