Presentation Title
Prevalence of Psychotropic Drug Use in Children Aged 6-17: NHANES 2013-2018
Presenter Credentials
Maria Albornoz, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University School of Pharmacy, third year, Pharm.D. Courtney Ma, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University School of Pharmacy, third year, Pharm.D.
Presenter Degree
Degree in Progress
College
College of Pharmacy
Campus Location
Ft. Lauderdale
Format
Poster
IRB Approval Verification
N/A
Abstract
Purpose/Objective The objective of our study was to provide an updated evaluation of the use of psychotropic medications among children aged 6-17, and to evaluate the association of psychotropic medication use and healthcare utilization. Background/Rationale According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 5 million children aged 5-17 receive treatment for mental health problems each year in the United States. The most recent study that evaluated the overall use of prescribed psychotropic drugs among children in the United States used data from 2011-2012. Methods/Methodology This was a secondary database analysis using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2014 2015-2016 2017-2018 biannual cohort years. Children aged 6-17 at the time of the survey interview were included in the study. The use of psychotropic drugs was the exposure variable. Count and percent were used to describe medication and healthcare use. The association of psychotropic medication use across biannual cohort, select sociodemographic and healthcare use variables were evaluated using uni- and multi-variable logistic regression models. Multi-variable models adjusted for age, race, and gender as covariables. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to report these associations. Alpha was set at 0.05. Results/Findings Our results showed that 421(8%) participants were on psychotropic drugs. ADHD medications and antidepressants were the drug classes with the highest prevalence. Children that were non-Hispanic white, male and aged 12-17 years old were significantly more likely to be on a psychotropic drug. Psychotropic drug use was significantly associated with all healthcare utilization variables. Conclusions This is the first pharmacoepidemiologic study to estimate the use of psychotropic drugs in children nationally since 2012. Results also showed that socioeconomic status does not determine the use of psychotropic medications in children. This study found that children who have been hospitalized in the past year are more likely to be on psychotropic medications, but the cause of hospitalization cannot be assessed through NHANEs data. Access to healthcare plays a key role in the use of psychotropic drugs, as our adjusted and unadjusted models showed significant correlation to health visits, overnight hospital stays, insurance status, and mental health professional visits.
Selection Criteria
1
Prevalence of Psychotropic Drug Use in Children Aged 6-17: NHANES 2013-2018
Purpose/Objective The objective of our study was to provide an updated evaluation of the use of psychotropic medications among children aged 6-17, and to evaluate the association of psychotropic medication use and healthcare utilization. Background/Rationale According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 5 million children aged 5-17 receive treatment for mental health problems each year in the United States. The most recent study that evaluated the overall use of prescribed psychotropic drugs among children in the United States used data from 2011-2012. Methods/Methodology This was a secondary database analysis using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2014 2015-2016 2017-2018 biannual cohort years. Children aged 6-17 at the time of the survey interview were included in the study. The use of psychotropic drugs was the exposure variable. Count and percent were used to describe medication and healthcare use. The association of psychotropic medication use across biannual cohort, select sociodemographic and healthcare use variables were evaluated using uni- and multi-variable logistic regression models. Multi-variable models adjusted for age, race, and gender as covariables. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to report these associations. Alpha was set at 0.05. Results/Findings Our results showed that 421(8%) participants were on psychotropic drugs. ADHD medications and antidepressants were the drug classes with the highest prevalence. Children that were non-Hispanic white, male and aged 12-17 years old were significantly more likely to be on a psychotropic drug. Psychotropic drug use was significantly associated with all healthcare utilization variables. Conclusions This is the first pharmacoepidemiologic study to estimate the use of psychotropic drugs in children nationally since 2012. Results also showed that socioeconomic status does not determine the use of psychotropic medications in children. This study found that children who have been hospitalized in the past year are more likely to be on psychotropic medications, but the cause of hospitalization cannot be assessed through NHANEs data. Access to healthcare plays a key role in the use of psychotropic drugs, as our adjusted and unadjusted models showed significant correlation to health visits, overnight hospital stays, insurance status, and mental health professional visits.