Derivation of hazard ratios

Researchers investigated the extent to which referral from primary care for defined symptoms of hip pain varied by age, sex, and social deprivation in the United Kingdom. A cohort study design was used. Data for individual patients registered at 326 general practices between 2001 and 2007 were extracted from the health improvement network database in primary care. In total, 23 121 patients presented with defined symptoms of hip pain, of whom 4019 (17.4%) were referred to specialist secondary care.1

The primary outcome was length of time from date of first presentation in primary care until referral to specialist secondary care. The table⇓ shows the unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios for sex, categorised age, social deprivation, and comorbidity as indicated by number of drugs prescribed. It was reported that women, patients aged older than 85 years, and patients with greater social deprivation …