Table 1 Charactheristics of non-users and users of OTC, Rx, or combined OTC + Rx analgesics

Analgesic use (n = 12,481)^a

53.8

(6719)

31.7

(3957)

5.1

(641)

9.3

(1164)

Sex, % women (n = 12,481)

41.8

(2818)

65.1

(2561)

58.6

(378)

70.8

(824)

Age (n = 12,481)

 30–39

3.2

(213)

6.2

(247)

1.2

(8)

3.3

(38)

 40–49

23.1

(1549)

37.4

(1479)

20.7

(133)

31.4

(365)

 50–59

18.4

(1236)

20.5

(813)

16.8

(108)

18.1

(211)

 60–69

35.5

(2388)

24.7

(979)

35.7

(229)

28.4

(330)

 70–79

15.5

(1041)

8.8

(347)

20.1

(129)

14.8

(172)

 80–87

4.3

(292)

2.3

(92)

5.3

(34)

4.1

(48)

 Mean (SD), 30–87 years

58.9

(12.3)

53.6

(12.3)

60.8

(12.0)

57.1

(12.8)

Bad or very bad self-reported health (n = 12,390)

3.2

(226)

4.3

(162)

10.1

(70)

15.9

(185)

Education below college or university (n = 12,341)

59.9

(4029)

63.0

(2278)

69.4

(451)

74.3

(827)

Smoking, current daily (n = 12,329)

18.1

(1194)

21.1

(873)

24.1

(146)

27.5

(318)

Pain lasting three months or more (n = 12,462)

19.9

(1344)

35.6

(1393)

63.1

(404)

74.7

(868)

Headache, last year (n = 11,472)

18.5

(1156)

50.0

(1928)

46.7

(257)

61.3

(645)

Severe pain or stiffness in muscles, last four weeks

 Neck (n = 10,665)

4.2

(243)

9.6

(326)

20.1

(104)

29.5

(289)

 Hip/leg (n = 10,531)

3.8

(237)

7.8

(249)

20.5

(122)

28.9

(280)

Psychological distress^b (n = 11,941)

5.4

(343)

8.7

(340)

11.4

(67)

20.9

(230)

Frequent GP consultations, last 12 months^c (n = 9335)

10.9

(538)

11.6

(343)

19.7

(105)

25.2

(243)

Drug use, last four weeks

 Antidepressants (n = 12,195)

1.6

(116)

2.9

(106)

4.3

(29)

9.0

(97)

 Sleeping pills or tranquilizers (n = 12,164)

5.7

(476)

12.0

(445)

14.8

(112)

27.3

(297)