Table 2

Indicator rates for PINCER hazardous prescribing indicators: Q1 2020-21 percentages and cumulative results between 1 September 2019 and 1 September 2021

IndicatorQ1 2020 mean percentageQ1 2021 mean percentageCumulative counts
Numerator/denominator
(%)
Ratio of hazardous prescribing events to unique patients having an eventPractices with ≥1 hazardous prescribing events (% of total practices)
Gastrointestinal bleeding551 844/10 881 675 (5.07)5.536335 (99.50)
Age ≥65 years and NSAID1.110.75334 487/9 207 007 (3.63)4.546304 (99.01)
PU and NSAID1.321.0732 089/678 218 (4.73)3.835801 (91.11)
PU and antiplatelet4.243.8541 414/678 218 (6.11)10.905943 (93.34)
Warfarin/DOAC and NSAID1.391.1884 101/1 915 117 (4.39)4.576193 (97.27)
Warfarin/DOAC and antiplatelet2.261.6752 575/1 249 865 (4.21)5.866068 (95.30)
Aspirin and other antiplatelet1.671.2036 927/1 470 315 (2.51)7.155777 (90.73)
Cautioned medications228 587/7 594 687 (3.01)9.436321 (99.28)
HF and NSAID1.711.4331 034/735 781 (4.22)6.095622 (88.30)
Asthma and beta blocker1.271.29185 289/6 646 586 (2.79)10.246307 (99.06)
CRF and NSAID1.271.1214 558/476 925 (3.05)4.702217 (87.08)
Blood test monitoring1 102 209/3 358 954 (32.81)6.596329 (99.40)
ACEI or loop diuretic, no blood tests5.1612.14850 587/3 095 595 (27.48)5.896303 (98.99)
Methotrexate and no FBC18.6422.73164 502/238 042 (69.11)5.056278 (98.60)
Methotrexate and no LFT19.6223.27166 484/238 042 (69.94)5.146278 (98.60)
Lithium and no level recording31.4738.4440 664/45 456 (89.46)6.935912 (92.85)
Amiodarone and no TFT36.2039.2346 268/59 925 (77.21)6.225993 (94.13)
  • ACEI=angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors; CRF=chronic renal failure; DOAC=direct oral anticoagulants; FBC=full blood count; HF=heart failure; LFT=liver function test; NSAID=non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; PU=peptic ulceration; TFT=thyroid function test. Mean values are calculated at the practice level; higher mean values indicate increased rates of potentially hazardous prescribing across practices in the period. Rates for CRF and NSAID are calculated across 2546 OpenSAFELY-TPP practices; all other indicator rates are calculated across all 6367 practices (2546 OpenSAFELY-TPP plus 3821 OpenSAFELY-EMIS practices). Tables for OpenSAFELY-TPP and OpenSAFELY-EMIS separately are available in online supplemental tables 1 and 2.