Antidepressants for Teens, Gastrointestinal Medications for the Elderly... Pharmaceutical Consumption Shows 'Generational Polarization'

Antidepressant Use Among Children and Adolescents Up to 244% Higher
10% of Those Aged 65 and Older Take Gastrointestinal Medications Daily

As pharmaceutical consumption continues to rise steadily among South Koreans, a clear divergence has emerged in the types of medications used by different age groups. The use of antidepressants has surged among younger people, while the elderly show a high rate of regular gastrointestinal medication use.

Yonhap News reported this on April 11, citing the "2024 Pharmaceutical Consumption and Sales Statistics" released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service.

According to the statistics, daily pharmaceutical consumption per 1,000 people reached 1,491.7 DID, a 4.2% increase compared to the previous year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) standard, this means that, on average, each person in Korea takes the equivalent of 1.5 days' worth of medication per day.

Spending on medications also increased. Annual pharmaceutical expenditure per person was calculated at 842,594 won, or 617.8 dollars, showing a slight increase. Among all categories, medications related to the digestive system and metabolism accounted for the largest share, surpassing the average of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Ministry of Health and Welfare

The most notable change was the increased use of antidepressants. Over the past five years, total usage grew by 51.0%, with the sharpest increases seen in children and adolescents. Usage rose by 244.5% among those aged 5–9, 157.5% among those aged 10–14, and 128.3% among those aged 15–19. Across all ages and genders, women aged 80 and above were the group most likely to take antidepressants, with approximately 115 out of every 1,000 people taking them daily.

Among the elderly, the increase in use of gastrointestinal medications was notable. Over the past five years, usage of proton pump inhibitors, which suppress gastric acid secretion, increased by 52.9%. More than 10% of people aged 65 and older were found to take them daily. In particular, women aged 80 and above had the highest rate, with 203.3 per 1,000 people per day—more than any other age group. This trend is analyzed as a result of increased prescriptions to protect the stomach when multiple medications are taken for chronic conditions.

Ministry of Health and Welfare

In terms of prescription routes, both antidepressants and gastrointestinal medications were more frequently prescribed at local clinics than at large hospitals. For gastrointestinal medications, prescriptions at clinics accounted for 26.5 per 1,000 people per day, far exceeding general hospitals (15.1) and tertiary hospitals (8.9). Antidepressant prescriptions were also highest at clinics, with 23.0 per 1,000 people per day, and most were prescribed through outpatient care.

Experts analyze that these statistics reflect not only an increase in pharmaceutical consumption but also broader changes in the social structure. They point out the need for age-specific health policies, such as strengthening mental health management for children and adolescents and improving polypharmacy management for the elderly.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.