Table 1:
Baseline characteristics of patients using brand-name versus generic formulations of amiodarone
| Characteristic | Brand name (n = 2804) | Generic (n = 6278) | p value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, yr, mean ± SD | 76.7 ± 6.3 | 77.0 ± 6.4 | 0.03 |
| Men, % | 54.0 | 53.5 | 0.65 |
| Annual family income, $, mean ± SD | 49 456.40 ± 10 860.50 | 48 634.20 ± 10 653.00 | < 0.001 |
| Comorbidities in the year preceding admission to hospital, % | |||
| Hypertension | 52.0 | 59.2 | < 0.001 |
| Coronary artery disease | 51.6 | 52.2 | 0.63 |
| Heart failure | 34.0 | 33.0 | 0.36 |
| COPD | 28.7 | 28.0 | 0.50 |
| Valvular disease | 24.9 | 22.0 | 0.003 |
| Hyperlipidemia | 23.4 | 28.6 | < 0.001 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 23.3 | 23.4 | 0.94 |
| Acute MI | 22.4 | 23.8 | 0.16 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 13.8 | 16.5 | < 0.001 |
| Ischemic cerebrovascular disease (including TIA and retinal infarct) | 5.3 | 5.4 | 0.89 |
| Bleeding events | 4.5 | 5.2 | 0.20 |
| Liver disease | 2.4 | 2.5 | 0.86 |
| CHADS2 score 1 yr before admission, mean ± SD | 1.7 ± 1.1 | 1.8 ± 1.1 | 0.006 |
| Primary treating physician at hospital, % | |||
| Generalist | 43.9 | 46.1 | 0.05 |
| Internist | 8.4 | 8.2 | 0.75 |
| Cardiologist | 37.1 | 33.8 | 0.002 |
| Length of stay in hospital, d, mean ± SD | 12.1 ± 15.4 | 12.5 ± 16.7 | 0.34 |
Note: CHADS2 = congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥ 75 years, diabetes mellitus and previous stroke or TIA, COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, MI = myocardial infarction, SD = standard deviation, TIA = transient ischemic attack.
*
Continuous data were compared using Student t tests, and categorical data were compared using χ2 tests.