Table 4.
Univariate Analysis of the Relationship Between Patient Characteristics and the Use of Diuretics
| Use diuretics, n = 109 (29.9%) | No diuretics, n = 255 (70.1%) | p Value | |
| Cognitive impairment*, n (%) | 51† (53.7) | 90‡ (38.1) | .010 |
| Barthel Index ≤ 18/20, n (%) | 52§ (57.8) | 88 (43.6) | .025 |
| Age, mean (SD) | 85.0 (6.58) | 83.0 (6.85) | .016 |
| Male sex, n (%) | 21 (19.3) | 67 (26.3) | .153 |
| Body mass index ≤ 20, n (%) | 64 (27.6) | 25 (25.8) | .736 |
| Diagnosis on admission, n (%) | |||
| Coronary heart disease¶ | 35 (32.1) | 35 (13.7) | <.001 |
| Congestive heart failure | 34 (31.2) | 21 (8.2) | <.001 |
| Hypertension | 48 (44.0) | 73 (28.6) | .004 |
| Atrial fibrillation on admission, n (%) | 19# (18.3) | 29**(12.2) | .124 |
| Medications on admission, n (%) | |||
| Acetylsalicylic acid | 41 (37.6) | 75 (29.4) | .124 |
| Beta-blockers | 40 (36.7) | 44 (17.3) | <.001 |
| Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor antagonist | 35 (32.1) | 56 (22.0) | .041 |
| Statins | 21 (19.3) | 31 (12.2) | .076 |
| ASA†† group III, IV, or V, n (%) | 73 (67.0) | 108 (42.5) | <.001 |
| Laboratory findings on admission, n (%) | |||
| Serum Sodium <137 or >145 mmol/L | 23 (21.1) | 59 (23.1) | .670 |
| Serum Potassium <3.6 or >5.0 mmol/L | 20 (18.3) | 19 (7.5) | .002 |
| Serum Urea >8 mg/dL | 69 (63.3) | 94 (36.9) | <.001 |