Table 1.
Baseline Characteristics of Eligible Patients
| Sulpiride | Haloperidol | Olanzapine | Risperidone | |
| (n = 476) | (n = 188) | (n = 103) | (n = 557) | |
| Demographics | ||||
| Age, mean (SD), y | 36.16 (12.06) | 37.31 (11.09) | 35.68 (11.79) | 36.25 (12.43) |
| Patient distribution by age, n (%), y | ||||
| 18–24 | 97 (20.38) | 23 (12.23) | 18 (17.48) | 111 (19.93) |
| 25–34 | 131 (27.52) | 58 (30.85) | 31 (30.10) | 161 (28.90) |
| 35–44 | 120 (25.21) | 61 (32.45) | 27 (26.21) | 138 (24.78) |
| 45–54 | 91 (19.12) | 35 (18.62) | 21 (20.39) | 87 (15.62) |
| 55–65 | 37 (7.77) | 11 (5.85) | 6 (5.83) | 60 (10.77) |
| Female, n (%) | 195 (40.97) | 76 (40.43) | 48 (46.60) | 248 (44.52) |
| Patient distribution by index year, n (%), y | ||||
| 2003 | 146 (30.67) | 56 (29.79) | 36 (34.95) | 96 (17.24) |
| 2004 | 99 (20.80) | 47 (25.00) | 26 (25.24) | 114 (20.47) |
| 2005 | 76 (15.97) | 31 (16.49) | 10 (9.71) | 106 (19.03) |
| 2006 | 61 (12.82) | 18 (9.57) | 13 (12.62) | 72 (12.93) |
| 2007 | 54 (11.34) | 16 (8.51) | 9 (8.74) | 86 (15.44) |
| 2008 | 40 (8.40) | 20 (10.64) | 9 (8.74) | 83 (14.90) |
| aPatient distribution by NHI premium levels, n (%), NT$ | ||||
| >25 000 | 22 (4.62) | 9 (4.79) | 6 (5.83) | 47 (8.44) |
| 15 000–25 000 | 224 (47.06) | 85 (45.21) | 63 (61.17) | 279 (50.09) |
| <15 000 | 230 (48.32) | 94 (50.00) | 34 (33.010) | 231 (41.47) |
| Patient distribution by datasets, n (%) | ||||
| LHID2000 | 250 (52.52) | 86 (45.74) | 50 (48.54) | 296 (53.14) |
| LHID2005 | 226 (47.42) | 102 (54.26) | 53 (51.46) | 261 (46.86) |
| Mental illness characteristics | ||||
| Relative dosages of antipsychotics, n (%), PDD/DDD ratio | ||||
| 0.0–0.2 | 7 (1.47) | 33 (17.55) | 0 (0.00) | 27 (4.85) |
| 0.2–0.4 | 119 (25.00) | 30 (15.96) | 5 (4.85) | 205 (36.80) |
| 0.4–0.6 | 192 (40.34) | 12 (6.38) | 39 (37.86) | 177 (31.78) |
| 0.6–0.8 | 99 (20.80) | 45 (23.94) | 2 (1.94) | 75 (13.46) |
| >0.8 | 59 (12.39) | 68 (36.17) | 57 (55.34) | 73 (13.11) |
| Subtype of first diagnosed schizophrenia, n (%) | ||||
| Acute schizophrenic episode | 32 (6.72) | 7 (3.72) | 14 (13.59) | 47 (8.44) |
| Schizoaffective type | 20 (4.20) | 1 (0.53) | 3 (2.91) | 9 (1.62) |
| Catatonic type | 1 (0.21) | 3 (1.60) | 1 (0.97) | 4 (0.72) |
| Latent schizophrenia | 11 (2.31) | 4 (2.13) | 1 (0.97) | 8 (1.44) |
| Disorganized type | 23 (4.83) | 10 (5.32) | 3 (2.91) | 20 (3.59) |
| Other specified types | 12 (2.52) | 5 (2.66) | 0 (0.00) | 20 (3.59) |
| Paranoid type | 259 (54.41) | 113 (60.11) | 53 (51.46) | 299 (53.68) |
| Residual schizophrenia | 11 (2.31) | 6 (3.19) | 0 (0.00) | 8 (1.44) |
| Simple type | 36 (7.56) | 11 (5.85) | 7 (6.80) | 41 (7.36) |
| Unspecified schizophrenia | 71 (14.92) | 28 (14.89) | 21 (20.39) | 101 (18.13) |
| Other mental disorder, n (%) | ||||
| Alcohol/substance abuse | 8 (1.68) | 4 (2.13) | 0 (0.00) | 6 (1.08) |
| Episodic mood disorder | 31 (6.51) | 6 (3.19) | 7 (6.80) | 40 (7.18) |
| Nonschizopsychosis | 10 (2.10) | 7 (3.72) | 3 (2.91) | 17 (3.05) |
| Personality disorder | 6 (1.26) | 1 (0.53) | 0 (0.00) | 5 (0.90) |
| Anxiety disorder | 70 (14.71) | 26 (13.83) | 19 (18.45) | 80 (14.36) |
| Other mental-related medications, n (%) | ||||
| Lithium | 0 (0.00) | 2 (1.06) | 0 (0.00) | 2 (0.36) |
| Benzodiazepines | 214 (44.96) | 85 (45.21) | 48 (46.60) | 238 (42.73) |
| Antidepressants | 93 (19.54) | 24 (12.77) | 14 (13.59) | 95 (17.06) |
| Antiepileptic drugs | 40 (8.40) | 20 (10.64) | 12 (11.65) | 52 (9.34) |
| Anti-EPS medications | 51 (10.71) | 36 (19.15) | 15 (14.56) | 74 (13.29) |
| Comorbid conditions, n (%) | ||||
| Hypertension | 28 (5.88) | 11 (5.85) | 4 (3.88) | 26 (4.67) |
| Diabetes mellitus | 17 (3.57) | 10 (5.32) | 1 (0.97) | 9 (1.62) |
| Hyperlipidemia | 11 (2.31) | 12 (6.38) | 3 (2.91) | 4 (0.72) |
| Cardiovascular disease | 25 (5.25) | 6 (3.19) | 3 (2.91) | 20 (3.59) |
| Pneumonia | 23 (4.83) | 6 (3.19) | 6 (5.83) | 24 (4.31) |
| COPD | 29 (6.09) | 11 (5.85) | 4 (3.88) | 25 (4.49) |
| Liver disorders | 21 (4.41) | 7 (3.72) | 3 (2.91) | 16 (2.87) |
| Peptic ulcer | 21 (4.41) | 6 (3.19) | 2 (1.94) | 22 (3.95) |
| Gastric disorders | 81 (17.02) | 23 (12.23) | 12 (11.65) | 72 (12.93) |
| Colitis | 52 (10.92) | 17 (9.04) | 7 (6.80) | 48 (8.62) |
| Renal disease | 2 (0.42) | 2 (1.06) | 0 (0.00) | 6 (1.08) |
| Concomitant medications, n (%) | ||||
| Diabetes medications | 17 (3.57) | 10 (5.32) | 1 (0.97) | 12 (2.15) |
| Diuretics | 14 (2.94) | 9 (4.79) | 3 (2.91) | 14 (2.51) |
| Beta-blockers | 57 (11.97) | 25 (13.30) | 13 (12.62) | 73 (13.11) |
| CCBs | 17 (3.57) | 9 (4.79) | 4 (3.88) | 25 (4.49) |
| RAS inhibitors | 13 (2.73) | 9 (4.79) | 3 (2.91) | 15 (2.69) |
| Lipid lowering medications | 7 (1.47) | 7 (3.72) | 2 (1.94) | 4 (0.72) |
| COPD medications | 131 (27.52) | 50 (26.60) | 24 (23.30) | 105 (18.85) |
| Antihistamines | 228 (47.90) | 78 (41.49) | 33 (32.04) | 212 (38.06) |
| Hormone agents | 28 (5.88) | 9 (4.79) | 0 (0.00) | 28 (5.03) |
| Systemic steroid | 88 (18.49) | 27 (14.36) | 12 (11.65) | 77 (13.82) |
| Antibacterial agents | 233 (48.95) | 83 (44.15) | 47 (45.63) | 222 (39.86) |
| NSAIDs | 259 (54.41) | 90 (47.87) | 47 (45.63) | 253 (45.42) |
| Gout medications | 8 (1.68) | 10 (5.32) | 0 (0.00) | 15 (2.69) |
| GERD medications | 79 (16.60) | 20 (10.64) | 11 (10.68) | 70 (12.57) |
| Propulsives | 109 (22.90) | 37 (19.68) | 10 (9.71) | 92 (16.52) |
| Antiplatelets | 16 (3.36) | 9 (4.79) | 2 (1.94) | 13 (2.33) |
| Antithrombotic agents | 22 (4.62) | 15 (7.98) | 6 (5.83) | 32 (5.75) |
| Anemic medications | 11 (2.31) | 4 (2.13) | 5 (4.85) | 17 (3.05) |
| Antiarrhythmic agents | 5 (1.05) | 0 (0.00) | 1 (0.97) | 2 (0.36) |
| bPropensity score | ||||
| Mean (SD) | 0.38 (0.08) | 0.36 (0.08) | 0.35 (0.08) | 0.34 (0.08) |
| Median (IQR) | 0.37 (0.30–0.44) | 0.36 (0.30–0.44) | 0.36 (0.30–0.40) | 0.35 (0.29–0.40) |
| Treatment duration, in days | ||||
| Mean (SD) | 170.76 (144.95) | 81.78 (95.26) | 130.64 (133.47) | 136.22 (134.74) |
| Median (IQR) | 95 (32–245) | 32 (8–145) | 63 (19–262) | 74 (20–252) |
| Days of antipsychotics supplied of each prescription, in days | ||||
| Mean (SD) | 22.17 (8.70) | 20.44 (9.89) | 21.67 (9.63) | 21.11 (9.51) |
| Median (IQR) | 28 (14–28) | 21 (14–28) | 28 (14–28) | 28 (14–28) |
Note: LHID, longitudinal health insurance database; DDD, defined daily dose; PDD, prescribed daily dose; EPS, extrapyramidal symptom; Anti-EPS medications, extrapyramidal symptom relief medication, such as trihexyphenidyl and biperiden; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; RAS, renin-angiotensin system; CCB, calcium channel blocker; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease; NHI, National Health Insurance; IQR, interquartile range.
a
1 NT dollar is approximately equal to 0.034 US dollar.
b
Propensity score was derived from comorbid conditions and concomitant medications by using multinomial logistic regression.