Abstract

This chapter examines mortality in long-term care home (LTCH) residents as associated with the use antipsychotic medication when combined with other psychotropic medications. The data at census-level pertain to all new admissions to long-term care homes (LTCH) in Ontario, Canada, during a given financial year (i.e., over 20,000 LTCH residents). The observations include comprehensive assessment upon admission and at quarterly intervals thereafter for a maximal period of 1-year after the initial assessment. The mortality data derive from three linked databases, with mortality classified as death within 90 days of the final assessment. The findings indicate that combinations of concurrent daily usage of antipsychotic medication with daily usage of other psychotropic medications (particularly antidepressants and analgesics) are associated with relatively low mortality, whereas intermittent usage (e.g. pro re nata; as needed) is associated with relatively high mortality.

Highlights

  • The research we describe in this chapter relates to the effects of antipsychotics, our overall research program evolved to focus more generally on associations between mortality and the reported usage of any type of psychotropic medication

  • Analgesics and PRN analgesics are negative predictors. These findings suggest that psychotropics purportedly relevant to mood improvement and anxiety reduction are likely to accompany daily antipsychotic use, whereas medications purportedly relevant to pain relief are less likely to occur in combination with daily antipsychotic medication

  • The present findings indicate that approximately 30% of residents are in receipt of antipsychotic medication, with more than 99% of those residents in receipt of at least one other psychotropic medication

Read more

Summary

Introduction

This chapter builds upon findings from retrospective studies described in a previous chapter by Stones, Worobetz, Randle, Marchese, Fossum, Ostrum and Brink [1]. Those studies examine associations between mortality in long-term care home (LTHC) residents in the Canadian province of Ontario and the reported use of psychotropic medications. Alternative terms for LTCH in other dominions and countries include nursing homes and homes for the aged. Such homes contrast with supportive housing and continuing care hospitals that respectively provide lesser or greater levels of health care provision. The impetus for what became our research program concerns the allegedly harmful effects of antipsychotic medication on mortality and medical conditions

Methods
Findings
Discussion
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call