Table 2.
Characteristics of the 120 patients at the start of the trial
| CHARACTERISTIC | N (%) |
|---|---|
| Age, y | |
| • 50–59 | 24 (20) |
| • 60–69 | 33 (28) |
| • 70–79 | 39 (32) |
| • ≥ 80 | 24 (20) |
| Female | 63 (52) |
| Highest level of education high school or lower | 78 (65) |
| Annual income < $40 000 | 71 (59) |
| Chronic conditions | |
| • Hypertension | 66 (55) |
| • Arthritis or back problems | 62 (52) |
| • Chronic anxiety, depression, or other mental illness | 50 (42) |
| • Neurologic condition | 36 (30) |
| • Diabetes | 35 (29) |
| • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 17 (14) |
| • Cancer | 16 (13) |
| • Ischemic heart disease or atrial fibrillation | 15 (12) |
| • Asthma | 12 (10) |
| • Congestive heart failure | 8 (7) |
| • Peripheral vascular disease | 8 (7) |
| • Anemia | 7 (6) |
| • Cerebrovascular disease | 4 (3) |
| Visit to emergency department in past year | 23 (19) |
| More than 10 visits to practice in previous year | 33 (28) |
| No. of drugs | |
| • 0–4 | 36 (30) |
| • 5–7 | 39 (32) |
| • 8–10 | 31 (26) |
| • ≥ 11 | 14 (12) |