A cross-sectional analysis of the association between age and gender and prescribed minimum benefit chronic disease list conditions among South Africans with concomitant hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia.

Background: Prescribed Minimum Benefit Chronic Disease List (PMB CDL) conditions are a regulated list of conditions most common to South Africa.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and association between PMB CDL conditions and age and gender among patients with concomitant hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia.

Methods: The study population consisted of patients (n = 17 866) with a prescription containing at least one co-prescribed antilipemics, antihypertensive and antidiabetic (identified using the MIMS Desk Reference). ICD-10 codes on claims for PMB CDL conditions were counted.

Results: 39.5% of patients had a PMB CDL condition. Women had higher odds for hypothyroidism (OR 6.30, 95% CI; 5.52, 7.19, < 0.001) and lower odds for coronary artery disease (CAD) (OR 0.63, 95% CI; 0.55, 0.72, p < 0.001) than men. In combination with hypothyroidism the odds for CAD were reversed and strongly increased; 3.54 (95% CI; 2.38, 5.25, p < 0.001). The odds for females having cardiac failure (CF) was insignificant and low (OR 0.87, 95% CI; 0.75, 1.01, p = 0.063); however combined with hypothyroidism, the odds increased to 5.35 (95% CI; 3.52, 8.13, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Hypothyroidism was an important discriminating factor for co-morbidity in women with concomitant hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia, in particular with cardiovascular disease.