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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Nearly 50% take prescription drugs | Nearly 50% take prescription drugs |
| (2 days later) | |
| Half of women and 43% of men in England are now regularly taking prescription drugs, according to the comprehensive Health Survey for England. | Half of women and 43% of men in England are now regularly taking prescription drugs, according to the comprehensive Health Survey for England. |
| Cholesterol-lowering statins, pain relief and anti-depressants were among the most prescribed medicines. | Cholesterol-lowering statins, pain relief and anti-depressants were among the most prescribed medicines. |
| The report, by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), showed an average of 18.7 prescriptions per person in England in 2013. | The report, by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), showed an average of 18.7 prescriptions per person in England in 2013. |
| The cost to the NHS was in excess of £15bn-a-year. | The cost to the NHS was in excess of £15bn-a-year. |
| More than a fifth of men and nearly a quarter of women are taking at least three prescriptions. | More than a fifth of men and nearly a quarter of women are taking at least three prescriptions. |
| All the figures exclude contraceptives and smoking cessation products. | All the figures exclude contraceptives and smoking cessation products. |
| Nearly a third of prescriptions were for cardiovascular disease with more than 65 million prescriptions for tackling high blood pressure, heart failure or cholesterol levels. | Nearly a third of prescriptions were for cardiovascular disease with more than 65 million prescriptions for tackling high blood pressure, heart failure or cholesterol levels. |
| Simvastatin - which lowers cholesterol - was the single most prescribed item with 40 million prescriptions. | Simvastatin - which lowers cholesterol - was the single most prescribed item with 40 million prescriptions. |
| Heart | Heart |
| Dr Jennifer Mindell, one of the report's authors at University College London, said: "This is the first nationally-representative study to report on the use of prescribed medicines taken by people in the community, not just those within the healthcare system. | Dr Jennifer Mindell, one of the report's authors at University College London, said: "This is the first nationally-representative study to report on the use of prescribed medicines taken by people in the community, not just those within the healthcare system. |
| "That half of men over 65 are taking cholesterol-lowering medicines reflects the high risk of cardiovascular disease in this group. | "That half of men over 65 are taking cholesterol-lowering medicines reflects the high risk of cardiovascular disease in this group. |
| "Stopping smoking, being a healthy weight, eating more vegetables and fruit, and being physically active reduce people's risk of these diseases, for people who want to avoid taking medicines." | "Stopping smoking, being a healthy weight, eating more vegetables and fruit, and being physically active reduce people's risk of these diseases, for people who want to avoid taking medicines." |
| Around the UK | Around the UK |
| There is not an equivalent dataset for the rest of the UK. | There is not an equivalent dataset for the rest of the UK. |
| This study focuses on the drugs patients say they are taking rather than the number of prescriptions written by a GP as up to half of such prescriptions are either not taken or not taken as recommended. | This study focuses on the drugs patients say they are taking rather than the number of prescriptions written by a GP as up to half of such prescriptions are either not taken or not taken as recommended. |
| But figures for community prescribing - which include GPs and dentists, but not hospitals - show: | But figures for community prescribing - which include GPs and dentists, but not hospitals - show: |
| Analyses of similar data sets for England shows community prescribing, including contraceptives, increased from 650 million in 2003 to more than 1,000 million in 2013. | Analyses of similar data sets for England shows community prescribing, including contraceptives, increased from 650 million in 2003 to more than 1,000 million in 2013. |
| Mental health | Mental health |
| Antidepressants were taken by more than one in 10 women - double the figure for men. | Antidepressants were taken by more than one in 10 women - double the figure for men. |
| The drugs were most commonly taken by middle-aged women and those from deprived areas - 17% of the poorest women took antidepressants compared with 7% of the richest. | The drugs were most commonly taken by middle-aged women and those from deprived areas - 17% of the poorest women took antidepressants compared with 7% of the richest. |
| Dr Sarah Jackson, at University College London, commented: "It's well known that rates of depression are much higher among women than men, so I am not surprised to see that antidepressant use follows the same pattern in this study. | Dr Sarah Jackson, at University College London, commented: "It's well known that rates of depression are much higher among women than men, so I am not surprised to see that antidepressant use follows the same pattern in this study. |
| "People with depression are less likely to be in regular employment, and people who are unemployed or in low paid jobs are more likely to have depression." | "People with depression are less likely to be in regular employment, and people who are unemployed or in low paid jobs are more likely to have depression." |
| Overweight and obese people were more likely to need prescription drugs. | Overweight and obese people were more likely to need prescription drugs. |
| More than half of severely obese people in England reported taking at least one prescribed medicine and a third took at least three. | More than half of severely obese people in England reported taking at least one prescribed medicine and a third took at least three. |
| Sue Faulding, a pharmacist and programme manager of prescribing and primary care services at the HSCIC, said: "Obesity is often associated with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, joint pain and depression. | Sue Faulding, a pharmacist and programme manager of prescribing and primary care services at the HSCIC, said: "Obesity is often associated with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, joint pain and depression. |
| "Lifestyle changes are always recommended in the first instance, but medicines can help to address the symptoms and this study shows that medicine use increases steadily with body mass index." | "Lifestyle changes are always recommended in the first instance, but medicines can help to address the symptoms and this study shows that medicine use increases steadily with body mass index." |