Table 3 Characteristics of lithium prescribed patients by risk group in Gold
Feature | High-risk | Low-risk | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
Patient characteristics | |||
 Total, N (%) | 137 (14.67) | 797 (85.33) |  |
 Female, n (%) | 129 (94.16) | 466 (58.47) | < 0.001 |
 Age, median (IQR) | 41.07 (32.68–49.95) | 46. 75 (36.84–59.27) | 0.001 |
 BAME, n (%) | 2 (1.46) | 10 (1.25) | 0.844 |
 In a relationship, n (%) | 34 (24.82) | 150 (18.82) | 0.103 |
 Death during follow-up | 9 (6.57) | 80 (10.04) | 0.202 |
Lithium exposure characteristics | |||
 Lithium treatment duration (years), median (IQR) | 1.23 (0.37–2.66) | 1.23 (0.44–3.10) | 0.926 |
 Ever lithium toxic (> 1.5 mmol/L), n (%) | (↓)* | 37 (1.68) | 0.048 |
 Follow-up after stopping lithium (years), median (IQR) | 3.43 (0.42–7.36) | 4.44 (0.81–8.31) | 0.165 |
Kidney function characteristics | |||
 eGFR tests during follow-up, median (IQR) | 14 (7–24) | 0.031 | |
 Baseline eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2), median (IQR) | 66 (63–71) | 83 (74–94) | < 0.001 |
 Developed CKD stage 3a or more severe (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) | 117 (85.40) | 112 (14.05) | < 0.001 |
 Developed CKD stage 3b or more severe (eGFR < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2) | 14 (10.22) | (↓)* | < 0.001 |
Pre-lithium mental health characteristics | |||
 Depression, n (%) | 118 (86.13) | 634 (79.55) | 0.072 |
 Anxiety, n (%) | 396 (49.69) | 74 (54.01) | 0.349 |
 Psychosis, n (%) | 37 (27.01) | 179 (22.46) | 0.244 |
 Stress, n (%) | 25 (18.25) | 138 (17.31) | 0.790 |
 Self-harm, n (%) | 40 (29.20) | 185 (23.21) | 0.130 |
 Disturbed sleep, n (%) | 49 (35.77) | 202 (25.35) | 0.011 |
 Illness duration (years), median (IQR) | 7.73 (2.55–13.80) | 7.65 (2.71–15.48) | 0.926 |
Pre-lithium physical health characteristics | |||
 Hypertension, n (%) | 15 (10.95) | 165 (20.70) | 0.008 |
 Migraine, n (%) | 24 (17.52) | 79 (9.91) | 0.009 |
 Type II diabetes mellitus, n (%) | 10 (7.30) | 64 (8.03) | 0.770 |
 Thyroid disease | |||
  Hypothyroidism, n (%) | 15 (10.95) | 57 (7.15) | 0.124 |
  Hyperthyroidism, n (%) | (−)* | 5 (0.63) | 0.353 |
 Calcium abnormalities | |||
  Hypocalcaemia, n (%) | (−)* | 9 (1.13) | 0.740 |
  Hypercalcaemia, n (%) | (−)* | (−)* | 0.678 |
 Cholesterol abnormalities | |||
  High LDL, n (%) | 20 (14.60) | 164 (20.58) | 0.104 |
  Low HDL, n (%) | 10 (7.30) | 66 (8.28) | 0.698 |
 Asthma, n (%) | 30 (21.90) | 131 (16.44) | 0.118 |
 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, n (%) | 36 (26.28) | 162 (20.33) | 0.115 |
 Anaemia, n (%) | 12 (8.76) | 30 (3.76) | 0.009 |
 Peptic ulcer, n (%) | 6 (4.38) | 27 (3.39) | 0.561 |
 Coronary heart disease, n (%) | (↓)* | 46 (5.77) | 0.035 |
 Liver disease, n (%) | (−)* | 10 (1.25) | 0.138 |
 Neurological disorders, n (%) | 10 (7.30) | 45 (5.65) | 0.448 |
 Rheumatoid arthritis, n (%) | (−)* | 17 (2.13) | 0.606 |
 Weight loss, n (%) | 5 (3.65) | 25 (3.14) | 0.753 |
 Ever eGFR< 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, n (%) | (↓)* | 105 (13.17) | < 0.001 |
Health behaviours | |||
 Smoking status, n (%) |  |  | 0.048 |
  Never smoked | 55 (40.15) | 297 (37.26) |  |
  Current smoker | 65 (47.45) | 329 (41.28) |  |
  Ex-smoker | 17 (12.41) | 171 (21.46) |  |
 Body mass index, n (%) |  |  | 0.259 |
  Underweight | (−)* | 9 (1.13) |  |
  Healthy weight | 58 (42.34) | 321 (40.28) |  |
  Overweight | 34 (24.82) | 257 (32.25) |  |
  Obese | 42 (30.66) | 210 (26.35) |  |
 Cannabis use, n (%) | (−)* | 13 (1.63) | 0.297 |
 Other substance misuse, n (%) | (−)* | 21 (2.63) | 0.849 |
 Alcohol misuse, n (%) | 29 (21.17) | 111 (13.93) | 0.028 |
Other drug treatment | |||
 Antipsychotic previously, n (%) | 73 (53.28) | 432 (54.20) | 0.842 |
 Mood stabiliser previously, n (%) | 38 (27.74) | 156 (19.57) | 0.030 |
 SSRI previously, n (%) | 43 (31.39) | 211 (26.47) | 0.233 |
 TCA previously, n (%) | 35 (25.55) | 193 (24.22) | 0.737 |
 Other antidepressant previously, n (%) | 79 (57.66) | 391 (49.06) | 0.063 |