title: Trends in Prescription Drug Use Among Adults in the United States From 1999-2012.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Calendar year, as represented by continuous NHANES cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  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
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts2Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Elizabeth D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Kantor
authors.affiliation: Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts4Office of Community & Population Health, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York.
authors.forename: Colin D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Rehm
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts6Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.affiliation: Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts8Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston9Clinical and Translational Epidemiology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
authors.forename: Andrew T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts7Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts10Department of Nutrition, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Edward L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Giovannucci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D019338:Polypharmacy; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D055553:Prescription Drugs