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 4 Factors associated with switching of beta-blockers (N = 19,177, r² = 0

	No.	%	Adjusted odds ratios (95% C.I.)	p
Age
< 50	158	3.0	1.00 (reference)
50-59	229	3.9	1.38 (1.12-1.70)	0.002
60-69	171	4.4	1.63 (1.30-2.04)	< 0.001
≥ 70	205	5.0	1.82 (1.46-2.26)	< 0.001
Gender
Female	275	2.3	1.00 (reference)
Male	488	6.8	0.89 (0.76-1.03)	0.125
Payment status
Fee waivers	199	3.9	1.00 (reference)
Fee payers	564	4.0	1.02 (0.87-1.21)	0.792
Service type
GOPC	701	4.1	1.00 (reference)
FMSC	59	3.5	0.97 (0.73-1.28)	0.817
Staff clinic	3	1.7	0.47 (0.15-1.48)	0.196
District of residence
Shatin	357	4.0	1.00 (reference)
Taipo	177	3.8	0.95 (0.79-1.15)	0.606
North	186	4.4	1.07 (0.88-1.29)	0.505
Others	43	3.2	0.82 (0.59-1.13)	0.223
Visit type
New	570	4.8	1.00 (reference)
Old	193	2.6	0.57 (0.48-0.68)	< 0.001
Comorbidities
0	630	3.9	1.00 (reference)
1	114	4.1	1.17 (0.95-1.45)	0.150
≥ 2	19	4.2	1.23 (0.76-2.00)	0.396

GOPC: General Out-patient Clinic; FMSC: Family Medicine Specialist Clinic; CCB: Calcium Channel Blockers; RAS: Drugs acting on the rennin-angiotensin system. %: represents the percentages of patients with drugs discontinued.

ISSN: 1447-056X