Top Five Therapeutic Classes of Outpatient Prescription Drugs, by Total Expenses for the Elderly and Near Elderly in the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2002. Statistical Brief No. 91

摘要

This Statistical Brief provides a summary of the top five therapeutic classes of outpatient prescription drugs for the elderly (age 65 and older) and the near elderly (age 55-64), when ranked by total expenses, as reported by households in the U.S. civilian non-institutionalized population in calendar year 2002. The brief also provides estimates for the elderly and the near elderly on the percentage of total prescribed drug expenses the top five therapeutic classes represent, the percentage having an expense in these classes of drugs, and the mean expenses in these classes of drugs for those with an expense. The estimates in this brief are derived from the Household Component of the 2002 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS-HC). Over-the-counter drugs and free samples are not included in these estimates. All results discussed are statistically significant at the 0.05 level.