Patient characteristics (n = 137,631). Values are n (%).
| Characteristics | New Diagnosis, n = 89,349 | Persistent Diagnosis, n = 48,282 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, yrs | ≤ 39 | 19,435 (22) | 6375 (13) |
| 40–49 | 21,847 (24) | 11,382 (24) | |
| 50–59 | 21,516 (24) | 14,155 (29) | |
| ≥ 60 | 26,551 (30) | 16,370 (34) | |
| Sex | Female | 60,405 (68) | 35,541 (74) |
| Male | 28,944 (32) | 12,741 (26) | |
| Home location | Urban | 77,878 (87) | 43,145 (89) |
| Rural | 11,441 (13) | 5110 (11) | |
| Missing | 30 (0) | 27 (0) | |
| Socioeconomic status | Highest | 15,579 (17) | 8509 (18) |
| Next to highest | 17,367 (19) | 9694 (20) | |
| Middle | 17,228 (19) | 9491 (20) | |
| Next to lowest | 18,740 (21) | 10,092 (21) | |
| Lowest | 20,102 (22) | 10,377 (21) | |
| Missing | 333 (0) | 119 (0) | |
| Comorbidity* | Rheumatic | 5614 (6) | 2819 (6) |
| Psychiatric | 28,182 (32) | 16,811 (35) | |
| General medical | 11,824 (13) | 7096 (15) | |
| Acute trauma | 27,805 (31) | 12,885 (27) | |
| Total care* | Outpatient clinic ≥ 7 | 71,753 (80) | 39,913 (83) |
| Emergency department ≥ 1 | 34,971 (39) | 16,742 (35) | |
| Hospital admission ≥ 1 | 9712 (11) | 4054 (8) | |
| Cohort entry** | Initial yrs | 22,755 (25) | 24,923 (52) |
| Subsequent yrs | 66,594 (75) | 23,359 (48) |