AUTHOR=Knapik Joseph J. , Trone Daniel W. , Steelman Ryan A. , Farina Emily K. , Lieberman Harris R. 

TITLE=Prescription medication use of United States military service members by therapeutic classification

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.972031

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2022.972031

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=Background: This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of, and factors associated with, filled 
30 prescription medications (FPMs) among United States (US) service members (SMs). Methods: A 
31 stratified random sample of active duty SMs from the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy was 
32 obtained from military workforce records. Participants (n=26,680) completed a questionnaire on 
33 demographics, physical characteristics, and lifestyle factors and approved access to their FPM for the 
34 previous 6 months. FPMs were obtained from the military Pharmacy Data Transaction Service that
35 included all prescription medications dispensed at military medical treatment facilities, abroad, at retail 
36 pharmacies in the US, and/or through mail-order programs. Results: About two-thirds (65%) of SMs had 
37 ≥1 FPM in the 6 month surveillance period. Central nervous system (CNS) agents had the highest 
38 prevalence (41%), followed by anti-infective agents (20%), eye/ear/nose/throat preparations (20%), 
39 gastrointestinal drugs (18%), autonomic drugs (17%), skin & mucous membrane agents (13%), 
40 antihistamine drugs (12%), respiratory tract agents (12%) and cardiovascular drugs (9%). Among CNS 
41 agents, overall prevalence of dispensed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) was 30%. The 
42 odds of any FPM was independently associated with female gender, older age, higher body mass index, 
43 former tobacco use (smoking and smokeless tobacco), lower alcohol consumption, and was highest 
44 among Army, lowest among Marine Corps personnel. Conclusion: In this relatively young and 
45 physically active population, dispensing of CNS agents was high, especially NSAIDs, but dispensing of 
46 cardiovascular drugs was much lower compared to the general US population.