AHRQ Stats: Statin Use

The number of adults who reported using prescribed statins more than doubled in 10 years, from 17.6 million in 2000–2001 to 40.8 million in 2010–2011. (Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Statistical Brief #458: Trends in Statin Therapy among Adults (Age ≥ 18), United States, 2000 to 2011.)

STATISTICAL BRIEF #458:
Trends in Statin Therapy among Adults (Age ≥ 18), United States, 2000 to 2011

November 2014

Eric M. Sarpong and Samuel H. Zuvekas

Highlights

The number of adults (age ≥ 18) who reported using prescribed statins increased from an average 17.6 million annually in 2000–2001 to 40.8 million in 2010–2011.
Between 2000–2001 and 2010–2011, the number of adults who reported using prescribed generic versions of statins increased from 0.1 to 26.5 million annually.
The number of statin prescriptions filled by adults (age ≥ 18) increased from an average 102.2 million annually in 2000–2001 to 237.9 million in 2010–2011.
Among adults (age ≥ 18), annual total expenditures (in constant 2011 dollars) for all statins rose, on average, from $11.5 billion in 2000–2001 to $21.6 billion in 2010–2011.
Between 2000–2001 and 2010–2011, per user average annual expenditures (in constant 2011 dollars) among adults (age ≥ 18) fell from $652 to $529 for all statins, and rose from $653 to $1,051 for prescribed branded statins.