Rates of glaucoma medication utilization among older adults with suspected glaucoma, 1992 to 2002.

Abstract

To determine rates of glaucoma medication utilization among glaucoma suspects in the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) and identify recent utilization patterns for various hypotensive drug classes. Cohort study. By using MCBS data between 1992 and 2002 merged with Medicare claims data, utilization rates for glaucoma medication classes were calculated for survey participants >/=65 years with suspected glaucoma. Utilization trends over the 11-year period were identified. Each year, more than 85% of glaucoma suspects used no hypotensive medications. Between 1992 and 2002, utilization rates decreased substantially for beta-blockers and miotics and increased for alpha-agonists, combination beta-blockers-carbonic-anhydrase inhibitors, and prostaglandin analogues. This study identifies recent changes in patterns of glaucoma suspects' use of hypotensive medications by using patient-reported information, thus avoiding reliance on third-party databases. Such trends over time are important to recognize, because they reflect variations in patient care and have economic and clinical implications.