Care plans and medicine use | GP managed cluster, younger n=979 | GP managed cluster, older n=695 | Psychiatrist managed cluster n=320 | GP physiotherapy cluster n=159 | GP exercise physiology cluster n=133 | P value |
Average number of comorbidities* n (SD) | 2 (1.9) | 4 (2.3) | 5 (2.6) | 3 (2.4) | 4 (2.5) | <0.0001 |
Back pain requiring hospital admission, % (95% CI) | 10 (9 to 12) | 13 (11 to 16) | 31 (26 to 36) | 26 (19 to 33) | 17 (10 to 23) | <0.0001 |
GP mental health consultations, % (95% CI) | 12 (10 to 14) | 7 (5 to 9) | 24 (20 to 29) | 14 (8 to 19) | 10 (5 to 15) | <0.0001 |
GP care plans, % (95% CI) | 15 (13 to 18) | 27 (23 to 30) | 27 (22 to 32) | 28 (21 to 35) | 32 (24 to 40) | <0.0001 |
Antidepressants, % (95% CI) | 44 (41 to 47) | 53 (50 to 57) | 69 (64 to 74) | 51 (43 to 59) | 51 (43 to 60) | <0.0001 |
Antianxiety agents, % (95% CI) | 21 (18 to 24) | 15 (12 to 17) | 58 (53 to 64) | 24 (17 to 31) | 23 (16 to 31) | <0.0001 |
Antipsychotics, % (95% CI) | 16 (14 to 18) | 12 (9 to 14) | 47 (41 to 52) | 18 (12 to 24) | 16 (10 to 22) | <0.0001 |
Mood stabilisers, % (95% CI) | 7 (5 to 8) | 4 (2 to 5) | 18 (13 to 22) | 6 (2 to 10) | 8 (3 to 12) | <0.001 |
Propranolol, % (95% CI) | 2 (1 to 3) | 2 (1 to 3) | 5 (2 to 7) | <2 | 6 (2 to 10) | 0.0095 |
Clonidine, % (95% CI) | <2 | <2 | 3 (1 to 5) | <2 | 0 | 0.0012 |
Prazosin, % (95% CI) | 5 (3 to 6) | 5 (3 to 6) | 19 (15 to 24) | 10 (5 to 15) | 5 (1 to 9) | <0.001 |
Opioids,% (95% CI) | 14 (12 to 16) | 17 (14 to 20) | 49 (44 to 55) | 36 (29 to 44) | 25 (17 to 32) | <0.0001 |
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, % (95% CI) | 21 (19 to 24) | 36 (32 to 39) | 44 (39 to 50) | 50 (42 to 58) | 46 (37 to 54) | <0.0001 |
Paracetamol, % (95% CI) | 7 (5 to 9) | 23 (20 to 26) | 21 (17 to 26) | 18 (12 to 24) | 22 (15 to 29) | <0.0001 |
Gabapentin or pregabalin for neuropathic pain, % (95% CI) | 8 (6 to 9) | 8 (6 to 10) | 24 (19 to 28) | 22 (16 to 29) | 11 (6 to 17) | <0.0001 |
*Number of comorbidities measured by prescription dispensing records using Rx-Risk.11
GP, general practitioner.