Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 

Agency for Healthcare 

Research and Quality 

STATISTICAL BRIEF #96 

September 2005 

Statin Use in the Civilian 

Noninstitutionalized Medicare 

Population in 2002 

G. Edward Miller, PhD and Marie N. Stagnitti, MPA 

Introduction 

Statins are prescribed medications that are used to lower levels of 

cholesterol and other fats in the blood. This may help prevent 

medical problems caused by cholesterol clogging the blood vessels.* 

In 2002, more than a quarter (27.1 percent) of beneficiaries in the 

civilian noninstitutionalized Medicare population purchased at least 

one statin during the year. The proportion of beneficiaries using 

these drugs, however, varied across different socioeconomic and 

demographic groups within the Medicare population. 

This Statistical Brief presents data from the Household Component 

of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS-HC) on statin use 

in the civilian noninstitutionalized Medicare population in 2002. Estimates are presented for subgroups of this population defined by sex, 

age, race/ethnicity, insurance status, poverty status, and health 

status. All differences discussed in the text are statistically significant 

at the 0.05 level. 

Findings 

In 2002, 27.1 percent of the 41.1 million persons in the civilian noninstitutionalized Medicare population used at least one statin during 

the year. The percentage of males who used statins (29.6 percent) 

was larger than the percentage for females (25.1 percent). (figure 1) 

About 31 percent of beneficiaries ages 65–74 (30.9 percent) and 

ages 75–84 (30.5 percent) used a statin in 2002. This was larger 

than the percentage for beneficiaries who were less than 65 years 

old (16.9 percent) or beneficiaries who were 85 and older (11.8 

percent). (figure 2) 

In 2002, more than a quarter (28.5 percent) of white non-Hispanic 

beneficiaries used at least one statin during the year. This was larger 

than the percentage for black non-Hispanic beneficiaries (20.7 percent) and Hispanic beneficiaries (18.2 percent). The percentage with 

Highlights 

¢ In 2002, the percentage of 

male beneficiaries who used 

a statin (29.6 percent) was 

higher than for female beneficiaries (25.1 percent). 

¢ About 31 percent of beneficiaries ages 65 to 74 and 75 

to 84 used a statin in 2002, 

which was larger than for 

beneficiaries who were less 

than 65 years old (16.9 perent) or beneficiaries who 

were 85 and older (11.8 

percent). 

¢ Among beneficiaries, the 

percentage of white nonHispanics using a statin (28.5 

percent) was larger than the 

percentage of black nonHispanics (20.7 percent) or 

Hispanics (18.2 percent). 

¢ Across supplementary 

insurance groups, beneiciaries with private group 

insurance were the most 

likely (32.4 percent) and 

those with public insurance 

were the least likely (17.4 

percent) to use a statin. 

¢ Poor and near poor beneficiaries were less likely (22.5 

percent) than low income 

(27.8 percent), middle income 

(27.4 percent), and high income (29.3 percent) beneficiaries to have used statins 

in 2002. 

¢ Beneficiaries in very good or 

good health (29.1 percent) 

and beneficiaries in fair or 

poor health (27.3 percent) 

were both more likely than 

beneficiaries who reported 

excellent health (20.0 percent) to have used at least 

one statin in 2002. 

* Medline Plus http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202284.html 
use for other non-Hispanic beneficiaries (28.1 percent) was larger than the percentage with use for 

Hispanics. (figure 3) 

In 2002, beneficiaries with supplementary private group insurance were the most likely (32.4 percent) 

and beneficiaries with public insurance in addition to Medicare were the least likely (17.4 percent) to 

have used a statin during the year. About one-quarter (26.4 percent) of beneficiaries with a private nongroup supplementary policy and one-quarter (25.1 percent) of beneficiaries who were enrolled in a 

Medicare HMO or had Medicare fee-for-service only used a statin. Beneficiaries in the private nongroup category and in the Medicare HMO/Medicare only category were more likely to use statins than 

persons with public insurance but less likely to use statins than persons with private group insurance. 

(figure 4) 

Poor and near poor beneficiaries, those with family incomes less than 125 percent of the poverty line, 

were less likely (22.5 percent) to have used a statin in 2002 than low income (27.8 percent), middle 

income (27.4 percent), or high income beneficiaries (29.3 percent) (figure 5). 

In 2002, beneficiaries who reported excellent health were the least likely (20.0 percent) to use a statin. 

The proportion with statin use was higher for beneficiaries who reported very good or good health (29.1 

percent) and for beneficiaries who reported fair or poor health (27.3 percent). (figure 6) 

Data Source 

The estimates presented in this Statistical Brief were derived from the 2002 MEPS full-year files and the 

2002 MEPS prescribed medicines (PMED) files. Statins were identified by linking the PMED files to the 

Multum Lexicon. Individuals were classified as using statins if they had one or more purchases of these 

drugs during the year. 

Definitions 

Use 

Use was defined as one or more purchases of a prescribed statin medicine. The group of drugs 

commonly known as statins is more formally referred to as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A 

(HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors.* This brief focuses solely on this class of drugs. Other cholesterollowering drugs, such as fibric acid derivatives and bile acid sequestraints, were not included. For this 

brief, statins were determined by using the Multum Lexicon therapeutic classification variables from 

Cerner Multum, Inc. Statins were defined as those prescribed drugs in the Multum Lexicon therapeutic 

sub-class, HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors. 

Medicare population 

Individuals were included in the Medicare population if they reported Medicare coverage in at least one 

month during the year. A small number of persons 65 and older never reported Medicare coverage 

during the year. These persons were excluded from the analysis. 

Age 

Age is the last available age for the sampled person. For most persons, this was their age at the end of 

the year. 

Racial and ethnic classifications 

Classification by race and ethnicity was based on information reported for each family member. 

Respondents were asked if each family member's race was best described as American Indian, Alaska 

Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, black, white, or other. They also were asked if each family member's 

main national origin or ancestry was Puerto Rican; Cuban; Mexican, Mexicano, Mexican American, or 

Chicano; other Latin American; or other Spanish. All persons whose main national origin or ancestry 

was reported in one of these Hispanic groups, regardless of racial background, were classified as 

Hispanic. Since the Hispanic grouping can include black Hispanic, white Hispanic, Asian and Pacific 

Islanders Hispanic, and other Hispanic, the race categories of black, white, Asian and Pacific Islanders, 

and other do not include Hispanic. Beginning in 2002, MEPS respondents were allowed to report 

multiple races, and these persons were included in the other non-Hispanic category. As a result, there 

was a slight increase in the percentage of persons classified in this category in 2002 compared with 

prior years. 
Health insurance status 

Respondents were asked about health insurance coverage for themselves and all household members 

at each round of interviewing. The insurance variables reflect supplemental coverage, in addition to 

Medicare, that beneficiaries had for hospital and physician services. Persons categorized as having 

supplemental insurance coverage may or may not have coverage for prescription drugs. The insurance 

categories are mutually exclusive and hierarchical. Persons with more than one type of supplemental 

coverage were placed into an insurance category in the following order: 

– Private group insurance: This group includes those who, at any time in the survey year, had group 

plan coverage for medical or related expenses. It also includes persons who were covered by 

CHAMPUS/TRICARE (which covers retired members of the uniformed services and the spouses and 

children of active-duty military). 

– Private non-group: This group includes those who at any time in the survey year had individually 

purchased private coverage for medical or related expenses. The private group and non-group 

definitions both include prepaid health plans (such as health maintenance organizations) but exclude 

extra cash coverage plans, medical benefits linked only to specific diseases (dread disease plans), 

and casualty benefit plans (such as automobile insurance). 

– Other public insurance: This group includes those who at any time in the survey year had coverage 

from Medicaid or other State and local medical assistance programs. 

– Medicare HMO/Medicare only: This group includes persons who did not report any private or public 

supplemental insurance coverage and were enrolled in Medicare HMOs or had Medicare fee-forservice coverage only. 

Poverty status 

Each year, persons were classified according to their family’s income in terms of poverty status. In this 

report, poverty status is the ratio of the family’s income to the Federal poverty thresholds, which control 

for the size of the family and the age of the head of the family. The following classification of poverty 

status was used: 

– Poor/near poor: Persons in families with income of 125 percent of the poverty line or less, including 

those who reported negative income. 

– Low income: Persons in families with income from over 125 percent through 200 percent of the 

poverty line. 

– Middle income: Persons in families with income from over 200 percent through 400 percent of the 

poverty line. 

– High income: Persons in families with income over 400 percent of the poverty line. 

Perceived health status 

During each round of interviewing, the household respondent was asked to rate the health of each 

person in the family according to the following categories: excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor. For 

this report, the response categories “very good” and “good” were collapsed, as were “fair” and “poor.” 

Health status was missing for approximately 1 percent of beneficiaries. 

About MEPS-HC 

MEPS-HC is a nationally representative longitudinal survey that collects detailed information on health 

care utilization and expenditures, health insurance, and health status, as well as a wide variety of 

social, demographic, and economic characteristics for the civilian noninstitutionalized population. It is 

cosponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Center for Health 

Statistics. 

For more information about MEPS, call the MEPS information coordinator at AHRQ (301-427-1656) or 

visit the MEPS Web site at http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/. 

References 

For a detailed description of the MEPS survey design, sample design, and methods used to minimize 

sources of nonsampling error, see the following publications: 
Cohen, J. Design and Methods of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component. 

MEPS Methodology Report No. 1. AHCPR Pub. No. 97-0026. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Health Care 

Policy and Research, 1997. 

Cohen, S. Sample Design of the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component. 

MEPS Methodology Report No. 2. AHCPR Pub. No. 97-0027. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Health Care 

Policy and Research, 1997. 

Cohen, S. Design Strategies and Innovations in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Medical Care, 

July 2003: 41(7) Supplement: III-5–III-12. 

Suggested Citation 

Miller, G. E. and Stagnitti, M. N. Statin Use in the Civilian Noninstitutionalized Medicare Population in 

2002. Statistical Brief #96. September 2005. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, 

Md. http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/papers/st96/stat96.pdf 

� � �

AHRQ welcomes questions and comments from readers of this publication who are interested in 

obtaining more information about access, cost, use, financing, and quality of health care in the United 

States. We also invite you to tell us how you are using this Statistical Brief and other MEPS data and 

tools and to share suggestions on how MEPS products might be enhanced to further meet your needs. 

Please e-mail us at mepspd@ahrq.gov or send a letter to the address below: 

Steven B. Cohen, PhD 

Director 

Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends 

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 

540 Gaither Road 

Rockville, MD 20850 
Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2002.

25.1

29.6

27.1

0

10

20

30

40

Total Medicare population Male Female

Figure 1. Percentage of the Medicare population with

at least one statin purchase, by sex, 2002

P

ercent

Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2002.

11.8

30.9 30.5

16.9

0

10

20

30

40

Less than 65 65-74 75-84 85 and older

Figure 2. Percentage of the Medicare population with

at least one statin purchase, by age, 2002

P

ercent
Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2002.

28.5 28.1

20.7

18.2

0

10

20

30

40

Hispanic Black non-Hispanic White non-Hispanic Other non-Hispanic

Figure 3. Percentage of the Medicare population with at

least one statin purchase, by race/ethnicity, 2002

Percent

Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2002.

25.1

17.4

26.4

32.4

0

10

20

30

40

Private group Private non-group Public Medicare HMO/

Medicare only

Figure 4. Percentage of the Medicare population with at least

one statin purchase, by supplementary insurance status, 2002

Percent
Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2002.

29.3

27.8 27.4

22.5

0

10

20

30

40

Poor/near poor Low income Middle income High income

Figure 5. Percentage of the Medicare population with

at least one statin purchase, by poverty status, 2002

P

ercent

Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2002.

27.3 29.1

20.0

0

10

20

30

40

Excellent Good/very good Fair/poor

Figure 6. Percentage of the Medicare population with at

least one statin purchase, by perceived health status, 2002

Percent