ST. LOUIS, Nov 3, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- The number of U.S. children taking
drugs for type 2 diabetes more than doubled between 2002 and 2005, a study
released Monday revealed.
The report by researchers from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine,
Express Scripts and the Kansas Health Institute suggests obesity is the reason
for the 166 percent spike in diabetes prescriptions.
The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, also found increased medication
use for blood pressure, cholesterol, attention-deficit disorder and
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, asthma and depression.
"Our study findings indicate that these increased levels of chronic medication
use are symptoms of broader underlying issues affecting children today," author
Emily R. Cox, senior director of research at Express Scripts, said in a
statement. "These trends are worrisome given that many of these therapies are
treating conditions with modifiable risk factors and if not addressed, many of
these children will carry these chronic conditions into adulthood."
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Copyright 2008 by United Press International