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Table 1 Characteristics of non-continuous and continuous rofecoxib users (in the 12 months prior to rofecoxib withdrawal)

From: An observational study of the discrediting of COX-2 NSAIDs in Australia: Vioxx or class effect?

Characteristicc

Non-Continuous rofecoxib usersa

(N = 383)

%

Continuous rofecoxib usersb

(N = 181)

%

Χ2, df, p-value

Urban Area

51

50

0.06, 1, 0.81

Manage on Income

81

75

2.96, 1, 0.09

Education (No School)

73

71

0.12, 1, 0.73

Marital

Married/De facto

34

35

 
 

Sep/Divorced

4

6

1.81, 2, 0.40

 

Widowed/Single

56

59

 

BMI

Underweight

2

1

 
 

Normal

47

43

0.043d

 

O/weight

50

56

 

Smoker

4

6

0.89, 1, 0.34

Alcohol

Non-drinker

69

59

 
 

Rarely/Low drinker

30

34

0.24d

 

Risky/High Risk

1

7

 

Exc/V. Good/Good General Health

62

59

0.29, 1, 0.59

Consulted Family Doctor ≥5 Visits

73

77

0.94, 1, 0.33

Hospital Doctor Visit in 12 months

22

24

0.35, 1, 0.56

Specialist Doctor Visit in 12 months

61

51

4.73, 1, 0.03

Ever Reported Arthritis

75

94

31.02, 1, < 0.001

Conditions:

Hypertension

45

38

2.62, 1, 0.11

 

Depression

6

9

1.14, 1, 0.28

 

Anxiety/nervous

7

8

0.18, 1, 0.68

 

Asthma

8

14

3.99, 1, 0.05

 

Diabetes

11

15

1.55, 1, 0.21

 

Bronchitis/Emphysema

6

9

1.92, 1, 0.17

 

Osteoporosis

29

34

1.35, 1, 0.25

 

Heart Disease

21

30

5.23, 1, 0.02

 

Cancer

6

4

0.96, 1, 0.33

  1. a Eight or fewer rofecoxib prescriptions dispensed in 12 months before rofecoxib withdrawal (30 September 2003 to 30 September 2004)
  2. b Nine or more rofecoxib prescriptions dispensed in 12 months before rofecoxib withdrawal
  3. c See methods for details of these self-reported ALSWH variables
  4. d Fisher's exact test used due to small cell sizes, p-value only reported