Table 2.
Prevalence of drug classes and number of medications utilized by 2,105 subjects over age 65 years with community-acquired pneumonia discharged from hospital or the emergency department
| Anatomical therapeutic chemical class | Baseline, n | 0–90 days’ follow-up, n | 91–180 days’ follow-up, n | 181–270 days’ follow-up, n | 271–365 days’ follow-up, n | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular system | 1,322 | 63% | 1,253 | 60% | 1,217 | 58% | 1,211 | 58% | 1,218 | 58% |
| Renin–angiotensin system agents | 499 | 24% | 739 | 35% | 734 | 35% | 742 | 35% | 757 | 36% |
| Beta-blockers | 225 | 11% | 330 | 16% | 319 | 15% | 314 | 15% | 340 | 16% |
| Calcium-channel blockers | 146 | 7% | 371 | 18% | 359 | 17% | 365 | 17% | 367 | 17% |
| Diuretics | 625 | 30% | 700 | 33% | 619 | 29% | 633 | 30% | 636 | 30% |
| Nitrates | 187 | 9% | 213 | 10% | 203 | 10% | 199 | 9% | 208 | 10% |
| Lipid-lowering agents | 276 | 13% | 317 | 15% | 322 | 15% | 323 | 15% | 350 | 17% |
| Alimentary tract and metabolism | 1,034 | 49% | 924 | 44% | 848 | 40% | 851 | 40% | 849 | 40% |
| Proton-pump inhibitors | 314 | 15% | 438 | 21% | 427 | 20% | 429 | 20% | 446 | 21% |
| H2-receptor blockers | 88 | 4% | 88 | 4% | 72 | 3% | 77 | 4% | 65 | 3% |
| Oral diabetes agents | 261 | 12% | 229 | 11% | 230 | 11% | 224 | 11% | 224 | 11% |
| Nervous system | 996 | 47% | 935 | 44% | 872 | 41% | 843 | 40% | 876 | 42% |
| Antipsychotics | 47 | 2% | 76 | 4% | 72 | 3% | 66 | 3% | 76 | 4% |
| Antidepressants | 328 | 16% | 358 | 17% | 350 | 17% | 332 | 16% | 351 | 17% |
| Anxiolytics | 193 | 9% | 304 | 14% | 280 | 13% | 266 | 13% | 272 | 13% |
| Hypnotics/sedatives | 241 | 11% | 289 | 14% | 252 | 12% | 267 | 13% | 265 | 13% |
| Respiratory system | 803 | 38% | 859 | 41% | 697 | 33% | 688 | 33% | 660 | 31% |
| Inhaled | 732 | 35% | 721 | 34% | 656 | 31% | 642 | 30% | 607 | 29% |
| Blood and blood-forming organs | 632 | 30% | 368 | 17% | 341 | 16% | 370 | 18% | 375 | 18% |
| General anti-infectives for systemic use | 435 | 21% | 1,142 | 54% | 500 | 24% | 491 | 23% | 534 | 25% |
| Systematic hormonal preparations, excluding sex hormones | 397 | 19% | 593 | 28% | 490 | 23% | 480 | 23% | 500 | 24% |
| Musculoskeletal system | 359 | 17% | 524 | 25% | 486 | 23% | 496 | 24% | 502 | 24% |
| NSAIDs | 351 | 17% | 293 | 14% | 252 | 12% | 249 | 12% | 240 | 11% |
| Genitourinary system and sex hormones | 124 | 6% | 285 | 14% | 263 | 12% | 278 | 13% | 257 | 12% |
| Dermatologicals | 98 | 5% | 193 | 9% | 228 | 11% | 219 | 10% | 217 | 10% |
| Immunomodulating agents | 13 | 1% | 21 | 1% | 20 | 1% | 19 | 1% | 18 | 1% |
| Mean number (SD) of medications | 4.5 (2.8) | 6.8 (4.0) | 6.3 (3.8) | 6.4 (3.9) | 6.6 (4.0) | |||||
| Subjects with polypharmacy (five or more unique medications) | 949 | 45% | 1,559 | 74% | 1,502 | 71% | 1,519 | 72% | 1,540 | 73% |
Abbreviations: NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; SD, standard deviation.