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, Ryan C Costantino, PharmD, MS Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences , Bethesda, MD 20814, USA Center for Health Professions Education (CHPE), Uniformed Service University of the Health Sciences , Bethesda, MD 20814, USA Enterprise Intelligence and Data Solutions, Defense Healthcare Management Systems , San Antonio, TX 78234, USA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Laura E Gressler, MS, PhD Department of Pharmaceutical Evaluation and Policy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , Little Rock, AR 72205, USA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Lee Ann Zarzabal, MS Enterprise Intelligence and Data Solutions, Defense Healthcare Management Systems , San Antonio, TX 78234, USA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Cynthia M Vasquez, MPH Enterprise Intelligence and Data Solutions, Defense Healthcare Management Systems , San Antonio, TX 78234, USA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Richard Juneau, PharmD Enterprise Intelligence and Data Solutions, Defense Healthcare Management Systems , San Antonio, TX 78234, USA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4554-3802 Military Medicine, Volume 189, Issue 7-8, July/August 2024, Pages e1577–e1587, https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usae024
Published:
22 February 2024
Article history
Received:
04 December 2023
Revision received:
31 December 2023
Editorial decision:
22 January 2024
Accepted:
27 January 2024
Published:
22 February 2024
Corrected and typeset:
23 February 2024
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Ryan C Costantino, Laura E Gressler, Lee Ann Zarzabal, Cynthia M Vasquez, Richard Juneau, Medication Trends in the Military: A Comparative Analysis of Prescribing Patterns Among Service Members Seen by a Pharmacist and Implications for Medical Readiness, Military Medicine, Volume 189, Issue 7-8, July/August 2024, Pages e1577–e1587, https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usae024
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ABSTRACT
Introduction
Medications play a critical role supporting the health of military service members. Little is known about the broad use of medications prescribed to this population. Active duty service members (ADSMs), while often younger and having fewer diagnosed comorbid conditions, face unique health challenges that benefit from pharmacotherapy. Understanding prescribing patterns is instrumental to illuminate potential areas for research and to guide education so that military health care professionals can maintain competency, improve outcomes, and support medical readiness. This study aimed to characterize commonly dispensed medications among ADSMs and to compare these prescriptions with those of the general population.
Materials and Methods
A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis using data extracted contained in the Military Health System Information Platform focused on ADSMs who consulted with a clinical pharmacist during the 2019 fiscal year. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient and prescription data. The 100 most frequently prescribed medications and 20 most frequently prescribed therapeutic classes were identified. Analyses were performed using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software, and a non-metric multidimensional scaling plot was generated in R to illustrate the relationships between the 20 most frequently used therapeutic classes and the branches of service.
Results
The study analyzed 719,788 prescriptions for 30,012 service members, revealing a high prescription rate for pain, inflammation, and psychiatric condition treatments. Antidepressants and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were among the most commonly prescribed across all military branches. Some medication uses varied, which may indicate distinct needs within different service branches.
Conclusions
Understanding medication patterns among ADSMs may be able to help health care professionals proactively address pharmacological challenges and optimize pharmaceutical use in this unique population. This knowledge can also aid in the development of training modules focused on medication side effects, interactions, counseling, and implications on military deployment for the most commonly used medications. Future examination into prescribing cascades and medication use related to proton-pump inhibitors, docusate, benzonatate, and muscle relaxants may identify opportunities to provide better care or lower cost.
© The Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2024. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/pages/standard-publication-reuse-rights)
Issue Section:
Feature Article and Original Research
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