Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 

Agency for Healthcare 

Research and Quality

STATISTICAL BRIEF #205 

May 2008 

Highlights 

 From 2000 to 2005, total 

expenditures for statins in 

an outpatient setting more 

than doubled, rising from 

$7.7 billion to $19.7 billion. 

 The average expenditure 

for persons with a 

prescription medicine 

purchase of at least one 

statin increased about 37 

percent, rising from $484 

to $661, when comparing 

2000 to 2005. 

 When comparing 2000 and 

2005, total number of 

outpatient prescription 

purchases of statins nearly 

doubled, increasing from 

89.7 million prescription 

purchases in 2000 to 173.7 

million prescription 

purchases. 

 The number of persons 

purchasing a statin 

increased 88 percent from 

2000 to 2005, rising from 

15.8 million people to 29.7 

million people. 

Trends in Statins Utilization and 

Expenditures for the U.S. Civilian 

Noninstitutionalized Population, 2000 

and 2005 

Marie N. Stagnitti, MPA 

Introduction 

This Statistical Brief examines trends for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl 

coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, commonly know as 

statins, for the years 2000 and 2005. The data included in this brief 

are derived from 2000 and 2005 data for the U.S. civilian 

noninstitutionalized population from the Household Component of 

the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS-HC). The brief 

compares 2000 and 2005 total expenditures, total number of 

purchases, and total number of persons purchasing, as well as 

average total expenditure and average number of purchases of 

statins for those with one or more statin purchases. 

Only prescribed medicine purchases in an outpatient setting are 

included in the estimates presented in this brief. Prescription 

medicines administered in an inpatient setting or in a clinic or 

physician’s office are excluded from these estimates. Expenditures 

are in nominal dollars. All differences discussed in the text are 

statistically significant at the 0.05 level. 

Findings 

When comparing 2000 and 2005, MEPS estimates showed an increase of 156 percent from $7.7 billion in 

2000 to $19.7 billion in 2005 for total outpatient prescription expenditures for HMG-CoA reductase 

inhibitor prescribed drugs, which are more commonly known as statins (figure 1). 

When comparing 2000 and 2005, for those with a drug purchase (173.3 million persons in 2000, and 

187.0 million persons in 2005), the average annual expenditure for statins increased about 37 percent 

from 2000 to 2005 ($484 and $661, respectively) (figure 2). 

Total prescribed medicine purchases of statins nearly doubled from 2000 to 2005 rising from 89.7 million 

prescriptions to 173.7 million prescription purchases (figure 3). 

There were no significant differences in average annual utilization for those persons with one or more 

statin purchases when comparing the years 2000 and 2005 (figure 4). 

The number of people purchasing statins nearly doubled when comparing 2000 and 2005, rising from 

15.8 million people to 29.7 million people (figure 5). 
Data Source 

The estimates presented in this Statistical Brief are based on data from the HC-094A 2005 Prescribed 

Medicines File and HC-051A 2000 Prescribed Medicines File. 

Definitions/Methodology 

Utilization and expenditures 

Utilization was defined as one or more purchases of a prescribed medicine of interest. Refills as well as 

original prescriptions are included in expenditure and utilization estimates. Individuals were classified as 

using a prescribed medicine of interest if they had one or more purchases of the drug of interest during 

the year. Expenditures are in nominal dollars. 

Therapeutic classifications 

Therapeutic class and subclass were assigned to MEPS prescribed medicines using Multum Lexicon 

variables from Cerner Multum, Inc. MEPS prescribed medicines files were linked to the Multum Lexicon 

database to obtain therapeutic class and subclass variables. For additional information on these and 

other Multum Lexicon variables, as well as the Multum Lexicon database itself, please refer to the 

following Web site: multum.com/Lexicon.htm. 

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-HC 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. http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/mr1/mr1.shtml 

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. http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/mr2/mr2.shtml 

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

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

Ezzati-Rice, TM, Rohde, F, Greenblatt, J, Sample Design of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 

Household Component, 1998–2007. Methodology Report No. 22. March 2008. Agency for Healthcare 

Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. 

http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/mr22/mr22.pdf 
Suggested Citation 

Stagnitti, M. N. Trends in Statins Utilization and Expenditures for the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized 

Population, 2000 and 2005. Statistical Brief #205. May 2008. Agency for Healthcare Research and 

Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/st205/stat205.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, 

2000 and 2005.

7.7

19.7

0

25

50

Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors)

2000 2005

Nominal dollars in billions

Figure 1. Trends in total annual 

expenditures for statins, 2000 and 2005

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

2000 and 2005.

483.50

661.40

0

500

1,000

Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors)

2000 2005

Nominal dollars

Figure 2. Trends in average annual

expenditure for statins for those

with a purchase, 2000 and 2005

Statistical Brief #205: Trends in Statins Utilization and Expenditures for the U.S. Civilian 

Noninstitutionalized Population, 2000 and 2005 
Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 

2000 and 2005.

89.7

173.7

0

50

100

150

200

250

Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors)

2000 2005

Prescriptions in millions

Figure 3. Trends in total utilization 

of statins, 2000 and 2005

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

2000 and 2005.

5.7 5.8

0

25

50

Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors)

2000 2005

Prescriptions

Figure 4. Trends in average annual 

utilization for statins for those 

with a purchase, 2000 and 2005

Statistical Brief #205: Trends in Statins Utilization and Expenditures for the U.S. Civilian 

Noninstitutionalized Population, 2000 and 2005 
Source: Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, AHRQ, Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 

2000 and 2005.

15.8

29.7

0

25

50

Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors)

2000 2005

Persons in millions 

Figure 5. Trends in the total 

number of persons purchasing 

statins, 2000 and 2005

Statistical Brief #205: Trends in Statins Utilization and Expenditures for the U.S. Civilian 

Noninstitutionalized Population, 2000 and 2005