From prevention to treatment: Prescription medication, information, and health behaviors

Abstract

Medical innovations may lessen the perceived risk of disease which can decrease the take-up of healthy behaviors, a phenomenon known as risk compensation. In contrast, a diagnosis provides updated information about the state of one's health which may motivate positive behavior change. In this paper, I consider how behavior changes in response to a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) before and after the FDA approval of new classes of drugs to treat high blood pressure and high cholesterol in 1973. I find that individuals diagnosed with CVD are more likely to follow a diet and decrease body-mass index in response to the diagnosis, irrespective of medication approvals. Nonsmoking is a notable exception. Prior to medication availability, there is no change in smoking behavior in response to a CVD diagnosis. Conversely, when medication is available, there is a significant decline in smoking. The empirical complementarity of medication and smoking cessation may be driven by increased exposure to medical professionals (who emphasize the harms of smoking) or because medication decreases the risk of CVD death which heightens the importance of investing in future health.