Table 1.
Characteristics of U.S. Noninstitutionalized Adults Aged 65 and Older (2009–2010), by Medication Use
| Groups of Medication Users | p Value | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 Medications (N = 170) | 1–4 Medications (N = 730) | ≥5 Medications (N = 620) | ||
| Age group (y, %) | ||||
| 65–69 | 43.1 | 35.4 | 25.1 | <.001* |
| 70–79 | 43.4 | 40.1 | 45.6 | |
| ≥80 | 13.5 | 24.4 | 29.3 | |
| Sex: female (%) | 48.2 | 56.6 | 56.2 | .238 |
| Married or living with partner (%) | 67.1 | 62.6 | 59.6 | .075 |
| Education (%) | ||||
| Less than high school | 28.3 | 23.0 | 27.9 | .173* |
| High school | 24.2 | 22.7 | 27.1 | |
| Some college | 21.6 | 28.3 | 27.7 | |
| College graduate or above | 25.9 | 26.0 | 17.4 | |
| Race-ethnicity (%) | ||||
| Non-Hispanic white | 78.0 | 81.8 | 78.6 | .438* |
| Non-Hispanic black | 8.1 | 8.0 | 8.8 | |
| Other | 13.9 | 10.2 | 12.6 | |
| Income-poverty ratio—mean ± SD | 2.79±1.58 | 2.98±1.58 | 2.89±1.63 | .998 |
| Smoking status (%) | ||||
| Never | 59.4 | 53.6 | 44.4 | <.001* |
| Former | 27.8 | 38.8 | 49.1 | |
| Current | 12.8 | 7.6 | 6.5 | |
| Alcohol use, drinks/wk (%) | ||||
| None | 45.7 | 40.7 | 52.3 | .020* |
| <1 | 10.9 | 15.0 | 16.1 | |
| 1–7 | 21.8 | 21.6 | 16.5 | |
| >7 | 21.6 | 22.7 | 15.1 | |
| Body mass index (kg/m2)—mean ± SD | 25.73±5.50 | 27.20±5.65 | 29.12±6.42 | <.001 |
| Sedentary activity (min/d)—mean ± SD | 302.6±197.3 | 331.8±178.4 | 379.9±205.0 | .004 |
| Usual health care source(s) (%) | 87.5 | 98.2 | 99.6 | .001 |
| Private health insurance (%) | 54.8 | 64.9 | 58.5 | .671 |
| No. of chronic conditions†—mean ± SD | 1.26±1.43 | 2.51±1.36 | 4.07±1.83 | <.001 |
| No. of health care visits in past year | ||||
| 0–3 | 74.5 | 48.4 | 22.4 | <.001* |
| 4–9 | 23.3 | 35.3 | 42.3 | |
| ≥10 | 2.2 | 16.3 | 35.3 | |
| Any functional limitation‡ (%) | 18.9 | 26.4 | 48.6 | <.001 |
| Any ADL limitation§ (%) | 5.7 | 4.2 | 15.9 | .001 |
| Confusion/memory problems (%) | 8.5 | 7.5 | 15.3 | .001 |
Notes: Values are unweighted sample size, weighted percentages, and weighted means. ADL = activities of daily living.
*p Value from χ2 test; all others are p value for trend.
†Including asthma, anemia, arthritis, congestive heart failure, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, thyroid problem, liver condition, cancer (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer), hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and osteoporosis.
‡Including walking ¼ mile; walking up 10 steps; stooping, crouching, or kneeling; lifting/carrying 10 lbs; standing for long periods; sitting for long periods; reaching overhead; grasping/holding small objects; pushing/pulling large objects.
§Including walking between rooms on same level; rising from an armless chair; getting in/out of bed; eating and dressing.