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Clonidine utilization trends for Medicaid children
Esther Y Yoon1, Lisa Cohn, Albert Rocchini
1Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. est@med.umich.edu
Clinical Pediatrics
|April 19, 2012
Summary
Clonidine use in children nearly doubled from 2003-2008, primarily for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study highlights trends in pediatric ADHD treatment before FDA approval.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric pharmacology
- Medication utilization studies
- Child and adolescent psychiatry
Background:
- Clonidine, an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, has been used off-label for various pediatric conditions.
- Understanding trends in pediatric medication use is crucial for evidence-based practice and guideline development.
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children, often managed with pharmacotherapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the utilization trends of clonidine among children aged 6 to 18 years.
- To examine the indications for clonidine prescriptions in pediatric populations.
- To identify demographic and prescriber characteristics associated with clonidine use.
Main Methods:
- A serial cross-sectional analysis of Michigan Medicaid claims data from 2003 to 2008.
- Identification of children aged 6-18 with at least one clonidine prescription.
- Analysis of ICD-9 diagnoses, child demographics, and prescribing physician specialty.
Main Results:
- The proportion of children receiving clonidine prescriptions nearly doubled between 2003 and 2008 across all demographics.
- The majority of clonidine prescriptions were for simple and complex attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other mental health disorders.
- Psychiatrists, general pediatricians, and adult primary care physicians were the leading prescribers of clonidine.
Conclusions:
- Clonidine was widely used for treating pediatric ADHD prior to its FDA approval for this indication in 2010.
- Further research is needed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of clonidine for pediatric ADHD treatment.
- These findings underscore the importance of monitoring off-label medication use in children.
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