Table 2 Frequency or means (standard deviations) of baseline (1989) characteristics among non-users and new users of benzodiazepines among Quebec elderly.
Variable | Frequency or Mean (s.d.) | Odds Ratios and 95% Confidence Interval1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Â | Non-Users n = 174,444 | New Users n = 78,367 | Â |
Patients Demographics | |||
Age (in years) | 73.6 (6.1) | 73.0 (5.7) | 0.90 (0.89–0.91)2 |
Women | 50.1% | 55.7% | 1.20 (1.18–1.22) |
Measures of Health Care Use | |||
Number of Prescribing Physicians | 1.8 (1.5) | 2.1 (1.6) | 1.12 (1.11–1.13) |
Number of Acute-Care Hospital Discharges | 0.2 (0.6) | 0.2 (0.5) | 0.93 (0.91–0.95) |
Charlson Co-morbidity Index | 0.5 (1.2) | 0.5 (1.2) | 0.98 (0.98–0.99) |
Diagnosis for impairments or disabilities associated with an increase risk for falls: | |||
Previous Injury from a Fall | 4.6% | 4.6% | 0.93 (0.89–0.97) |
Visual Impairment | 21.6% | 22.7% | 0.98 (0.96–1.01) |
Arthritis | 14.2% | 17.2% | 1.11 (1.09–1.14) |
Stroke | 3.0% | 2.7% | 0.91 (0.86–0.96) |
Depression | 2.3% | 3.6% | 1.42 (1.35–1.49) |
Neurological Disorders | 2.8% | 2.9% | 0.95 (0.91–1.01) |
Seizure Disorders | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.91 (0.85–0.97) |
Osteoporosis | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1.00 (0.88–1.12) |
Miscellaneous Impairments | 4.1% | 4.6% | 1.01 (0.97–1.06) |
Alcohol Abuse/Dependence | 0.3% | 0.3% | 1.24 (1.05–1.46) |
Drug Abuse/Dependence | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1.18 (0.99–1.42) |
Non-benzodiazepine medication protective of fractures: | |||
Thiazide Diuretics & Estrogens | 20.6% | 23.3% | 1.05 (1.03–1.08) |
Non-benzodiazepine medication associated with an increase risk of falls: | |||
Anti-Depressants | 2.1% | 4.4% | 1.85 (1.75–1.95) |
Anti-Psychotics | 1.3% | 1.7% | 1.11 (1.03–1.19) |
Sedatives | 2.6% | 4.2% | 1.37 (1.31–1.44) |
Other Psychotropics | 0.1% | 0.2% | 1.39 (1.14–1.71) |
Non-benzodiazepine medications known to alter motor stability: | |||
Cardiac Drugs | 26.1% | 30.2% | 1.04 (1.02–1.06) |
Anti-Hypertensives | 12.0% | 13.9% | 1.06 (1.03–1.09) |
Vasodilators | 12.8% | 16.5% | 1.21 (1.18–1.24) |
Opioid Agonists | 0.6% | 0.8% | 1.11 (1.01–1.23) |
Mixed Partial Opioid Agonists/Antagonists | 10.8% | 12.1% | 1.02 (0.99–1.05) |