Heart disease and hypertension prescription drug use increases among young adults

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. According to new research conducted by Medco Health Solutions, prescription drug use by younger adults for heart disease and high blood pressure is increasing at a rate that far outpaces older adults.

The analysis shows that between 2001 and 2006, the number of 20-44 year olds taking prescription medications to treat high cholesterol increased 68 percent, and use of antihypertensives jumped 21 percent.

Based on this new analysis, the estimated number of 20-44 year olds nationwide on lipid-lowering drugs rose from 2.5 million in 2001 to 4.2 million in 2006, while the number of people in that age group taking antihypertensives spiked from 7 million to 8.5 million in the six-year period.

The increase in the number of 20-44 year-olds on lipid-lowering medications was 37 percent higher than it was for 45 to 64 year olds; the growth in prevalence of those on antihypertensives was 52 percent greater.