Healthcare Insights
Top prescriptions by cardiologists
It’s estimated that nearly half of all adults in the U.S. have some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The high prevalence and devastating impact of CVD have led many life sciences companies to develop pharmaceutical agents for cardiac conditions. These life-saving drugs help treat cardiac symptoms and, as a result, greatly improve the quality of life and health outcomes for those living with CVD.
Definitive Healthcare tracks more than 3,600 cardiovascular drugs as of November 2022. Below, we rank the top 10 cardiovascular drugs by percentage of total prescriptions.
Top 10 cardiovascular agents by number of prescriptions in 2021
| Rank | Drug name | % of Total cardiovascular prescriptions in 2021 | Explore dataset |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atorvastatin Calcium | 8.10% | Explore |
| 2 | Metoprolol succinate | 7.90% | Explore |
| 3 | Carvedilol | 5.00% | Explore |
| 4 | Amlodipine Besylate | 4.90% | Explore |
| 5 | Lisinopril | 4.50% | Explore |
| 6 | ELIQUIS | 4.50% | Explore |
| 7 | METOPROLOL TARTRATE | 3.80% | Explore |
| 8 | Furosemide | 3.50% | Explore |
| 9 | Rosuvastatin Calcium | 3.40% | Explore |
| 10 | Losartan Potassium | 2.90% | Explore |
Fig. 1 Data from the Definitive Healthcare ClaimsRx product. Claims data is sourced from multiple medical claims clearinghouses in the United States and updated monthly. Data accessed November 2022.
Which cardiovascular drug had the most prescriptions?
Atorvastatin Calcium had the most prescriptions, representing 8.10% of total prescriptions in 2021.
Second on our list was Metoprolol succinate, with 7.90%, and third was Carvedilol, with 5.00%.
Many of the drugs on the list help reduce cholesterol levels or blood pressure. Around 38% of adults in the U.S. have elevated cholesterol levels, and 47% have hypertension.
What is cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular disease refers to several conditions, including:
- Heart attacks
- Heart failure
- Stroke
- Heart valve problems
- Arrhythmia
- Heart disease
CVD can present with many symptoms like chest pain, numbness, shortness of breath, and jaw pain.
Cardiologists and other healthcare providers often treat CVD with medications, surgery, and pacemakers.
How do cardiovascular drugs help cardiac conditions?
Cardiovascular agents can help individuals experiencing cardiac events recover. They can also help improve or manage symptoms and prevent the reoccurrence of stroke, heart failure, or heart attack.
There are many types of heart medications. Some of the most common drugs prevent and treat blood clots, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and arrhythmias. Healthcare providers consider many factors like age, diagnosis, and lifestyle when prescribing medications.
What is a cardiologist?
A cardiologist is a physician who prevents, diagnoses, and treats issues related to the heart. To become cardiologists, physicians complete specialized training on the cardiovascular system.
Learn more
For more insights into cardiovascular disease, check out our report on the top 10 cardiovascular procedure codes.
Healthcare Insights are developed with healthcare commercial intelligence from the Definitive Healthcare platform. Want even more insights? Start a free trial now and get access to the latest healthcare commercial intelligence on hospitals, physicians and other healthcare providers.
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