37.4 US consumers cut back on Rxs due to cost

USA-based Manhattan Research has issued a survey confirming earlier studies of on-line behavior by consumers, who are looking for cheaper  and more convenient alternatives to physicians' consultations and ways  of saving on health care costs. One element of the data is to compile a  list of the top-10 chronic conditions for which an estimated 37.4  million people saved money by not taking their medication.

These are: fibromyalgia; inflammatory bowel disease; generalized anxiety  disorder; chronic bronchitis; chronic pain; acute pain; adult  attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; anxiety disorder or social  phobia; bipolar disorder; and depression.

Commenting on these findings, Jane Sarasohn-Kahn, a US health economist  specializing in Internet issues for the drug industry, said: "the issue  of patients' compliance with prescription drug regimens has challenged  drug companies, health plans and physicians for years." She added: "this  will ultimately exacerbate costs in the longer term for the individual,  the health plan, the local hospital (who might admit the patient with  complications into the emergency department) and the health system at  large."