Cardiovascular Drugs for Men: Volume Doubled in Last 20 Years

14.06.2021 13:19

Men are taking more and more medications to treat cardiovascular diseases. While a working man was prescribed an average of 58 daily doses of cardiovascular medication in 2000, in 2020 the figure was more than twice as many at 124 daily doses. This is shown by a current evaluation of the medication prescriptions of employed persons insured by the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK).

Cardiovascular drugs, which primarily include drugs with a blood pressure-lowering effect, are also by far the most frequently prescribed group of drugs. “Almost every second medication prescribed to a working man is to treat cardiovascular disease,” says Dr. Jens Baas, Chairman of the Board of TK. For women, the distribution is slightly different, but cardiovascular medications are also the frontrunner here at 26 percent. Last year, a working woman was prescribed an average of 65.8 daily doses of cardiovascular medication. “We have been observing in our evaluations for years that prescriptions are increasing. This may be related to changing demographics and increased awareness of high blood pressure. However, the majority of cardiovascular problems could also be improved with a healthier lifestyle; factors such as little exercise, increased stress and unhealthy diet play a role here,” says Baas.

background

The data mentioned comes from the TK's 2021 health report, which will be published on June 23rd. For the health report, among other things, the medication prescriptions of the 5.4 million employees insured by TK were evaluated. In addition to those in employment, this also includes recipients of unemployment benefit I.