Table 3.

High-Cost Drug Categories

Prescription CategoryBaseline Mean $ (SE)Study Period Mean $ (SE)Change From Baseline P * Value
Note: values are least squares mean (SE). P >.1 for all baseline comparisons except rhinitis medications (P = .03) and triptan and headache medications (P = .07).
GERD = gastroesophageal reflux disease, COX-2 inhibitors = selective cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors, NSAIDs = nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
* P value for mixed model analysis (group-time interaction).
P <.05 for difference between groups during the study period.
P <.05 for comparison of baseline vs study period.
Antibiotics
    Intervention group27.19 (2.27)25.04 (2.29)−2.15.69
    Control group29.92 (2.18)28.88 (2.26)−1.04
Antidepressants
    Intervention group60.37 (2.87)50.59 (2.83)−9.78†‡.06
    Control group62.05 (2.85)60.22 (2.93)−1.83
Rhinitis medications
    Intervention group69.11 (2.21)66.58 (2.07)−2.53.24
    Control group62.27 (2.85)64.48 (2.10)2.21
GERD medications
    Intervention group96.08 (6.21)84.38 (6.04)−11.70.10
    Control group104.73 (6.25)108.83 (5.93)4.10
Asthma medications
    Intervention group62.65 (4.54)49.92 (4.55)−12.73.25
    Control group64.84 (4.47)61.73 (4.58)−3.11
Diabetes medications
    Intervention group53.15 (4.74)42.09 (5.14)−11.06.94
    Control group59.95 (4.55)48.22 (4.83)−11.73
Antihypertension medications, diuretics
    Intervention group23.52 (1.19)18.36 (1.16)−5.16†‡.30
    Control group25.83 (1.18)22.65 (1.15)−3.18
Lipid-lowering agents
    Intervention group73.06 (4.07)66.55 (3.95)−6.51.49
    Control group74.85 (3.76)62.98 (3.85)−11.87‡
Triptans and headache medications
    Intervention group94.81 (9.60)67.02 (9.22)−27.79‡.01
    Control group69.26 (9.69)88.95 (9.64)19.69
COX-2 inhibitors and NSAIDs
    Intervention group25.51 (4.69)29.53 (4.64)4.02.59
    Control group33.00 (4.63)40.53 (4.54)7.53
Totals for high-cost drug categories
    Intervention group49.94 (2.05)45.03 (2.03)−4.91†‡.06
    Control group52.12 (2.03)51.63 (2.02)−0.49