TABLE 1.
Characteristics of included patients (n = 49,958)
| Patient category | Number, n (% of total) | Median age, years (IQR) | Number with URTI (% of category) | Number with URTI prescribed antibiotics (% of number with URTI in category) | Number with LRTI (% of category) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children <5 years | 14,075 (28.2) | 2 (1–3) | 13,825 (98.2) | 3688 (26.7) | 250 (1.8) |
| Children 5–14 years | 11,741 (23.5) | 8 (6–11) | 11,642 (99.2) | 4653 (40.0) | 99 (0.8) |
| Adults | 24,142 (48.3) | 45 (29–58) | 23,933 (99.1) | 9696 (40.5) | 209 (0.9) |
| All patients | 49,958 (100.0) | 13 (4–44) | 49,400 (98.9) | 18,037 (36.5) | 558 (1.1) |
Note: Adults were defined as patients ≥15 years old. Fever was defined as documented temperature >37.5°C at the time of presentation to the primary care unit.
Abbreviations: IQR, interquartile range; LRTI, lower respiratory tract infection; URTI, upper respiratory tract infection.