Table 3. Comparison of 1-year healthcare utilization by codeine prescription.
| Parameters | No codeine prescription (n=567) | Codeine prescribed for ≤8 weeks (n=493) | Codeine prescribed for >8 weeks (n=173) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other cough-related medications, % | ||||
| Amitriptyline | 0.7 | 1.4 | 8.7 | <0.001 |
| Antibiotics | 11.5 | 18.1 | 20.2 | 0.002 |
| Gabapentin/pregabalin | 0.4 | 1.8 | 8.1 | <0.001 |
| H1RA | 30.7 | 47.1 | 59.5 | <0.001 |
| LTRA | 20.8 | 26.2 | 27.2 | 0.067 |
| PPI | 13.2 | 18.7 | 38.2 | <0.001 |
| Pseudoephedrine | 15.7 | 21.5 | 24.3 | 0.011 |
| OCS | 8.3 | 10.6 | 12.7 | 0.185 |
| ICS | 25.2 | 25.0 | 23.7 | 0.920 |
| Inhaled short-acting beta-agonists | 2.3 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 0.460 |
| Inhaled long-acting beta-agonists | 20.1 | 19.5 | 19.1 | 0.943 |
| Inhaled antimuscarinics | 4.6 | 4.1 | 5.2 | 0.808 |
| Use of diagnostic tests, % | ||||
| Pulmonary function test | 53.8 | 73.2 | 80.9 | <0.001 |
| Chest CT | 19.4 | 27.6 | 26.0 | 0.005 |
| Blood cell count | 26.8 | 27.8 | 27.2 | 0.938 |
| Induced sputum | 15.7 | 21.9 | 17.3 | 0.032 |
| FeNO | 5.6 | 19.1 | 23.1 | <0.001 |
| Nasopharyngoscopy | 33.2 | 53.4 | 55.5 | <0.001 |
| Laryngoscopy | 31.0 | 51.9 | 53.2 | <0.001 |
| Methacholine challenge | 23.1 | 45.0 | 53.2 | <0.001 |
P value was determined by likelihood ratio chi-square test. H1RA, H1-histamine receptor antihistamines; LTRA, leukotriene receptor antagonists; PPI, proton pump inhibitors; OCS, oral corticosteroids; ICS, inhaled corticosteroids; CT, computed tomography; FeNO, fractional exhaled nitric oxide.