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Table 4 Most frequently changed drugs

From: Changes in prescribed medicines in older patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy in general practice

Interval Δ1 (baseline to 6 month follow-up)

Interval Δ2 (6-month follow-up to 9-month follow-up)

Intervention group

Control group

Intervention group

Control group

Drug

Changes in Δ1 / total prescriptions at T0a

(n / N, %)

Drug

Changes in Δ1 / total prescriptions at T0a

(n / N, %)

Drug

Changes in Δ2 / total prescriptions at T1a

(n / N, %)

Drug

Changes in Δ2 / total prescriptions at T1a

(n / N, %)

Simvastatin

75 / 104 (72%)

Simvastatin

90 / 128 (70%)

Aspirin*

40 / 108 (37%)

Simvastatin

72 / 121 (60%)

Ramipril

70 / 67 (104%)

Aspirin*

58 / 126 (46%)

Omeprazole

39 / 48 (81%)

Aspirin*

50 / 122 (41%)

Metformin

63 / 61 (103%)

Metformin

49 / 57 (86%)

Simvastatin

38 / 107 (35%)

Metformin

39 / 50 (78%)

Amlodipine

63 / 76 (83%)

Allopurinol

43 / 47 (91%)

Ramipril

37 / 64 (56%)

Omeprazole

34 / 52 (65%)

Metoprolol*

59 / 69 (85%)

Amlodipine

40 / 57 (70%)

Metformin

34 / 60 (57%)

Torasemide

33 / 50 (66%)

Bisoprolol

58 / 62 (93%)

Pantoprazole

39 / 33 (118%)

Torasemide

34 / 57 (60%)

Metoprolol*

31 / 49 (63%)

Omeprazole

54 / 55 (98%)

Bisoprolol

39 / 65 (60%)

Pantoprazole

29 / 31 (93%)

Ramipril

29 / 58 (50%)

Aspirin*

53 / 105 (50%)

Metoprolol*

38 / 54 (70%)

Allopurinol

28 / 44 (64%)

Pantoprazole

28 / 29 (96%)

Torasemide

45 / 52 (87%)

Ramipril

38 / 54 (70%)

Metoprolol*

27 / 67 (40%)

Amlodipine

25 / 53 (47%)

Allopurinol

45 / 53 (85%)

Omeprazole

37 / 50 (74%)

Amlodipine

25 / 70 (36%)

Bisoprolol

24 / 62 (39%)

Levothyroxine

40 / 55 (73%)

Torasemide

37 / 55 (67%)

Bisoprolol

18 / 63 (29%)

Allopurinol

23 / 44 (52%)

Pantoprazole

37 / 30 (123%)

HCT

24 / 40 (60%)

Diclofenac

17 / 34 (50%)

Diclofenac

22 / 12 (183%)

Diclofenac

33 / 36 (92%)

Levothyroxine

23 / 55 (42%)

Ca + D3

16 / 14 (114%)

HCT

20 / 37 (54%)

  1. †number of changed prescriptions during the interval per number of prescriptions at the begin of the interval, percentages > 100% indicate prescriptions with more than one change during the interval under investigation. API – active pharmaceutical ingredient, Aspirin* - low dose aspirin, Ca + D3 – combination of calcium and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), HCT – hydrochlorothiazide, Metoprolol* - metoprolol-succinate