Table 3 The ten most frequent (prescription drugs and over-the-counter medication) anatomical main groups (bold) and their most frequent therapeutic subgroups stratified by age [n (%)]
|  | total N = 2069 | 70–79 N = 1186 | ≥80 N = 883 | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ATC anatomical main group and subgroup | ||||
cardiovascular system (C) | 1748 (85) | 954 (80) | 795 (90) | < 0.001 |
 agents acting on the renin-angiotensin system (C09) | 1283 (62) | 690 (58) | 593 (67) | < 0.001 |
 beta blocking agents (C07) | 951 (46) | 514 (43) | 437 (50) | 0.006 |
 lipid modifying agents (C10) | 756 (37) | 431 (36) | 325 (37) | 0.84 |
 diuretics (C03) | 569 (28) | 258 (22) | 311 (35) | < 0.001 |
 calcium channel blockers (C08) | 525 (25) | 281 (24) | 243 (28) | 0.050 |
 cardiac therapy (C01) | 398 (19) | 155 (13) | 243 (28) | < 0.001 |
alimentary tract and metabolism (A) | 1329 (64) | 743 (63) | 586 (66) | 0.090 |
 mineral supplements (A12) | 677 (33) | 360 (30) | 317 (36) | 0.009 |
 drugs for acid related disorders (A02) | 459 (22) | 257 (22) | 202 (23) | 0.54 |
 drugs used in diabetes (A10) | 409 (20) | 251 (21) | 158 (18) | 0.061 |
 vitamins (A11) | 250 (12) | 129 (11) | 122 (14) | 0.043 |
blood and blood forming organs (B) | 1013 (49) | 507 (43) | 506 (57) | < 0.001 |
 antithrombotic agents (B01) | 949 (46) | 470 (40) | 480 (54) | < 0.001 |
 antianemic preparations (B03) | 123 (6) | 61 (5) | 61 (7) | 0.094 |
nervous system (N) | 783 (38) | 388 (33) | 396 (45) | < 0.001 |
 analgesics (N02) | 364 (18) | 170 (14) | 194 (22) | < 0.001 |
 psychoanaleptics (N06) | 277 (13) | 119 (10) | 157 (18) | < 0.001 |
 psycholeptics (N05) | 192 (9) | 102 (9) | 90 (10) | 0.22 |
musculo-skeletal system (M) | 704 (34) | 402 (34) | 302 (34) | 0.89 |
 antiinflammatory and antirheumatic products (M01) | 386 (19) | 237 (20) | 150 (17) | 0.080 |
 antigout preparations (M04) | 202 (10) | 112 (10) | 90 (10) | 0.60 |
 drugs for treatment of bone diseases (M05) | 127 (6) | 55 (5) | 72 (8) | 0.001 |
systemic hormonal preparations, excl. Sex hormones and insulins (H) | 503 (24) | 275 (23) | 228 (26) | 0.17 |
 thyroid therapy (H03) | 453 (22) | 253 (21) | 200 (23) | 0.50 |
genitourinary system and sex hormones (G) | 338 (16) | 203 (17) | 135(15) | 0.28 |
 urologicals (G04) | 286 (14) | 169 (14) | 118 (13) | 0.55 |
various (V) | 307 (15) | 152 (13) | 155 (18) | 0.011 |
 general nutrients (V06) | 261 (13) | 126 (11) | 135 (15) | 0.001 |
respiratory system (R) | 289 (14) | 172 (15) | 117 (13) | 0.41 |
 drugs for obstructive airway diseases (R03) | 219 (11) | 131 (11) | 88 (10) | 0.41 |
sensory organs (S) | 154 (8) | 87 (7) | 67 (8) | 0.85 |
 ophthalmologicals (S01) | 154 (8) | 87 (7) | 67 (8) | 0.85 |