LONG-TERM TRENDS IN PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION CLASS USE AMONG ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES, 2010-2023
Author(s)
Nazneen Fatima Shaikh, PhD1, Mohammed Amaan Shaikh, DPharm2, MOHAMMAD IKRAM, PhD3.
1Real World Solutions, IQVIA, Inc., Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India, 3Penn State University, Harrisburg, PA, USA.
1Real World Solutions, IQVIA, Inc., Jersey City, NJ, USA, 2University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India, 3Penn State University, Harrisburg, PA, USA.
OBJECTIVES: To extend existing evidence on prescription medication use trends by estimating the prevalence and long-term therapeutic class patterns of commonly used prescription drug classes among US adults from 2010 to 2023 using nationally representative survey data. This analysis fills a gap in the literature by providing the most recent multi-year assessment of shifts in the therapeutic composition of prescription use.
METHODS: Annual Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data from 2010 to 2023 were analyzed to identify US adults with at least one prescription medication in the year. Commonly used prescription medication classes were identified using a data-driven prevalence threshold applied annually. Survey-weighted prevalence estimates and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Unweighted annual sample sizes were 14,068 in 2010 and 10,385 in 2023.
RESULTS: Across 2010-2023, antihypertensives remained consistently common (2010: 40.6% [95%CI 39.4-41.9] vs 2023: 41.3% [40.1-42.6]). Several chronic disease-related classes increased, including lipid-lowering agents (27.5% [26.4-28.6] to 31.0% [29.7-32.3]), gastrointestinal agents (20.9% [20.0-21.8] to 22.6% [21.5-23.6]), antidepressants (17.6% [16.6-18.5] to 22.2% [21.2-23.2]), antidiabetics (12.3% [11.6-13.0] to 18.0% [17.0-18.9]) and anticonvulsants (10.4% [9.6-11.1] to 13.2% [12.4-14.0]). In contrast, analgesics (35.2% [34.1-36.3] to 29.4% [28.3-30.6]), antibiotics (29.6% [28.5-30.7] to 20.5% [19.6-21.5]), endocrine/hormonal agents (21.0% [20.0-21.9] to 17.8% [16.9-18.8]) and respiratory agents (21.0% [20.1-21.8] to 20.0% [19.0-21.0]) decreased. Despite these changes across classes, the weighted mean number of classes per person was stable (2010: 2.91 vs 2023: 2.92).
CONCLUSIONS: From 2010 to 2023, U.S. adults using prescription medications showed stable overall medication class burden but notable shifts in therapeutic composition. Use of cardiometabolic, gastrointestinal, and mental health medication classes increased, while use of antibiotics and analgesics declined. These findings extend prior national trend analyses into more recent years and may reflect evolving clinical guidelines, changes in chronic disease prevalence, and expanded prescribing stewardship efforts.
METHODS: Annual Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data from 2010 to 2023 were analyzed to identify US adults with at least one prescription medication in the year. Commonly used prescription medication classes were identified using a data-driven prevalence threshold applied annually. Survey-weighted prevalence estimates and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Unweighted annual sample sizes were 14,068 in 2010 and 10,385 in 2023.
RESULTS: Across 2010-2023, antihypertensives remained consistently common (2010: 40.6% [95%CI 39.4-41.9] vs 2023: 41.3% [40.1-42.6]). Several chronic disease-related classes increased, including lipid-lowering agents (27.5% [26.4-28.6] to 31.0% [29.7-32.3]), gastrointestinal agents (20.9% [20.0-21.8] to 22.6% [21.5-23.6]), antidepressants (17.6% [16.6-18.5] to 22.2% [21.2-23.2]), antidiabetics (12.3% [11.6-13.0] to 18.0% [17.0-18.9]) and anticonvulsants (10.4% [9.6-11.1] to 13.2% [12.4-14.0]). In contrast, analgesics (35.2% [34.1-36.3] to 29.4% [28.3-30.6]), antibiotics (29.6% [28.5-30.7] to 20.5% [19.6-21.5]), endocrine/hormonal agents (21.0% [20.0-21.9] to 17.8% [16.9-18.8]) and respiratory agents (21.0% [20.1-21.8] to 20.0% [19.0-21.0]) decreased. Despite these changes across classes, the weighted mean number of classes per person was stable (2010: 2.91 vs 2023: 2.92).
CONCLUSIONS: From 2010 to 2023, U.S. adults using prescription medications showed stable overall medication class burden but notable shifts in therapeutic composition. Use of cardiometabolic, gastrointestinal, and mental health medication classes increased, while use of antibiotics and analgesics declined. These findings extend prior national trend analyses into more recent years and may reflect evolving clinical guidelines, changes in chronic disease prevalence, and expanded prescribing stewardship efforts.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EPH63
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, STA: Multiple/Other Specialized Treatments