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Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the propensity score–matched cohorts in the 180 days prior to initiation of amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin, or pregabalin a

From: Patterns of health care utilization related to initiation of amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin, or pregabalin in fibromyalgia

 

Amitriptyline

Pregabalin

Duloxetine

Pregabalin

Gabapentin

Pregabalin

Number of patients

8,269

8,269

9,941

9,941

18,613

18,613

Demographics

     
 

Age (yr)

47.7 ± 12.4

47.7 ± 11.7

48.3 ± 11.6

48.2 ± 11.4

50.0 ± 12.6

50.0 ± 11.8

 

Female

79.6

79.8

82.0

82.0

77.3

77.6

Comorbidities

     
 

Back pain

52.4

52.5

55.3

55.7

63.2

63.3

 

Headache

26.0

26.3

22.2

22.6

21.6

21.7

 

Depression

10.6

10.5

16.3

16.7

12.0

12.1

 

Anxiety

12.6

12.7

15.9

16.6

13.0

13.0

 

Abdominal pain

4.4

4.3

4.2

4.0

3.5

3.6

 

Neuropathic pain

25.4*

33.4*

30.4*

36.1*

41.6*

40.5*

 

Sleep disorder

16.7

16.2

18.3

18.4

16.5

16.5

 

Diabetes

11.5

11.3

12.7

12.8

15.9

15.8

 

Hypertension

29.8

30.0

31.6

31.2

35.7

35.7

 

Cardiovascular disease

2.0

2.0

2.0

2.1

3.0

2.9

 

Stroke

3.2

3.1

3.2

3.0

4.0

3.8

 

Inflammatory arthritis

10.8

10.7

12.9

13.2

13.6

13.9

 

Malignancy

4.5

4.6

4.8

4.6

5.9

5.8

 

Comorbidity index scoreb

0.5 ± 1.0

0.5 ± 1.0

0.6 ± 1.0

0.6 ± 1.0

0.7 ± 1.2

0.7 ± 1.2

Medications

 

Opioids

55.3

56.1

59.8

59.5

68.2

68.5

 

TCAsc

10.9

10.4

3.9

3.9

4.8

4.7

 

SSRIs

18.4

17.7

22.1

22.6

21.4

21.6

 

SNRIsd

5.4

5.7

17.8

17.1

8.6

8.7

 

Anticonvulsantse

12.5

11.8

17.5

17.3

39.0

39.0

 

Other antidepressants

11.4

11.7

17.1

17.3

15.4

15.6

 

BZDs

29.9

29.7

36.5

36.6

35.2

35.2

 

Sleeping disorder drugsf

19.9

20.2

23.3

22.6

21.3

21.9

 

Migraine drugs

8.3

8.7

7.4

7.7

6.9

6.9

 

Muscle relaxants

31.1

31.6

33.2

33.2

39.3

39.6

 

Topical analgesics

3.5

3.6

4.5

4.7

6.7

6.8

 

Oral steroids

26.5

26.2

26.3

26.3

31.0

31.3

 

NSAIDs

33.6

33.4

35.0

34.9

40.4

40.8

 

GI protective drugs

21.9

21.9

22.6

22.5

25.2

25.4

Health care utilizationg

 

Outpatient visits, n

7.4 ± 6.9*

7.7 ± 7.3

8.3 ± 7.5

8.2 ± 8.2

8.8 ± 8.4*

8.6 ± 8.1

 

PCP visits, n

3.6 ± 3.6

3.5 ± 3.5

3.8 ± 3.5

3.7 ± 3.7

3.9 ± 4.2*

3.8 ± 3.7

 

Specialist visits, n

5.9 ± 7.3*

6.4 ± 8.0

6.5 ± 7.9*

6.8 ± 9.4

7.6 ± 8.8

7.7 ± 9.5

 

Prescription drugs, n

7.9 ± 5.4

8.0 ± 5.2

8.6 ± 5.4

8.6 ± 5.4

9.4 ± 5.7*

9.2 ± 5.6

 

Acute hospitalizations, n

9.8*

10.9

9.9*

11.2

14.2*

13.3

 

ED visits, n

11.8*

10.5

9.9

10.3

12.4*

10.9

  1. aBZDs, Benzodiazepines; ED, Emergency department; GI, Gastrointestinal; NSAIDs, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; PCP, Primary care physician; SNRI, Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor; SSRI, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; TCA, Tricyclic antidepressant. Data are expressed as percentage or mean ± SD. bDeyo-adapted Charlson Comorbidity Index [17,18]. cAll TCAs except amitriptyline. dAll SNRIs except duloxetine. eAll anticonvulsants except gabapentin and pregabalin. fNonbenzodiazepine drugs only. gNot included in the PS model. *Statistically significant difference compared to the reference group (P < 0.05).