Predictors of switching from beta-blockers to other anti-hypertensive drugs: a review of records of 19,177 Chinese patients seen in public primary care clinics in the New Territory East, Hong Kong

Table 2 Patient characteristics (N = 19,177)

	No.	%
Age (years)
< 50	5,327	27.8
50-59	5,885	30.7
60-69	3,863	20.1
≥ 70	4,102	21.4
Gender
Male	7,133	37.2
Female	12,044	62.8
Payment status
Fee waivers	5,088	26.5
Fee payers	14,089	73.5
Service type
GOPC	17,294	90.2
FMSC	1,704	8.9
Staff clinic	179	0.9
District of residence
Shatin	8,905	46.4
Taipo	4,684	24.4
North	4,246	22.1
Others	1,342	7.0
Visit type
New	11,817	61.6
Old	7,360	38.4
Comorbidities
0	15,952	83.2
1	2,774	14.5
2	432	2.3
> 3	19	0.1
Calendar years of prescription
2004	9,826	51.2
2005	4,360	22.7
2006	3,402	17.7
2007	1,589	8.3

GOPC: General Out-patient Clinic; FMSC: Family Medicine Specialist Clinic; CCB: Calcium Channel Blockers; All the percentages are across columns

ISSN: 1447-056X