Between 2004 and 2007, Joshua N. Liberman, Ph.D. and colleagues of CVS Caremark in Hunt Valley, Md., reveal that the number of children and teens prescribed with high blood pressure or diabetes medications have increased. Their evaluation was carried out with information about prescription records of more than five million commercially insured individuals covered by a pharmacy benefits manager between the ages of 6 to 18.

Between November 2004 and June 2007, the frequency of children and teens that were prescribed medications for hypertension (high blood pressure), dyslipidemia (Abnormal cholesterol) or diabetes (including insulin) rose 15.2 percent, from 3.3 to 3.8 per 1000 youths. The authors write: "The increasing use of oral anti-diabetic and antihypertensive pharmacotherapy among children and adolescents, especially in the younger age group, indicates either an increased awareness of treatment needs or increased incidence of cardiovascular risk factors typically associated with adult populations."

Cholesterol-controlling therapy was unusual when assessed separately, and overall it was prescribed only to 0.2 per 1000 youths, and dropped 22.9 percent during the study period.

"The decrease in treatment of dyslipidemia may reflect the ongoing controversy regarding statin use," the authors write in conclusion.

In a complementary editorial, Stephen R. Daniels, M.D. Ph.D., of the University Of Colorado Denver School Of Medicine writes that the findings point out that these drugs are not currently being overused in this population "While the potential for misuse of these medications remains, that does not appear to be happening at this time. Nevertheless, it will be important to collect data in an ongoing manner to monitor use of these medications but also to identify appropriateness of use and ultimate reduction of risk factor levels in children and adolescents."

2009;163[4]:357-364, 389-3
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med.

Stephanie Brunner (B.A.)