QuickStats: Percentage* of Adults Aged ≥18 Years Who Were Prescribed Medication in the Past 12 Months,† by Sex and Age Group — National Health Interview Survey,§ 2017

Weekly / February 1, 2019 / 68(4);97

The figure is a bar chart indicating that in 2017, 57.9% of adults aged 18–64 years and 86.1% of adults aged ≥65 years were prescribed medication in the past 12 months. Overall and for both men and women separately, receipt of a prescription increased with age. Among both age groups, a greater percentage of women were prescribed medication than men, with 64.3% of women and 51.3% of men aged 18–64 years and 87.1% of women and 85.0% of men aged ≥65 years having been prescribed medication.

* With 95% confidence intervals indicated by error bars.

† Based on a positive response to the question “During the past 12 months, were you prescribed medication by a doctor or other health professional?”

§ Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population and are derived from the National Health Interview Survey Sample Adult component.

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In 2017, 57.9% of adults aged 18–64 years and 86.1% of adults aged ≥65 years were prescribed medication in the past 12 months. Overall and for both men and women separately, receipt of a prescription increased with age. Among both age groups, a greater percentage of women were prescribed medication than men, with 64.3% of women and 51.3% of men aged 18–64 years and 87.1% of women and 85.0% of men aged ≥65 years having been prescribed medication.

Source: National Health Interview Survey, 2017. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/index.htm.

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Reported by: Peter Boersma, MPH, ots6@cdc.gov, 301-458-4101; Robin A. Cohen, PhD; Anjel Vahratian, PhD.

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Suggested citation for this article: QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged ≥18 Years Who Were Prescribed Medication in the Past 12 Months, by Sex and Age Group — National Health Interview Survey, 2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2019;68:97. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6804a6 .