US pharmaceutical spending increased by just 0.5% to $320 billion in 2011. The estimate, highlighted by Ims Health in the report 'The Use of Medicines in the United States: Review of 2011', is explained by the lower number of doctor visits made and with a brake on the use of prescription medicines. According to the study, it was above all the elderly who 'rationalised' the use of medicines, reducing the volume of prescriptions addressed to them.
Conversely, young people aged between 19 and 25 have increased their use of prescription products, often taking them for the first time and being 'covered' by their parents' health insurance. The number of doctor visits among elderly Americans also decreased by 4.7%, while the use of retail prescription drugs decreased by 1.1% in 2011. Overall, the use of among the 'over 65s' there was a decrease of 3.1%, especially as regards antihypertensives, while in the 19-25 age group there was a progression of 2%, particularly in products against attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and depression. And it's the only category where we see an increase in drug use in 2011.
Barbara Di Chiara – April 6, 2012 – PharmaKronos
