Table 1 The definitions of variables
Variables | Definitions |
|---|---|
Age | age at the beginning of the observation period (April 1, 2018) |
Sex | male/female |
Types of drugs | the sum of drugs in different chemical subgroups based on WHO-ATC codes |
Medical institutions used | the sum of visits to medical institutions |
Use of multiple departments in a hospital | the claims of fees for using multiple departments in a hospital |
The number of medical examinations | the sum of different days when individuals visited medical institutions and were prescribed drugs |
Admission | the record of either admission or the claims of the fees for admission |
Use of a pharmacy that can claim the family pharmacist consultation fees | the use of a pharmacy that claimed the family pharmacist consultation fees |
Use of one-dose package for drugs | the claim of the fee for packaging drugs in one dose |
Drugs | |
Antihypertensives | WHO-ATC code: C02-, C03-, C07-, C08-, C09-, C11-, C10BX03, C10BX04, C10BX06, C10BX07, C10BX09, C10BX10, C10BX11, C10BX12, C10BX13, C10BX14, C10BX15, C10BX16 or C10BX17 |
Antilipidemic agents | WHO-ATC code: C10- |
Antidiabetic agents other than insulin | WHO-ATC code: A10M-, A10BA-, A10BB-, A10BD-, A10BF-, A10BG-, A10BH-, A10BJ- or A10BK- |
Insulin | WHO-ATC code: A10A- |
Anticoagulants | WHO-ATC code: B01AA03, B01AE07, B01AF01, B01AF02, B01AF03 or B01AF04 in oral formulation |
Antiplatelet agents | WHO-ATC code: B01AC04, B01AC05, B01AC06, B01AC24, B01AC25, B01AC30, B01AC56, A02BC53 or A02BC54 in oral formulation |
Proton pump inhibitors | WHO-ATC code: A02BC-, A02BD-, B01AC56, A02BC53 or A02BC54 in oral formulation |
H2 blockers | WHO-ATC code: A02BA- in oral formulation |
H1 blockers | WHO-ATC code: R06A- in oral formulation |
Antipsychotics | WHO-ATC code: N05A- in oral formulation |
BZDs/Non-BZDs | WHO-ATC code: N05BA-, N05CD- or N05CF- in oral formulation |
Antidepressants | WHO-ATC code: N06A- in oral formulation |
Antibiotics | WHO-ATC code: J01- in oral formulation |
NSAIDs | WHO-ATC code: M01A-, M02AA-, M02AC-, M02BG-, N02AE01, N02AJ13, N02AX02, N02BE71, or N02CA52 in oral formulation or external preparation |
Steroids | WHO-ATC code: A23A- in oral formulation or external preparation |
Probiotics | WHO-ATC code: A07F- |
Laxatives | WHO-ATC code: A06- |
Vitamins | WHO-ATC code: A11-, B03BA- or B02BA- in oral formulation |
Traditional Japanese herbal medicines | WHO-ATC code: V03B1- |