| The
number of individuals who make up the 50+ market is
growing exponentially, thus creating a very attractive
target group for the pharmaceutical industry. IMS
HEALTH Medical
Dynamics data was used to identify the leading
diagnoses and treatments within this target group
in North America and Europe. Hypertension is the leading
diagnosis within both regions, for which ACE inhibitors
have the most prescriptions written.
Who
are the baby boomers?
Those
born in Europe and the USA between 1946 and 1964
have
been labeled by demographers and the media as the
'baby boomers'. The population boom, created by the
deferral of childbearing during World War II,
means that today, the number of individuals who make
up the 50-plus market is growing exponentially.
Source:
US Census Bureau, the Official Statistics, March 1999
The
'baby boomers' are an obvious target group for pharmaceutical
products due to their large population size, together
with the prevalence of often long-term conditions
within this age group.
Analysis of data from IMS HEALTH's Medical Dynamics
revealed a number of trends in diagnosed conditions
and mainline therapies within the 50+ age group. The
two regions, North America and Europe, were analyzed
for the 12 months ending March 2000.
Leading therapeutic categories for the over 50's
The 50+ group in North America is led by Narcotic
Analgesics compared with Non-Narcotic Analgesics in
Europe. Non-Steroidal Antirheumatics take second place
in both regions.
| Top
10 Therapy Classes for 50+ Group by Prescriptions
12 Months to March 2000
|
| Therapy
Class |
Rank
in Europe |
Rank
in North America |
| Non-Narcotic
Analgesics |
1 |
4 |
| Antirheumatics
(Non-Steroidal) |
2 |
2 |
| Expectorants
|
3 |
* |
| Diuretics
|
4 |
7 |
| Antidepressants
|
5 |
3 |
| Calcium
Antagonist (Plain) |
6 |
* |
| Antiulcerants
|
7 |
* |
| ACE
Inhibitors (Plain) |
8 |
9 |
| Tranquilisers
|
9 |
* |
| Broad
Spectrum Penicillins |
10 |
5 |
| Narcotic
Analgesics |
* |
1 |
| Cephalosporins
(& Combinations) |
* |
6 |
| Oral
Antidiabetics |
* |
8 |
| Macrolides
(& Similar Type) |
* |
10 |
| |
| *
Does not rank in top 10 of that country |
Source: IMS HEALTH Medical Dynamics
Hypertension
is the leading diagnosis
Hypertension was the most common diagnosis in the
50+ age group, accounting for almost 40% of prescriptions
written for the top 10 diagnoses within each region.
| Top
10 Diagnoses for 50+ Group by Prescriptions
12 months to March 2000
|
| Diagnosis
|
Europe
|
North
America |
| Essential
(Primary) Hypertension |
1 |
1 |
| Chronic
Ischaemic Heart Disease |
2 |
2 |
| Unspecified
Diabetes Mellitus |
3 |
3 |
| Disorders
of Lipoprotein Metabolism |
4 |
4 |
| Dorsalgia
|
5 |
* |
| Heart
Failure |
6 |
6 |
| Asthma
|
7 |
* |
|
Other Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease |
8 |
5 |
| Depressive
Episode |
9 |
* |
| Menopausal
and Other Perimenopausal Disorders |
10 |
10 |
| Other
Arthrosis |
* |
7 |
| Non
Insulin Dependant Diabetes Mellitus |
* |
8 |
| Hypertensive
Heart Disease |
* |
9 |
| |
|
|
|
* Does not rank in top 10 of that country |
Source: IMS HEALTH Medical Dynamics
Leading treatments for hypertension
Around one in four prescriptions written for hypertension
in both regions are for ACE inhibitors (plain and combination)
and a further one in five for calcium antagonists (plain).
Diuretics are the third most popular treatment, and
together with beta-blockers account for almost 30% of
all prescriptions written for hypertension.
Source:
IMS HEALTH Medical Dynamics
Respiratory disease common in the under 50's group
In comparison, diseases of the respiratory system account
for three in four and two in three of all prescriptions
written for the top 10 diagnoses in North America and
Europe respectively, within the under 50 age group market.
However, North America is led by otitis media (ear infection)
and the common cold (acute nasopharyngitis) leads Europe.
| Top
10 Diagnoses for Under 50 Group by Prescriptions
12 months to March 2000
|
| Diagnosis
|
Europe
|
North
America |
| Acute
Nasopharyngitis |
1 |
* |
| Acute
Pharyngitis |
2 |
7 |
| Asthma
|
3 |
2 |
| Dorsalgia
|
4 |
10 |
| Acute
Bronchitis |
5 |
* |
| Non
Specific Bronchitis |
6 |
9 |
| Diarrhoea
& Gastroenteritis |
7 |
* |
| Acute
Upper Respiratory Infection |
8 |
3 |
| Essential
(Primary) Hypertension |
9 |
4 |
| Acute
Tonsillitis |
10 |
* |
| Otitis
Media |
* |
1 |
| Chronic
Sinusitis |
* |
5 |
| Vasomotor
& Allergic Rhinitis |
* |
6 |
|
Depressive Episode |
* |
8 |
| |
|
|
|
* Does not rank in top 10 of that country |
IMS HEALTH's new Diametrics
service provides an analysis of sales and prescription
data for a disease together with drug and patent data,
giving a comprehensive picture of key diagnoses. Diametrics
is available for a number of diseases, including Asthma,
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Congestive Heart
Failure, Hyperlipidemia, Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes. |
