appeared somewhat different for Mid-age and Older women. The top five most claimed medications for Mid-age women were oxicams, opioids, coxibs, anilides, and specific anti-rheumatic agents, respectively. For Older women, the top five most claimed medications were anilides, opioids, oxicams, corticosteroids and coxibs. Paracetamol combinations (anilides) claims were more common among Older women compared to Mid-age women. This difference may be partly accounted for by Mid-age women buying paracetamol products over-the-counter, and Older women being able to obtain these for less cost by prescription, due to health care card benefits. If the sixth most prescribed medication is included, the top six prescribed medications were the same for each cohort of women, but their order was different.
4.3.4. Characteristics of women claiming medications for arthritis
Medications for arthritis for the purposes of the next series of figures and tables include only medicines specifically for arthritis (including quinolines, gold salts, penicillamine, and other disease-modifying, anti-rheumatic drugs [DMARDs]); and medications that are predominantly prescribed for arthritis (such as selective and non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]). Medications that may be prescribed for many other conditions as well as arthritis (such as analgesics and corticosteroids) were not included as these were often used by those who did not report arthritis.
4.3.5. Demographic characteristics
Table 4-7 shows the area of residence for women according to report of arthritis and medications for arthritis, as identified in PBS data at any time during the period 2002-2005.
There was very little variation according to arthritis medication claim or self-reported arthritis diagnosis across area of residence for Mid-age or Older women.
Table 4-7 Area of residence of Mid-age and Older women according to report of arthritis and PBS claims for arthritis medications
Area of residence at Survey 4 Arthritis No arthritis
Cohort
Table 4-8 shows other demographic characteristics of women according to report of arthritis and PBS claims for prescription medications for arthritis at any time during 2002-2005. Mid-age women with arthritis and arthritis medication had lower education qualifications and more difficulty in managing on their income than women who had no arthritis and no arthritis medications. Among women with arthritis, the association between arthritis medication use and income difficulty may reflect that more affluent women made greater use of over-the-counter medications.
Older women displayed very little variation in demographic characteristics, according to arthritis or arthritis medications.
Table 4-8 Demographic characteristics of (a) Mid-age and (b) Older women according to report of arthritis and PBS claims for arthritis medication.
a) Mid-age cohort
Arthritis No arthritis
Arthritis medications
No arthritis medications
Arthritis medications
No arthritis medications
Number of women 1,297 997 969 3,649
Characteristic at Survey 4 (unless indicated)
% % % %
Education (Survey 1)
Primary 19 13 13 10
School/higher school certificate 47 45 52 44 Trade/apprentice/certificate/
diploma
19 22 19 23
University/higher degree 15 19 16 23 Marital Status
Married/defacto 75 78 82 80
Widowed 4 4 3 3
Divorced/separated 16 15 13 14
Never married 4 3 2 3
Difficult managing on income 15 13 11 8 Caring for someone
Lives with me 10 8 9 7
Lives elsewhere 24 26 21 22
b) Older cohort
Arthritis No arthritis
Arthritis medications
No arthritis medications
Arthritis medications
No arthritis medications
Number of women 1,960 971 596 1,189
Characteristic at Survey 4 (unless indicated)
% % % %
Education (Survey 1)
Primary 28 28 27 23
School/higher school certificate 52 53 56 55 Trade/apprentice/certificate/
diploma
14 13 12 14
University/higher degree 6 5 5 8
Marital status
Married/defacto 36 37 37 38
Widowed 55 55 55 53
Divorced/separated 5 5 3 4
Never married 4 3 4 5
Difficult managing on income 5 5 3 4 Caring for someone
Lives with me 11 10 12 11
Lives elsewhere 16 16 19 19
4.3.6. Health risk behaviours
Table 4-9 shows the health risk behaviours of women according to report of arthritis and claims for medications for arthritis during 2002-2005. Mid-age and Older women who had arthritis and/or arthritis medication were more likely to be obese than women with no arthritis or arthritis medications, and were less likely to drink alcohol.
Table 4-9 Health risk behaviours of (a) Mid-age and (b) Older women according to report of arthritis and PBS claims for arthritis medication
a) Mid-age cohort
Characteristic at Survey 4 (unless indicated)
% % % %
Current smoker 15 12 11 11
BMI (Overweight/obese) 73 61 60 51 Alcohol:
None/rare/less than once/wk 57 48 52 44
1-2 times/wk 13 17 16 18
Characteristic at Survey 4 (unless indicated)
% % % %
Current smoker (Survey 2) 3 5 4 5
BMI (Overweight/obese) 53 45 40 35
Alcohol (Survey 3):
None/rare/less than once/wk 63 66 59 66
1-2 times/wk 9 8 6 7
3 or more time/wk 28 26 35 27
4.3.7. Comorbidities and self-rated health
Comorbid conditions and self-rated health for women with and without arthritis and according to arthritis medications are presented in Table 4-10. Mid-age and Older women who did not have arthritis or arthritis medications were less likely to have two or more comorbid conditions than Mid-age women with arthritis or arthritis medications. Mid-age women who did not have arthritis or arthritis medication were less likely than other groups to have depression, heart disease, diabetes, or asthma, or to rate their health as poor or fair. Older women with arthritis were more likely to rate their health as fair or poor than women with no arthritis regardless of arthritis medications. Among Mid-age women, those with arthritis and arthritis medications were more likely to report fair or poor self-rated health. Women with no arthritis medications were least likely to report fair or poor health.
Table 4-10 Comorbid conditions and self-rated health of (a) Mid-age and (b) Older women according to report of arthritis and PBS claims for arthritis medication during 2002-2005 a) Mid-age cohort
Characteristic at Survey 4 (unless indicated)
Asthma/bronchitis/emphysema 21 16 11 10
Back pain 66 68 55 39
Characteristic at Survey 4 (unless indicated)