Effect of Prescription Drug Benefits on Cardiovascular Outcomes in the Elderly

2006年，美国实施了《医疗保险现代化法案》，该法案扩大了医疗保险受益人的处方药覆盖范围，估计在未来十年内耗资7680亿美元。改善获得药物福利的机会可能会通过提供有效治疗的经济途径来改善老年人的心血管结局。然而，关于处方药覆盖范围对健康结果的影响的研究有限。此外，虽然黑人登记者使用抗高血压、降脂和抗血小板药物的比例明显较低，但处方药覆盖率作为心血管结局中种族和社会经济差异的介导因素的作用却知之甚少。 在本项目中，我们将调查处方药福利对使用适当的二级预防药物和实现良好的临床结果之间的医疗保险管理的心血管疾病登记的影响。该项目还将评估处方药覆盖率在解释心血管结局的种族和社会经济差异方面的作用。

In 2006, the United States implemented the Medicare Modernization Act, which expanded prescription drug coverage for Medicare beneficiaries at an estimated cost of $768 billion dollars over the next decade. Improved access to drug benefits may improve cardiovascular outcomes for the elderly by providing financial access to effective therapy. However, there is limited research about the impact of prescription drug coverage on health outcomes. In addition, although black enrollees have been found to have markedly lower use of antihypertensive, lipid-lowering and anti-platelet medications, little is known about the role of prescription drug coverage as a mediator of racial and socioeconomic disparities in cardiovascular outcomes. In this project, we will investigate the effect of prescription drug benefits on the use of appropriate secondary preventive medication and achievement of favorable clinical outcomes among Medicare managed care enrollees with cardiovascular disease. The project will also assess the role of prescription drug coverage in explaining racial and socioeconomic disparities in cardiovascular outcomes.