Medication use for diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia from 1988-1994 to 2001-2006.
The objective of this study was to compare rates of use of medications for diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia between 1988-1994 and 2001-2006 and determine whether increased medication use may be partly attributable to nonadherence to healthy lifestyle habits. This study analyzed and compared data from two different time periods in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Disease prevalence rates increased 23% (P < 0.01), and medication use increased 121% (P < 0.05) over the study's period. Diabetes medication use increased from 5.3% to 8.7%, antihypertension medication from 23.0% to 32.4%, and cholesterol-lowering medication from 4.5% to 16.7% (all P < 0.05). By race, diabetes medication use increased most among Hispanics (7.2% to 13.2%), antihypertension use increased most among non-Hispanic blacks (30.8% and 39.6%), and cholesterol medication increased most in non-Hispanic whites (4.9% to 17.8%) (all P < 0.05). Greater adherence to healthy lifestyle habits was associated with less use of medication (P < 0.01). Medication use for diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia has increased between 1988-1994 and 2001-2006 and is greater in people with fewer healthy lifestyle habits.
Department of Family Medicine, The Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. kingde@musc.edu
Dana E
DE
King
Tina M
TM
Ellis
Charles J
CJ
Everett
Arch G
AG
Mainous
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents