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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 May 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Bone Miner Res. 2011 May;26(5):993–1001. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.288

Table 1.

Characteristics of propensity score-matched study population in 12 months prior to filling their first osteoporosis drug prescription

Bisphosphonates Raloxifene/calcitonin
N 17,028 16,787

Demographic factors
Age, years,
mean (SD) 79.9 (6.5) 80.0 (6.9)
Race, White 16,180 (95) 15,987 (95.2)
Sex, female 16,474 (96.8) 16,244 (96.8)

Health care utilization
No. of visit,
mean (SD) 10.6 (6) 10.5 (6.1)
ER visit 4,505 (26.5) 4,482 (26.7)
No. of all prescription drugs, mean (SD) 10.4 (6) 10.5 (6.1)
Hospitalization 6,089 (35.8) 6,146 (36.6)
Nursing home resident 1,882 (11.1) 1,991 (11.9)

Comorbidities
Prior fall 2,094 (12.3) 2,119 (12.6)
Prior hip fracture 612 (3.6) 601 (3.6)
Prior vertebral fracture 1,858 (10.9) 1,890 (11.3)
BMD test 4,085 (24) 4,180 (24.9)
Hypertension 11,303 (66.4) 11,233 (66.9)
Chronic kidney disease 492 (2.9) 481 (2.9)
Chronic liver disease 207 (1.2) 191 (1.1)
Parkinson’s disease 586 (3.4) 598 (3.6)
Dementia 1,039 (6.1) 1,092 (6.5)
Diabetes mellitus 4,354 (25.6) 4,312 (25.7)
Congestive heart failure 3,664 (21.5) 3,728 (22.2)
COPD 4,782 (28.1) 4,763 (28.4)
Inflammatory arthritis 1,267 (7.4) 1,258 (7.5)
Inflammatory bowel disease 241 (1.4) 226 (1.4)
Alcoholism 311 (1.8) 301 (1.8)
Comorbidity Index, mean (SD) 1.9 (1.9) 2 (1.9)

Other medications
Opioids 6,817 (40) 6,826 (40.7)
Anti-epileptics 892 (5.2) 877 (5.2)
Proton pump inhibitors 4,361 (25.6) 4,441 (26.5)
Benzodiazepines 4,636 (27.2) 4,614 (27.5)
SSRI 2,654 (15.6) 2,683 (16)
Warfarin 1,814 (10.7) 1,786 (10.6)
Inhaled steroid 1,389 (8.2) 1,391 (8.3)
Oral steroid 2,420 (14.2) 2,387 (14.2)

New Jersey and Pennsylvania combined, 2nd drug dispensing and a 90-day lag period are required.

Data are presented in number (%), unless specified.

SD: standard deviation, ER: emergency room, BMD: bone mineral density, COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, SSRI: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor