Outpatient Prescription Anticoagulants Utilization and Expenditures for the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population Age 18 and Older, 2007. Statistical Brief No. 268

摘要

Anticoagulants (blood thinners) are used to reduce the rate at which blood clots. Anticoagulants are used to prevent strokes, and blood clots in the veins, arteries, and lungs. Anticoagulants are also used to treat or prevent blood clots that may occur because of an abnormal heartbeat (atrial fibrillation). Several other predisposing conditions put patients at risk of blood clots including: heart conditions, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, cancer, and surgery. This Statistical Brief presents utilization and expenditures for outpatient prescription anticoagulants in 2007. The estimates are for the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population and are derived from the 2007 Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS-HC). For outpatient anticoagulants, this Brief presents estimates for total expenditures, total number of persons purchasing, as well as the average annual expenditure and out-of-pocket expenditures per person with at least one anticoagulant purchase.