Table 2.
Outpatient fracture patients and nonspecific chest pain patients (≥65 years old): percentage of patients prescribed selected medications by drug categories (CVS, CNS, MSS) and classes
| Drug categories/classes | Fracture (N = 17 273) n (%) | Nonspecific chest pain (N = 62 331) n (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular system (CVS)† | 10 860 (62.87) | 44 886 (72.01)* |
| Antihypertensives | ||
| Angiotensin II receptor antagonists | 797 (4.61) | 3 516 (5.64)* |
| ACE Inhibitors | 4 682 (27.11) | 19 898 (31.92)* |
| α-Blockers | 541 (3.13) | 2 278 (3.65) |
| β-Blockers | 2 977 (17.23) | 13 647 (21.94)* |
| Calcium channel blockers | 2 587 (14.98) | 10 828 (17.37)* |
| Vasodilators | 3 328 (19.27) | 17 771 (28.51)* |
| Diuretics | 4 542 (26.30) | 18 163 (29.14)* |
| Antiarrhythmics | 2 768 (16.03) | 12 412 (19.91)* |
| Blood modifiers | 83 (0.48) | 355 (0.57) |
| Platelet aggregation inhibitors | 48 (0.28) | 199 (0.32) |
| Central nervous system (CNS)† | 7 135 (41.31)* | 19 349 (31.04) |
| Psychotropics | ||
| Anticonvulsants/barbiturates | 1 339 (7.75)* | 3 457 (5.55) |
| Antidepressants | 3 209 (18.58)* | 9 373 (15.04) |
| SSRI | 2 180 (12.62)* | 5 590 (8.97) |
| TCA | 486 (2.81) | 1 622 (2.60) |
| Other | 995 (5.76)* | 2 987 (4.79) |
| Antihistamines/antinauseants | 165 (0.96) | 637 (1.02) |
| Antipsychotics | 516 (2.99)* | 1 322 (2.12) |
| Atypical | 454 (2.63)* | 1 138 (1.83) |
| Typical | 76 (0.44) | 226 (0.36) |
| Benzodiazepines | 1 218 (7.05) | 4 245 (6.81) |
| Cholinesterase inhibitors | 588 (3.40)* | 1 331 (2.14) |
| Opioid analgesics, narcotics | 3 155 (18.27)* | 6 797 (10.90) |
| Hypnotics | 71 (0.41) | 208 (0.33) |
| Anti-Parkinson's | 363 (2.10)* | 789 (1.27) |
| Muscular skeletal system (MSS)† | 1 595 (9.23)* | 4 910 (7.88) |
| Muscle relaxants | 547 (3.17)* | 1 395 (2.24) |
| Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs‡ | 1 142 (6.61) | 3 764 (6.04) |
*
P-value of <0.0003 interpreted as statistically significant based on Bonferroni adjustment of nominal P-value of 0.01 and 29 independent χ2 tests, comparing fracture patients with nonspecific chest pain.
†
Percentages may not add up because some patients had prescriptions of more than one drug.
‡
Includes: Celecoxib, Diclofenac, Etodolac, Idomethacin, Ketorolac, Nabumetone, Naproxen, Oxaprozin, Piroxicam, Rofecoxib, Suldinac, Tolmetin. Excludes: Paracetanol, Aspirin and Ibuprofen because they do not require a prescription.