Table 1 Characteristics of lithium prescribed patients by risk group in Aurum
Feature | High-risk | Low-risk | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
Patient characteristics | |||
 Total, N (%) | 191 (11.87) | 1418 (88.13) |  |
 Female, n (%) | 178 (93.19) | 852 (60.08) | < 0.001 |
 Age, median (IQR) | 41.58 (32.14–50.72) | 45.80 (36.39–56.59) | < 0.001 |
 BAME, n (%) | 7 (3.66) | 78 (5.50) | 0.287 |
 In a relationship, n (%) | 32 (16.75) | 240 (16.93) | 0.953 |
 Death during follow-up | 5 (2.62) | 153 (10.79) | < 0.001 |
Lithium exposure characteristics | |||
 Lithium treatment duration (years), median (IQR) | 1.66 (0.72–4.11) | 1.51 (0.59–3.85) | 0.482 |
 Ever lithium toxic (> 1.5 mmol/L), n (%) | 5 (2.62) | 62 (4.37) | 0.256 |
 Follow-up after stopping lithium (years), median (IQR) | 2.92 (0–7.14) | 4.07 (0.24–9.43) | 0.064 |
Kidney function characteristics | |||
 eGFR tests during follow-up, median (IQR) | 12 (7–20) | 14 (8–27) | 0.004 |
 Baseline eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2), median (IQR) | 67 (63–72) | 81 (72–91) | < 0.001 |
 Developed CKD stage 3a or more severe (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) | 168 (87.96) | 233 (16.43) | < 0.001 |
 Developed CKD stage 3b or more severe (eGFR < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2) | 25 (13.09) | 13 (0.92) | < 0.001 |
Pre-lithium mental health characteristics | |||
 Depression, n (%) | 160 (83.77) | 1167 (82.30) | 0.616 |
 Anxiety, n (%) | 60 (31.41) | 403 (28.42) | 0.391 |
 Psychosis, n (%) | 33 (17.28) | 266 (18.76) | 0.621 |
 Stress, n (%) | 45 (23.56) | 262 (18.48) | 0.093 |
 Self-harm, n (%) | 39 (20.42) | 217 (15.30) | 0.070 |
 Disturbed sleep, n (%) | 48 (25.13) | 315 (22.21) | 0.365 |
 Illness duration (years), median (IQR) | 8.47 (4.03–15.65) | 8.45 (2.86–16.30) | 0.931 |
Pre-lithium physical health characteristics | |||
 Hypertension, n (%) | 33 (17.28) | 260 (18.34) | 0.722 |
 Migraine, n (%) | 40 (20.94) | 138 (9.73) | < 0.001 |
 Type II diabetes mellitus, n (%) | 18 (9.42) | 107 (7.55) | 0.363 |
 Thyroid disease | |||
  Hypothyroidism, n (%) | 5 (2.62) | 70 (4.94) | 0.154 |
  Hyperthyroidism, n (%) | (−)* | 8 (0.56) | 0.113 |
 Calcium abnormalities | |||
  hypocalcaemia, n (%) | (−)* | 12 (0.85) | 0.640 |
  hypercalcaemia, n (%) | (−)* | 13 (0.93) | 0.184 |
 Cholesterol abnormalities | |||
  High LDL, n (%) | 47 (24.61) | 264 (18.62) | 0.049 |
  Low HDL, n (%) | 16 (8.38) | 101 (7.12) | 0.531 |
 Asthma, n (%) | 52 (27.23) | 282 (19.89) | 0.019 |
 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, n (%) | 57 (29.84) | 341 (24.05) | 0.081 |
 Anaemia, n (%) | 11 (5.76) | 67 (4.72) | 0.532 |
 Peptic ulcer, n (%) | 2 (1.05) | 20 (1.41) | 0.685 |
 Coronary heart disease, n (%) | 5 (2.62) | 68 (4.80) | 0.175 |
 Liver disease, n (%) | (−)* | 23 (1.62) | 0.546 |
 Neurological disorders, n (%) | 15 (7.85) | 89 (6.28) | 0.405 |
 Rheumatoid arthritis, n (%) | 6 (3.14) | 28 (1.97) | 0.293 |
 Weight loss, n (%) | 8 (4.19) | 31 (2.19) | 0.091 |
 Ever eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, n (%) | (↓)* | 40 (2.82) | 0.019 |
Health behaviours | |||
 Smoking status, n (%) |  |  | 0.51 |
  Never smoked | 56 (29.32) | 403 (28.42) |  |
  Current smoker | 93 (48.69) | 581 (41.47) |  |
  Ex-smoker | 42 (21.99) | 427 (30.11) |  |
 Body mass index, n (%) |  |  | < 0.001 |
  Underweight | (−)* | 37 (2.61) |  |
  Healthy weight | 57 (29.84) | 616 (43.44) |  |
  Overweight | 50 (26.18) | 409 (28.84) |  |
  Obese | 80 (41.88) | 356 (25.11) |  |
 Cannabis use, n (%) | (−)* | 14 (0.99) | 0.938 |
 Other substance misuse, n (%) | 10 (5.24) | 99 (6.98) | 0.367 |
 Alcohol misuse, n (%) | 10 (5.24) | 82 (5.78) | 0.760 |
Other psychiatric drug treatments | |||
 Antipsychotic previously, n (%) | 104 (54.45) | 766 (54.02) | 0.911 |
 Mood stabiliser previously, n (%) | 72 (37.70) | 432 (30.47) | 0.043 |
 SSRI previously, n (%) | 50 (26.18) | 419 (29.55) | 0.336 |
 TCA previously, n (%) | 55 (28.80) | 334 (23.55) | 0.112 |
 Other antidepressant previously, n (%) | 43 (22.51) | 236 (16.64) | 0.044 |