Older Americans Seeing More Docs

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Older Americans are visiting their doctors 22% more often than they did in the mid-1980s, and doctors are prescribing more drugs for patients of all ages, according to statistics released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to the CDC's annual survey of doctors, office visits increased 19% between 1985 and 1999, due to growth in the overall population and the elderly population. While Americans aged 65 and older increased their rate of doctor visits--to about six times per year, on average--teenagers and adults aged 24 and younger saw their doctors less often by 1999.

``The aging of our population has had a major impact on...medical care in this country,'' Dr. Jeffrey P. Koplan, the CDC's director, said in a statement. ``As the oldest patients make up a larger proportion of the patients seen in a doctor's office, the doctor must be prepared to meet their unique needs, including monitoring multiple prescriptions and providing the best advice to prevent disease and disability and to promote a healthy life.''

But while older adults usually receive more medications than younger individuals, drug prescriptions rose for all ages between 1985 and 1999, the survey shows. Overall, the average number of drugs prescribed at office visits increased by one third, according to the CDC.

When the CDC looked at more than 100 drugs newly approved between 1997 and 1999, it found that while they accounted for fewer than 4% of all 1999 drug prescriptions, elderly patients were far more likely than younger ones to receive them. Among these medications, those used for arthritis, depression, asthma and impotence were most popular. And those that were most heavily marketed were most frequently prescribed, according to the CDC.

Overall, visits to internists and general and family practitioners accounted for about 40% of all doctors' visits in 1999. About 10% and 8% of visits were to pediatricians and ob/gyns, respectively. And 30% of visits were to various specialties. Of these specialties, visits to cardiologists rose by one third over 1985, while areas such as gastroenterology, rheumatology and medical oncology also saw increases.

About one third of all doctor visits were for acute problems, while an equal number were for chronic conditions. And 16% were for preventive care, such as check-ups, while about one third of visits included counseling services such as help with weight control and smoking cessation.

Reference Source 89

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