title: Trends in glaucoma medication expenditure: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2001-2006.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study trends of glaucoma medication expenditure from 2001 to 2006 using a nationally representative sample of US adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed glaucoma medication expenditure trends among participants of the 2001-2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a subsample of the National Health Interview Survey, which is a continuous multipurpose, multistage area probability survey of the US civilian noninstitutionalized population. After adjusting for survey design and inflation using the 2009 inflation index, data from 1404 participants 18 years and older using glaucoma medication were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean annual glaucoma medication expenditure per subject increased from $445 in 2001 to $557 in 2006 (slope = 20.8; P < .001). Subgroup analysis showed expenditure increased significantly in women (P = .02), those with public-only insurance (P < .001), and those with less than a high school education (P < .008). Over the survey period, a significant decrease in expenditures on β-blockers (P = .048) and significant increases in expenditures on prostaglandin analogs (P = .01) and α-agonists (P = .01) were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors associated with increasing glaucoma medication expenditure trends include the increasing use of prostaglandin analogs, changes in insurance coverage, and possibly more aggressive glaucoma treatment. The findings are pertinent to the development of cost-effective strategies that optimize treatment and reduce expenditures.
authors.affiliation: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA. blam@med.miami.edu
authors.forename: Byron L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: D Diane
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Evelyn P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Davila
authors.forename: Kristopher L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Arheart
authors.forename: Manuel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ocasio
authors.forename: Kathryn E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: McCollister
authors.forename: Alberto J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Caban-Martinez
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000191:economics*; D044383:Black People; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000639:trends*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D008297:Male; D054524:Medicare Part D / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents