Table 4. Medication usage attributable to common chronic disease triads.
| TRIAD | Proportion of Medication Use Attributed to Triad (%) | Number of daily oral medications* | Additional Diagnoses (n) | Overall Prevalence of Triad |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HTN+ARTH+DEP | 51 | 8.36 ±0.14 | 5.2 | 8.3 |
| HTN+ARTH+OSTEO | 50 | 8.73 ±0.19 | 5.3 | 4.0 |
| HTN+ARTH+GERD | 50 | 8.79 ±0.16 | 5.3 | 6.2 |
| HTN+Vasc+ARTH | 49 | 8.13 ±0.12 | 5 | 9.7 |
| HTN+Vasc+GERD | 49 | 8.51 ±0.15 | 5.2 | 7.4 |
| HTN+Vasc+DIA | 48 | 8.36 ±0.15 | 5 | 7.9 |
| HTN+Vasc+DEP | 48 | 8.29 ±0.13 | 5 | 10.1 |
| HTN+Vasc+THY | 47 | 8.61±0.17 | 5.1 | 4.8 |
| HTN+ARTH+DEM | 46 | 7.18 ±0.11 | 5 | 10.2 |
| Vasc+DEP+GERD | 46 | 9.03 ±0.20 | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Vasc+ARTH+DEP | 46 | 8.47 ±0.17 | 5.1 | 6.4 |
| Vasc+ARTH+GERD | 45 | 8.98 ±0.19 | 5.2 | 4.7 |
| HTN+ARTH+ANEMIA | 45 | 8.19 ±0.18 | 5.3 | 4.7 |
| HTN+DEP+GERD | 45 | 9.08 ±0.20 | 5.3 | 6.5 |
| HTN+Vasc+ANEMIA | 44 | 8.10 ±0.16 | 5.1 | 5.6 |
| HTN+Vasc+DEM | 44 | 7.06 ±0.11 | 4.7 | 12.6 |
| HTN+ARTH+CHF | 42 | 8.61 ±0.16 | 5.3 | 4.7 |
| HTN+DEP+DIA | 42 | 9.01 ±0.18 | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| HTN+DEM+DEP | 41 | 7.32 ±0.12 | 5 | 11.2 |
| HTN+GERD+DEM | 41 | 7.74 ±0.16 | 5.1 | 6.4 |
| HTN+DEP+OSTEO | 41 | 9.06 ±0.20 | 5.3 | 4.3 |
| HTN+Vasc+CHF | 41 | 8.66 ±0.15 | 5.1 | 6.6 |
| Vasc+DEM+DEP | 40 | 7.32 ±0.14 | 4.9 | 8.3 |
| HTN+Vasc+COPD | 40 | 8.16 ±0.20 | 5.1 | 4.0 |
| Vasc+DEM+GERD | 39 | 7.57 ±0.17 | 5 | 5.2 |
| HTN+DEP+ANEMIA | 39 | 8.32 ±0.19 | 5.3 | 4.7 |
| Vasc+ARTH+DEM | 39 | 7.05 ±0.13 | 4.9 | 7.5 |
| ARTH+DEM+DEP | 38 | 7.24±0.13 | 5 | 7.4 |
| HTN+DEM+DIA | 38 | 7.58±0.15 | 5.1 | 6.4 |
| HTN+DEM+OSTEO | 37 | 7.81±0.17 | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| HTN+DEM+ANEMIA | 37 | 7.20±0.16 | 5.1 | 6.1 |
| Vasc+DEM+DIA | 36 | 7.35±0.17 | 5.1 | 5.0 |
| DEM+DEP+GERD | 32 | 7.94±0.19 | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| DEM+DEP+OSTEO | 31 | 7.84±0.21 | 5.3 | 4.2 |
| HTN+DEM+CHF | 31 | 7.94±0.15 | 5.1 | 5.2 |
Data represent co-morbid 3-disease combinations (Triads) present in over 5% of either men or women. HTN = hypertension, DEM = dementia, DEP = depression, ARTH = Arthritis, DIA = diabetes mellitus, GERD = gastroesophageal reflux and acid peptic disorders, CHF = congestive heart failure, THYR = thyroid disease, OSTEO = osteoporosis, COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Vasc = composite of vascular diseases (atherosclerosis, cerebrovascular disease, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease).HTN = hypertension, DEM = dementia, DEP = depression, ARTH = Arthritis, DIA = diabetes mellitus, GERD = gastroesophageal reflux and acid peptic disorders, CHF = congestive heart failure, THYR = thyroid disease, OSTEO = osteoporosis, COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Vasc = composite of vascular diseases (atherosclerosis, cerebrovascular disease, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease).
*mean ± SEM.