Geographic Variation in the Prevalence of Stimulant Medication Use Among Children 5 to 14 Years Old: Results From a Commercially Insured US Sample

Author:

Cox Emily R.1,Motheral Brenda R.1,Henderson Rochelle R.1,Mager Doug1

Affiliation:

1. From the Office of Research and Development, Express Scripts, Inc, Maryland Heights, Missouri

Abstract

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate geographic variation in the prevalence of prescription stimulant use and predictors of use among a nationally representative, commercially insured population 5 to 14 years old. Methods. Prescription claims activity from January 1, 1999 through December 31, 1999 for a continuously eligible population 5 to 14 years old was evaluated. Age-gender adjusted prevalence rates were estimated for each state. Multivariate logistic regression using hierarchical linear modeling was used to evaluate the impact of age, gender, number of child dependents, and region of the country on stimulant prevalence. The contextual effects of urban or rural residence, median income, percent white, and physician rate per 100 000 residents were also controlled for. Results. The 1-year prevalence of stimulant treatment for the entire study sample was 4.2%. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that stimulant prescription use was positively associated with age, male gender, fewer child dependents, living in higher income communities, and living in communities with greater percent white. Compared with children living in the Western region of the country, children living in the Midwest and South were 1.55 (99% confidence interval: 1.28–1.87) and 1.71 (99% confidence interval: 1.42–2.06) times more likely to consume at least 1 stimulant medication, respectively. Differences in stimulant prevalence across urban and rural residence were also noted. Conclusions. Geographic variation in the prevalence of stimulant use exists nationally, despite controlling for important predictors of use including age and gender. Possible reasons for the variation are discussed as are calls for additional research.

Publisher

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

Subject

Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

Reference41 articles.

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3