Table 1

Baseline characteristics compared between the PIMS and No PIMs groups (n=1600)

CharacteristicTotalPIMSP value
PIMSNo PIMS
Coverage0.250*
 Government798 (49.9)328 (41.1)470 (58.9)
 Universal coverage720 (45.0)268 (37.2)452 (62.8)
 Cash49 (3.1)16 (32.7)33 (67.3)
 State enterprise officer17 (1.1)9 (52.9)8 (47.1)
 Social security scheme16 (1.0)8 (50.0)8 (50.0)
Sex0.243*
 Female1006 (62.9)407 (40.5)599 (59.5)
 Male594 (37.1)222 (37.4)372 (62.6)
Age (years) (median (Q1, Q3))72.0 (68.0, 77.0)73.0 (69.0, 77.0)71.0 (68.0, 77.0)0.005†
Number of underlying diseases (median (Q1, Q3))2.0 (2.0, 3.0)3.0 (2.0, 3.0)2.0 (2.0, 3.0)<0.001†
Type of underlying disease
 Dyslipidaemia1426 (89.1)554 (38.8)872 (61.2)0.316*
 Hypertension1209 (75.6)517 (42.8)692 (57.2)<0.001*
 Diabetes552 (34.5)299 (54.7)248 (45.3)<0.001*
 Osteoarthritis195 (12.2)85 (43.6)110 (56.4)0.220*
 Benign prostatic hyperplasia130 (8.1)41 (31.5)89 (68.5)0.072*
 Cerebrovascular disease115 (7.2)56 (48.7)59 (51.3)0.041*
 Psychiatric disease67 (4.2)40 (59.7)27 (40.3)<0.001*
 GERD38 (2.3)22 (57.9)16 (42.1)0.027*
 Spinal stenosis36 (2.2)21 (58.3)15 (41.7)0.029*
 Spondylosis34 (2.1)7 (20.6)27 (79.4)0.037*
Doctor-prescribed drug<0.001*
 Staff1374 (85.9)565 (41.1)809 (58.9)
 Trainee doctor226 (14.6)64 (28.3)162 (71.7)
Diagnosis<0.001*
 Follow-up only889 (55.6)309 (34.8)580 (65.2)
 Presenting with acute illness711 (44.4)320 (45.0)391 (55.0)
Number of clinic visits (median (Q1, Q3))1 (1.0, 2.0)1 (1.0, 2.0)1 (1.0, 2.0)0.523†
Number of drugs prescribed (median (Q1, Q3))3 (2.0, 5.0)5 (4.0, 7.0)3 (2.0, 4.0)<0.001†
  • Data are presented as n (%) unless indicated otherwise.

  • 2 test.

  • †Wilcoxon rank sum test.

  • GERD, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease; PIMs, potentially inappropriate medications.