Young Adults Are Using More Heart Meds

We're talking about cholesterol and high blood pressure meds used by people between the ages of 20 and 44 years old. For cholesterol meds, the rate rose from 2.5 million in 2001 to slightly more than 4 million people in 2006, which translated into a 68 percent jump. And for blood pressure drugs, the usage rose to 8 million, a 21 percent increase, according to a new analysis by Medco Health Solutions, the big pharmacy benefits manager. And the usage appears to be growing at a faster pace than among older Americans.

Why? Well, experts point to higher rates of obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol problems among young people, the Associated Press reports. Also, docs are getting more aggressive with preventive treatments. "This is good news, that more people in this age range are taking these medicines," said Dan Jones, president of the American Heart Association, tells the AP.

Still, he says many more people should be on the drugs that lower cholesterol or blood pressure and which have been shown to reduce risks for heart attack and stroke. In other words, cholesterol pills will become life-long companions to much of the population. Imagine a college graduation ceremony - for a gift, a newly minted grad is given a year's supply, which may have real value if the next generation of pills is as expensive as Lipitor.

"It was a surprise to us," Robert Epstein, Medco's chief medical officer tells the AP. "Maybe the fact that we're seeing more young people with high cholesterol and blood pressure is indicative of the epidemic of obesity and overweight that we're seeing in this country."

Among people 65 and older, use of blood pressure drugs increased only 9.5 percent and use of cholesterol drugs by 52 percent. That's because half the seniors were already taking blood pressure drugs and more than one in four were taking cholesterol drugs in 2001.

Jones, who is also the dean of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, says he has seen some increase in young adults with blood pressure or cholesterol problems, but not of the magnitude suggested by Medco's data.

Howard Weintraub, the heart disease prevention expert at the American College of Cardiology, says he's "thrilled" by the dramatic increase, which he says is tied to requests from patients with "a brand new sense of urgency" and referrals from other doctors to his private practice. "If you wait until a heart attack or stroke, it's a little bit late."

He and Epstein both say patients with problems should first work with their doctors on lifestyle changes _ more exercise, a better diet and weight loss. But Weintraub said many people need medication to achieve and maintain the ever-lower levels of blood pressure and cholesterol that experts now recommend.

But John LaRosa, president of SUNY Downstate Medical Center, says "particularly for young people, lifestyle change is worth a try." Once patients start taking these medicines, they usually stay with them and there are some side effects. "It's amazing what (losing) five or 10 pounds will do" to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Federal health statistics show that while the percentage of people with high cholesterol has dropped overall in recent years, it has risen among younger people, especially those 20 to 34 years old. Meanwhile, the prevalence of high blood pressure was flat or up slightly among those age groups; among women in the 35 to 44 age group, the rate of high blood pressure rose significantly.