Health
Prescription drug use rising for all age groups
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 27, 2004
Almost half of Americans take at least one prescription medicine and one in six take three or more medications, according the Dept. of Health and Human Services' annual checkup on Americans' health.
The report, "Health, United States 2004," presents the latest data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics and dozens of other federal health agencies, academic and professional health associations and international health organizations.
The report shows continued improvements in Americans' health, with life expectancy at birth up to a record 77.3 years in 2002, and deaths from heart disease, cancer and stroke -- the nation's three leading killers -- all down 1% to 3%.
In addition, the report found prescription drug use is rising among people of all ages, and use increases with age.
Five out of six persons 65 and older are taking at least one medication and almost half the elderly take three or more.
The full report is available on the CDC Web site (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/12/27/hlbf1227.htm.
