Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics at baseline by age at first lithium prescription
Patients who started lithium at age <65 (n = 79) | Patients who started lithium at age ≥65 (n = 31) | P | |
|---|---|---|---|
Female/male (% females) | 59/20 (75%) | 21/10 (68%) | 0.48 |
Age, median (min–max) | 70 (65–84) | 77 (65–83) | 0.00006 |
Years on lithium, median (min–max) | 18 (0–34) | 7 (0–16) | 2 × 10−15 |
Referred by neurologist | 4 (5%) | 14 (41%) | 0.0001 |
Lithium carbonate daily dose, median mg (min–max) | 450 (150–1050) | 450 (150–750) | 0.48 |
DSM-5 diagnosis | |||
Bipolar I disorder | 36 (46%) | 7 (23%) | 0.03 |
Bipolar II disorder | 22 (28%) | 12 (39%) | 0.36 |
Major depressive disorder, recurrent | 18 (23%) | 2 (6%) | 0.06 |
Bipolar disorder NED (not elsewhere defined) | 3 (4%) | 10 (32%) | 0.0001 |
Current psychotropic medication | |||
Anticonvulsants | 15 (19%) | 1 (3%) | 0.04 |
Antipsychotics | 33 (42%) | 6 (19%) | 0.03 |
Antidepressants | 18 (23%) | 4 (13%) | 0.30 |
Benzodiazepines | 55 (70%) | 25 (81%) | 0.34 |
Prior long-term antidepressants | 1 (1%) | 8 (26%) | 0.0001 |
Availability of brain imaging (CAT or NMR scans) | 12 (15%) | 10 (32%) | 0.06 |
Antiplatelet drugs or oral anticoagulants | 14 (18%) | 13 (42%) | 0.01 |
ACE inhibitors, sartans, and/or thiazides | 40 (51%) | 17 (55%) | 0.83 |