Use of cholesterol and blood pressure drugs by young adults in the United States appears to be increasing at a rapid rate — and at a faster pace than among senior citizens, according to an industry report being released Tuesday.
Use of blood pressure medicines increased 21 per cent, from about seven per cent of 20- to 44-year-olds in 2001 to over eight per cent in 2006.
(CBC) Experts point to higher rates of obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol problems among young people. At the same time, doctors are getting more aggressive with preventive treatments.
"This is good news, that more people in this age range are taking these medicines," said Dr. Daniel Jones, president of the American Heart Association.
Still, he said many more people should be on the drugs that lower cholesterol or blood pressure and that have been shown to reduce risks for heart attack and stroke.
The new data, from prescription benefit manager Medco Health Solutions Inc., indicate use of cholesterol-lowering drugs among people aged 20 to 44, while still low, jumped by 68 per cent over a six-year period.
The rate rose from 2.5 per cent in 2001 to just over four per cent in 2006 among Medco customers. That means roughly 4.2 million Americans in that age group are now taking cholesterol medicines.
Full story
More...
(CBC)
"This is good news, that more people in this age range are taking these medicines," said Dr. Daniel Jones, president of the American Heart Association.
Still, he said many more people should be on the drugs that lower cholesterol or blood pressure and that have been shown to reduce risks for heart attack and stroke.
The new data, from prescription benefit manager Medco Health Solutions Inc., indicate use of cholesterol-lowering drugs among people aged 20 to 44, while still low, jumped by 68 per cent over a six-year period.
The rate rose from 2.5 per cent in 2001 to just over four per cent in 2006 among Medco customers. That means roughly 4.2 million Americans in that age group are now taking cholesterol medicines.
Full story
More...