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Table 4 Comparison of crude percentages of general practitioners (GPs) reporting to deprescribe the medications in the case vignettes, sorted by medication type, history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and dependency level (N = 1,706)

From: General practitioners’ deprescribing decisions in older adults with polypharmacy: a case vignette study in 31 countries

Medication

Level of dependency in activities of daily living

Low

(case vignette 1)

Medium

(case vignette 2)

High

(case vignette 3)

Percentage of GPs (95% CI)

Percentage of GPs (95% CI)

Percentage of GPs (95% CI)

Pain medications

Tramadol 50 mg, twice daily

  Without history of CVD

63.5% (61.1 to 65.9)

69.4% (67.0 to 71.7)

68.5% (66.0 to 70.9)

  With history of CVD

57.3% (55.2 to 60.2)

67.0% (64.5 to 69.4)

67.6% (65.2 to 70.1)

Paracetamol 1 g, three times daily

  Without history of CVD

47.5% (45.0 to 50.0)

41.9% (39.4 to 44.5)

44.9% (42.3 to 47.5)

  With history of CVD

43.8% (41.3 to 46.3)

40.8% (38.3 to 43.4)

43.6% (41.0 to 46.2)

Proton-pump inhibitor

Pantoprazole 20 mg, once daily

  Without history of CVD

64.5% (63.0 to 67.8)

64.4% (61.9 to 66.8)

67.8% (65.3 to 70.2)

  With history of CVD

47.1% (44.6 to 49.6)

49.0% (46.4 to 51.6)

55.6% (53.0 to 58.2)

Antihypertensive medications

Amlodipine 5 mg, once daily

  Without history of CVD

15.2% (13.4 to 17.0)

18.9% (17.0 to 21.0)

33.9% (31.4 to 36.4)

  With history of CVD

8.7% (7.3 to 10.2)

15.1% (13.3 to 17.1)

30.3% (27.9 to 32.8)

Enalapril 10 mg, once daily

  Without history of CVD

7.7% (6.4 to 9.1)

9.8% (8.3 to 11.4)

19.4% (17.4 to 21.5)

  With history of CVD

2.5% (1.7 to 3.4)

4.6% (3.6 to 5.8)

15.5% (13.6 to 17.5)

Cholesterol-lowering medication

Atorvastatin 40 mg, once daily

  Without history of CVD

59.1% (56.6 to 61.5)

62.7% (60.2 to 65.2)

76.8% (74.5 to 78.9)

  With history of CVD

13.7% (12.0 to 15.5)

26.5% (24.3 to 28.9)

52.5% (49.9 to 55.1)

Antiplatelet medication

Aspirin 100 mg, once daily

  Without history of CVD

52.1% (49.6 to 54.5)

49.1% (46.5 to 51.7)

60.3% (57.7 to 62.8)

  With history of CVD

4.3% (3.4 to 5.5)

7.2% (5.9 to 8.6)

23.9% (21.7 to 26.2)

  1. Acronyms: CI Confidence interval; CVD Cardiovascular disease; GP General practitioner