Characteristic | ||
---|---|---|
Individuals on ONS, n = 912 | % | Median (range) |
Sex | ||
Male | 43.5 | |
Female | 56.5 | |
Age | 76 (18 to 101) | |
≥18 to 44 years | 11.3 | |
≥45 to 64 years | 21.8 | |
≥65 years | 66.9 | |
Area | ||
South/south east Dublin | 16.0 | |
West/south west Dublin | 41.4 | |
North/north west Dublin | 42.5 | |
Residential status | ||
Living in residential care | 18.2 | |
Living independently | 81.7 | |
Number of ONS products in 2018 | 1 (1 to 4) | |
Number of ONS units in 2018 | 660 (12 to 3250) | |
Patients on more than 1 ONS | 10.0 | |
Patients on ONS previous year | 96.2 | |
Number of medications | 6.0 | (0 to 18) |
Polypharmacy | ||
No polypharmacy (<5 drugs) | 32.9 | |
Polypharmacy (≥5 drugs) | 45.6 | |
Excessive polypharmacy (≥10) | 21.5 | |
Patient CNS drug dispensed a | ||
No CNS drug | 24.8 | |
CNS drug (<5 drugs) | 65.9 | |
CNS polypharmacy or excessive polypharmacy (≥5 drugs) | 9.3 | |
Patient circulatory drug dispensed b | ||
No circulatory drug | 38.4 | |
Circulatory drug (<5 drugs) | 42.7 | |
Circulatory polypharmacy or excessive polypharmacy (≥5 drugs) | 19.0 | |
GPs, n = 405 | ||
Sex | ||
Male | 59.0 | |
Female | 41.0 | |
Age | 53 (33 to 72) | |
≥18 to 44 years | 23.2 | |
≥45 to 64 years | 61.5 | |
≥65 years | 15.3 | |
Area | ||
South/south east Dublin | 23.2 | |
West/south west Dublin | 35.1 | |
North/north west Dublin | 39.3 | |
Otherc | 2.5 | |
Number of patients on ONS | 2 (1 to 17) | |
GPs with > 2 patients on ONS | 27.9 |
aCNS medication include drugs to treat anxiety; insomnia; psychoses; mood disorders; obsessive compulsive disorder; nausea; vomiting; vertigo; epilepsy and seizures; Parkinson's; Alzheimer's; multiple sclerosis; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and narcolepsy. bCirculatory medication include drugs to treat hypertension; oedema; heart failure; arrhythmias; angina; prevent myocardial infarction, stroke, and vascular events; hypercholesterolaemia; vascular diseases such as Raynaud's and pulmonary arterial hypertension; haemorrhage; anaemia and neutropenia. cA minority of patients attended GPs with practices in different areas to their residential area.
CNS = central nervous system. GP = general practitioner. ONS = oral nutritional supplements. PCERS = Primary Care and Eligibility Reimbursement Service.