Rapid growth in heart meds seen in younger patients

By Bill Berkrot 40 minutes ago
Growth in prescription drug use among younger adults for heart disease-related conditions, such has high cholesterol and high blood pressure, is outpacing that among older adults, according to a study by Medco Health Solutions Inc.
While heart disease is usually associated with an older population, people are beginning to take medicines that could help prevent heart problems at a much younger age, according to data collected by Medco, a pharmacy benefit manager.
High cholesterol and high blood pressure are among the leading risk factors for heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
"We were pretty surprised by the rapid increase in a short time frame in this age group," Dr. Robert Epstein, Medco's chief medical officer, said in an interview. "Certainly it's a sign of the epidemic of overweight and obesity in this country, which are underlying factors."
Between 2001 and 2006, the number of 20-to-44-year-olds taking prescription medicines to treat high cholesterol increased 68 percent. The estimated number of patients on lipid-lowering drugs in that age group nationwide rose to 4.2 million in 2006 from 2.5 million in 2001, said Medco, which has a large mail-order pharmacy operation.
The use of anti-hypertensives jumped 21 percent among the age group, with those on medication to control high blood pressure rising to 8.5 million from 7 million in the six-year period, according to Medco's analysis of the data.
Those numbers should put a smile on the faces of drug company executives, as these medications, once started, are usually taken for life. An earlier start translates into many more years of sales.
"In general, people are less bothered by taking prescription drugs than they used to be," Epstein said.
The increase in the number of 20-to-44-year-olds on lipid-lowering medications was 37 percent higher than it was for those ages 45 to 64, and 31 percent higher than among patients 65 and older.
Growth in those on blood pressure medicines among the younger age group was 52 percent greater than among 45-to-64-year-olds and more than double the growth seen among senior citizens.
"It's another signal that we have an issue in this country that we have to get our arms around sooner rather than later because we are destining these young people to lifelong therapy," Epstein said, stressing the importance of diet and exercise lifestyle adjustments.
But the findings also are a sign that people are addressing medical problems sooner and possibly heading off suffering and much higher health care costs down the road.
"The good news part of the story is that prevention is really important," Epstein said. "It's not bad that people get these problems controlled at a younger age because it will reduce the lifelong complications."
In addition, he noted: "A lot of these therapies are going or have gone generic, so the actual costs are not going to be as high as they had been five or 10 years ago."
Medco got its data from a representative sample database of 2.5 million of the 60 million people for whom it serves as a benefits manager.