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Table 4 Background data and the use of CNS medications

From: Use of CNS medications and cognitive decline in the aged: a longitudinal population-based study

 

CNS medication users

(N = 171)

CNS medication non-users

(N = 394)

 

Background variable

Mean ± SD

Mean ± SD

p-value1

Age

71.9 ± 5.7

69.9 ± 4.9

< 0.001

Number of all medications

4.5 ± 2.7

1.6 ± 1.9

< 0.001

Number of regularly taken medications

3.3 ± 2.5

1.3 ± 1.7

< 0.001

Number of medications taken as needed

1.2 ± 1.2

0.3 ± 0.7

< 0.001

Number of all medications excluding CNS medications

3.2 ± 2.5

1.6 ± 1.9

< 0.001

Number of regularly taken medications excluding CNS medications

2.4 ± 2.1

1.3 ± 1.7

< 0.001

Number of medications taken as needed excluding CNS medications

0.8 ± 1.0

0.3 ± 0.7

< 0.001

 

N

%

N

%

p-value2

Sex (woman)

120

70.2

218

55.3

< 0.001

Marital status

     

   Married

15

8.8

46

11.7

0.076

   Unmarried or divorced

101

59.1

256

65.0

 

   Widowed

55

32.2

92

23.4

 

Place of living

     

   At home alone

64

37.4

105

26.6

0.007

   At home with other person

105

61.4

288

73.1

 

   In institution or nursing home

2

1.2

1

0.3

 

Education

     

   Less than basic

13

7.6

19

4.8

0.423

   Basic

144

84.2

340

86.3

 

   More than basic

14

8.2

35

8.9

 

Ability to walk

     

   Independent

148

86.5

375

95.2

< 0.001

   With tools

22

12.9

18

4.6

 

   Needs to be assisted

0

0

1

0.3

 

Diagnoses

     

   Depression

38

22.2

25

6.4

< 0.001

   Alcohol related disease

1

0.6

5

1.3

0.673

   Hypertension

59

34.5

100

25.4

0.027

   Hypercholesterolemia

32

18.7

60

15.2

0.303

   Diabetes mellitus (type I or II)

7

4.1

25

6.3

0.288

   TIA

8

4.7

3

0.8

0.004

   Cerebral infarct

1

0.6

3

0.8

1.000

   Cerebral haemorrage

1

0.6

1

0.3

0.514

   Cerebral trauma

2

1.2

4

1.0

1.000

   Malignant tumour or cancer

5

0.3

17

4.3

0.432

   HIV, lues or borreliosis

0

0

0

0

1.000

   Dementia (all types)

2

1.2

0

0

0.091

  1. Background data compared between the users and non-users of CNS medications, at baseline.
  2. 1significance of difference between users and non-users, Mann-Whitney U
  3. 2significance of difference between users and non-users, chi-square test or Fisher's exact test
  4. CNS = central nervous system
  5. SD = standard deviation
  6. TIA = transient ischaemic attack
  7. HIV = human immunodeficiency virus