Table 2 Baseline characteristics of the participating patients (n total = 579)
Characteristics patients | Intervention group (n = 307) | Control group (n = 272) | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Age | ||||
Median (IQR) | 81 (78–85) | 81 (79–85) | 0.413 i | |
Gender | ||||
Female: n (%) | 180 (58.6%) | 169 (62.1%) | 0.396 ii | |
Drug prescriptions | ||||
Total number of drugs | 2914 | 2700 | – | |
Median number of drugs (IQR) | 9 (8–10) | 9 (8–11) | 0.006 i | |
Most frequently prescribed drug classes [number of patients concerned per drug class] | ||||
ARBs, ACE-inhibitors | 256 (134, 122) | 225 (117, 108) | – | |
 PPIs | 161 | 159 | – | |
 Statins | 163 | 156 | – | |
 Platelet-aggregation inhibitors | 167 | 144 | – | |
 Beta-blockers | 159 | 147 | – | |
 Minor diuretics (predominantly hydrochlorothiazide) | 153 | 120 | – | |
 CCBs | 133 | 115 | – | |
 Loop diuretics (predominantly Furosemide) | 126 | 118 | – | |
 Vitamins (predominantly vit. D) | 118 | 109 | – | |
 Antidepressants, antipsychotics | 117 | 98 | – | |
 Oral anticoagulants | 100 | 90 | – | |
 Anxiolytics/hypnotics (Benzodiazepines, Zolpidem) | 79 | 94 | – | |
 Dietary supplements (predominantly Calcium) | 86 | 85 | – | |
 Oral antidiabetic drugs | 85 | 71 | – | |
 Antiasthmatic agents, beta-adrenergics, anticholinergics | 71 | 63 | – | |
Chronic conditions | ||||
Total number of chronic diseases | 1664 | 1479 | – | |
Median number of chronic diseases (IQR) | 5 (4–6) | 5 (4–6) | 0.346 i | |
EQ-5D-5L index | ||||
Median (IQR) | 0.815 (0.710–0.910) | 0.810 (0.716–0.909) | 0.762 i | |
EQ-VAS score | ||||
Median (IQR) | 60.0 (50.0–80.0) | 65.0 (50.0–78.8) | 0.581 i | |
5-GDS: Score ≥ 2 points (affective impairment) | ||||
n patients (%) | 94 (30.6%) | 76 (27.9%) | 0.522 ii | |
6-CIT: Score ≥ 8 points (cognitive impairment) | ||||
n patients (%) | 77 (25.1%) | 81 (29.8%) | 0.225 ii | |
Biometric and laboratory parameters | Unit | Â | Â | Â |
BMI: Median (IQR) | kg/m2 | 26.7 (23.9–29.7) | 26.2 (23.5–29.4) | 0.522 i |
Creatinine: Median (IQR) | mg/dl | 1.1 (0.9–1.3) | 1.0 (0.8–1.4) | 0.307 i |
Number of events within last 12 months before T0 | Intervention group (n = 307) | Control group (n = 272) | p-value | |
Patients with ≥1 hospitalisation (% of patients) | 85 (27.7%) | 37 (13.6%) | < 0.001ii | |
Patients with ≥1 falls requiring medical treatment (%) | 66 (21.5%) | 28 (10.3%) | < 0.001ii | |
Patients with ≥1 fractures (%) | 23 (7.5%) | 11 (4.0%) | 0.110 ii | |
Symptoms within 1 month before T0 § | Intervention group (n = 307) | Control group (n = 272) | p-value | |
Total number of symptoms | 358 | 193 | – | |
Patients with ≥1 symptom (%) | 173 (54.4%) | 107 (39.3%) | < 0.001ii | |
Median (IQR) | 1 (0–2) | 0 (0–1) | < 0.001 i | |
PIMs and DDIs | Intervention group (n = 307) | Control group (n = 272) | p-value | |
n drugs Beers list [32] | ||||
Total number (% of total prescriptions) | 181 (6.2%) | 160 (5.9%) | – | |
n patients with ≥1 Beers-listed drug | 142 (46.3%) | 124 (45.6%) | 0.993ii | |
Median (IQR) | 0 (0–1) | 0 (0–1) | 0.993 i | |
D or X drug-drug interactions §§ [34] | ||||
Total number | 396 | 380 | – | |
n patients with ≥1 D/X drug-drug interaction (%) | 203 (66.1%) | 188 (69.1%) | 0.477ii | |
Median (IQR) | 1 (0–2) | 1 (0–2) | 0.424 i | |