Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Score Research Articles

Adverse effects associated with long-term use of anticholinergics amongst older adults with intellectual disability: a longitudinal cohort study

Abstract Introduction Intellectual disability defined as “a condition characterized by significant limitation in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour that originates before the age of 22”.[1] Older adults with intellectual disability are exposed to high anticholinergic burden, due to the high prevalence of neurological and mental health diseases compared to the general older adult population. The long-term use of anticholinergics is associated with adverse effects such as decline in physical function, cognitive function and higher risk of dementia and Alzheimer disease in the general population. However, a recent scoping review found that there are no longitudinal studies examining adverse effects associated with long-term use of anticholinergics amongst older adults with intellectual disability.[2] Aim To examine adverse effects associated with long-term use of medication with anticholinergic activity among older adults with intellectual disability. Methods This study examined older adults with intellectual disability aged 40 or over, who participated in wave 1 (2010-11) (W1) and wave 4 (2019-20) (W4) in the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (IDS-TILDA). Anticholinergic burden was quantified using the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) Scale. Participants were categorised into three groups based on their total ACB score: no exposure (ACB = 0), mild exposure (ACB 1-4) and high exposure (ACB = 5+). Logistic regression used to examine adverse effects reported at W4 associated with ACB score captured at W1. Reported anticholinergic adverse effects were constipation, falls, edentulous, Barthel Index for activity of daily livings, mental health conditions and dementia/Alzheimer’s. The logistic regression model was adjusted for age, gender, level of intellectual disability, residence, epilepsy, and polypharmacy excluding anticholinergic medications. Results 506 people with intellectual disability participated and 487 (96.24%) provided medication data at both waves. At W1, 30% had no exposure (ACB=0), 40% had mild exposure (ACB = 1-4) and 30% had high ACB score (ACB = 5+). At W4, there was an increase by 5% of those with mild ACB and a reduction of 1.5% and 3.5% in those with no exposure and high ACB exposure respectively. Participants with high ACB score at W1, were significantly associated with falls (OR = 1.97, 95% CI 1.20-3.54), reporting mental conditions (OR = 14.78, 95% CI 7.84 - 27.86) and dementia, Alzheimer’s or taking anti-dementia drugs (N06D) (OR = 0.21, 95% Cl 0.07 - 0.67) at W4, compared to those with no anticholinergic exposure. Conclusion The long-term use of anticholinergics was associated with physical and mental adverse effects, and therefore the possibility of anticholinergic deprescribing should be explored and examined to enhance appropriate medicine use among older adults with intellectual disability. This is the first study examined the impact of long-term anticholinergic use among this population. However, further anticholinergic adverse effects should be addressed in future such as decline in cognitive function and frailty.

Increased anticholinergic medication use in middle-aged and older autistic adults and its associations with self-reported memory difficulties and cognitive decline.

Many commonly used prescription and over-the-counter medicines have potent anticholinergic (AC) effects. Among older adults, AC medications are associated with cognitive impairment and risk for cognitive disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Collectively, the impact of AC medications is known as anticholinergic cognitive burden (ACB). Because of the high rates of co-occurring medical and psychiatric conditions, autistic adults may have high AC exposure and, thus, may experience elevated ACB. However, no research has characterized AC exposure or examined its associations with cognitive outcomes in autistic adults. Autistic adults (40-83 years) recruited via Simons Powering Autism Research's (SPARK) Research Match service self-reported their medication use (N = 415) and memory complaints (N = 382) at Time (T)1. At T2, 2 years later, a subset of T1 participants (N = 197) self-reported on decline in cognition. Medications were coded using two scales of AC potency. A high proportion (48.2%-62.9%, depending upon the AC potency scale) of autistic adults reported taking at least one medication with AC effects, and 20.5% to 26.5% of autistic adults reported clinically-relevant levels of AC medication (potency ≥3). After controlling for birth-sex, and age, hierarchical linear regression models showed total ACB scores and AC potency values of ≥3 predicted greater memory complaints. Logistic regression models showed that AC medicines at T1 were associated with self-reported cognitive decline at follow-up 2 years later. Understanding AC medications-including potentially earlier AC polypharmacy-and their impacts on cognition (e.g., dementia risk) in autistic adults is warranted.

Factors Associated with Acute Injurious Falls in Elderly Hospitalized Patients: A Multicenter Descriptive Study.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital-Acquired Conditions (CMS-HAC) links Medicare payments to health care quality. Experiencing a serious disability or death associated with a fall in a health care facility based on diagnosis codes has been identified as an opportunity for improvement. Multiple factors contribute to an inpatient fall, including medications that affect cognition in older adults. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the commonly prescribed classes of medications on the CMS-HAC falls and trauma definition in US hospitals in a large inpatient database from 2019 to 2021. The authors analyzed data from 835 hospitals in the Vizient Clinical Data Base between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021, on patients ≥ 65 years of age with CMS-HAC patient falls and trauma codes. Using logistic regression and stepwise Poisson regression analysis, the authors identified demographic, clinical, and hospital-related variables associated with falls meeting the CMS-HAC definition. The top 20 prescribed drug classes in these patients were also identified. Among 11,064,024 patient encounters, 5,978 met the CMS-HAC definition of a serious fall. Patients who experienced a serious fall were significantly more likely to be > 79 years of age (p < 0.001, odds ratio [OR] 1.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23-1.37), have a history of prior falls (p < 0.001, OR 2.30, 95% CI 2.11-2.50), have a code for dementia (p < 0.001, OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.40-1.60), and have higher anticholinergic cognitive burden (ACB) scores (p < 0.001, OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.13-1.14). Specific medication classes associated with CMS-HAC falls were first-generation antihistamines (p < 0.00, OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.09-1.35), second-generation antihistamines (p ≤ 0.001, OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.13-1.19), and atypical antipsychotics (p < 0.001, OR 1.18, CI 1.13-1.29). Patients who experience a fall meeting the CMS-HAC fall definition are significantly more likely to have a prior history of falling, dementia, and a higher ACB score. Results from this study may inform future quality improvement work aimed at reducing injurious falls.

The extent of anticholinergic burden across an older Welsh population living with frailty: cross-sectional analysis of general practice records.

Anticholinergic medicines are associated with adverse outcomes for older people. However, little is known about their use in frailty. The objectives were to (i) investigate the prevalence of anticholinergic prescribing for older patients, and (ii) examine anticholinergic burden according to frailty status. Cross-sectional analysis of Welsh primary care data from the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage databank including patients aged ≥65 at their first GP consultation between 1 January and 31 December 2018. Frailty was identified using the electronic Frailty Index and anticholinergic burden using the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) scale. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were conducted to (i) describe the type and frequency of anticholinergics prescribed; and (ii) to estimate the association between frailty and cumulative ACB score (ACB-Sum). In this study of 529,095 patients, 47.4% of patients receiving any prescription medications were prescribed at least one anticholinergic medicine. Adjusted regression analysis showed that patients with increasing frailty had higher odds of having an ACB-Sum of >3 compared with patients who were fit (mild frailty, adj OR 1.062 (95%CI 1.061-1.064), moderate frailty, adj OR 1.134 (95%CI 1.131-1.136), severe frailty, adj OR 1.208 (95%CI 1.203-1.213)). Anticholinergic prescribing was high in this older population. Older people with advancing frailty are exposed to the highest anticholinergic burden despite being the most vulnerable to the associated adverse effects. Older people with advancing frailty should be considered for medicines review to prevent overaccumulation of anticholinergic medications, given the risks of functional and cognitive decline that frailty presents.

Classifying Polypharmacy According to Pharmacotherapeutic and Clinical Risks in Older Adults: A Latent Class Analysis in Quebec, Canada.

The simplistic definition of polypharmacy, often designated as the concomitant use of five medications or more, does not distinguish appropriate from inappropriate polypharmacy. Classifying polypharmacy according to varying levels of health risk would help optimise medication use. We aimed to characterise different types of polypharmacy among older adults and evaluate their association with mortality and institutionalisation. Using healthcare databases from the Quebec Integrated Chronic Disease Surveillance System, we selected a community-based random sample of the population ≥ 66 years old covered by the public drug plan. Categorical indicators used to describe polypharmacy included number of medications, potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), drug-drug interactions, enhanced surveillance medications, complex route of administration medications, anticholinergic cognitive burden (ACB) score and use of blister cards. We used a latent class analysis to subdivide participants into distinct groups of polypharmacy. Their association with 3-year mortality and institutionalisation was assessed with adjusted Cox models. In total, 93,516 individuals were included. A four-class model was selected with groups described as (1) no polypharmacy (46% of our sample), (2) high-medium number of medications, low risk (33%), (3) medium number of medications, PIM use with or without high ACB score (8%) and (4) hyperpolypharmacy, complex use, high risk (13%). Using the class without polypharmacy as the reference, all polypharmacy classes were associated with 3-year mortality and institutionalisation, with the most complex/inappropriate classes denoting the highest risk (hazard ratio [HR] [95% confidence interval]: class 3, 70-year-old point estimate for mortality 1.52 [1.30-1.78] and institutionalisation 1.86 [1.52-2.29]; class 4, 70-year-old point estimate for mortality 2.74 [2.44-3.08] and institutionalisation 3.11 [2.60-3.70]). We distinguished three types of polypharmacy with varying pharmacotherapeutic and clinical appropriateness. Our results highlight the value of looking beyond the number of medications to assess polypharmacy.

Potentially inappropriate medications use in a psychiatric elderly care hospital: A cross-sectional study using Beers criteria.

Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) carry risks that outweigh any potential benefits when compared to safer or more effective alternative treatments. Adverse drug events are more likely to occur in older adults with psychiatric diseases due to multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and age-related changes in drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of PIM use in an aged care hospital's psychogeriatric division, using the American Geriatrics Society Beers criteria 2019. This cross-sectional study was conducted on all current inpatients, having a mental disorder and aged ≥65 years, in one elderly care hospital in Beirut, from March to May 2022. Medications, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were collected from patients'medical records. PIMs were evaluated based on Beers criteria 2019. Independent variables were described using descriptive statistics. Factors associated with PIM use were identified by bivariate analysis followed by binary logistic regression. A two-sided p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The study included 147 patients, with a mean age of 76.3 years, 46.9% of them having schizophrenia, 68.7% using 5 or more drugsand 90.5% taking at least 1PIM. The most prescribed PIMs were antipsychotics (40.2%), anticholinergics (16%), and antidepressants (7.8%). PIM use was significantly associated with polypharmacy (AOR = 20.88, 95% CI: 1.22-357.87, p = 0.04) and anticholinergic cognitive burden (ACB) score (AOR = 7.25, 95% CI: 1.13-46.52, p = 0.04). PIMs were highly prevalent among hospitalized Lebanese psychiatric elderly. Polypharmacy and ACB score were the determinants of PIM use. A multidisciplinary medication review led by a clinical pharmacist could reduce PIM use.

491 Anticholinergic cognitive burden score in a cohort of nursing home patients; an observational study.

Abstract Introduction Anticholinergic medications are commonly prescribed to older patients, particularly nursing home patients. Anticholinergic burden caused by these medications increases the risk of cognitive impairment, falls, delirium and increased mortality in this patient cohort. There are several published tools available to assess the impact of anticholinergic burden on patient negative outcomes (e.g. falls, cognitive impairment, hospitalisation, mortality). The Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) scale is a validated tool which calculates a patient’s total anticholinergic medication score, to allow an estimation of cognitive burden (1). Aim The aim of this study was to describe the anticholinergic cognitive burden of medications in a cohort of nursing home patients using the ACB scale. Methods An observational study was conducted which involved screening patients’ pharmacy dispensing records for three nursing homes. All nursing homes which the pharmacy provides services for were sent an information leaflet and invited to participate, three agreed, with Directors of Nursing and General Practitioners providing consent. Medications contributing to Anticholinergic cognitive burden were recorded in Microsoft Excel by the researcher and patients total ACB score was calculated (1). A sample of 20% of patient scores was independently checked by another researcher for accuracy. Patients’ comorbidity data and cognitive function measure (Mini Mental State Examination or Mental Test Score) was recorded from their nursing home records by the researcher. Long-term nursing home patients ≥65-years-old were eligible for inclusion. Descriptive analysis was conducted. Results In total, the medications of 254 patients were assessed using the ACB score (63.4% female, mean age 83.5 ±7.79 -years-old). Of these, 195/254 (76.8%) were prescribed at least one anticholinergic medication. There were 132/254 (51.9%) patients with a total ACB score of ≥3 which is clinically significant and increases the risk of negative outcomes. The three most commonly prescribed anticholinergics were quetiapine (82/254, 32.3%), olanzapine (32/254, 12.6%) and furosemide (31/254, 12.2%). Of the patients with an ACB score ≥3, 58/132 (49.9%) had dementia and 63/132 had hypertension (47.7%). Conclusion This study highlights the high prevalence of anticholinergic medication prescribing in an Irish nursing home population. This is high in comparison with other European and international studies where lower ACB scores in nursing home populations have been recorded (2). The study was limited as it was only conducted in three nursing homes, a larger study may identify different prescribing patterns and ACB scores. Further work in pharmacy practice to include the ACB score as part of patients’ medication reviews is recommended. Collaboration with nursing home prescribers and nurses to increase awareness of anticholinergic medication risks and review is vital. Reductions in ACB scores would reduce the risk of falls, cognitive impairment and harm to these patients.

Association of anticholinergic drug use with postoperative mortality among patients with hip fracture. A nationwide cohort study

PurposeAnticholinergic (AC) drugs are associated with various determinantal outcomes. Data regarding the effect of AC drugs on mortality among geriatric hip fracture patients are limited and inconsistent. MethodsUsing Danish health registries, we identified 31,443 patients aged ≥65 years undergoing hip fracture surgery. AC burden was assessed 90 days before surgery by the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) score and number of AC drugs. Logistic and Cox regression producing odds ratios (OR) and hazard ratios (HR) for 30- and 365- day mortality, adjusting for age, sex, and comorbidities were computed. ResultsAC drugs were redeemed by 42% of patients. The 30-day mortality increased from 7% for patients with ACB score of 0 to 16% for patients with ACB score of ≥5, corresponding to an adjusted OR 2.5 (CI: 2.0–3.1). The equivalent adjusted HR for 365-mortality was 1.9 (CI: 1.6–2.1). Using count of AC drugs as exposure we found a stepwise increase in ORs and HRs with increased number of AC drugs; Compared to non-users, adjusted ORs for 30-days mortality were 1.6 (CI: 1.4–1.7), 1.9 (CI: 1.7–2.1), and 2.3 (CI: 1.9–2.7) for users of 1, 2 and 3+ AC drugs. HRs for 365-day mortality were 1.4 (CI: 1.3–1.5), 1.6 (CI: 1.5–1.7) and 1.8 (CI: 1.7–2.0). ConclusionUse of AC drugs was associated with increased 30-day and 365-day mortality among older adults with hip fracture. Simply counting the number of AC drugs may be a clinically relevant and easy AC risk assessment tool. Continued effort to reduce AC drug-use is relevant.

Anticholinergic burden in older adults with psychiatric illnesses: A cross-sectional study

ObjectivesWe aimed in this study to determine the extent of exposure to anticholinergic drugs in older adults with psychiatric illnesses using the anticholinergic cognitive burden (ACB) scale and to identify the factors associated with anticholinergic drugs use and higher ACB scores. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in the psychogeriatric division of an elderly care hospital. The study sample comprised all inpatients, aged ≥65 years, and diagnosed with psychiatric illness. ResultsAnticholinergic drugs use was reported in 117 (79.6 %) patients, 76 (51.7 %) had an ACB score ≥ 3. Schizophrenia [OR = 5.4 (95 % CI 1.1–10.2), p = 0.02], anemia [OR = 2.2 (95 % CI 1.54–7.89), p = 0.01], and anticholinergic adverse effects [OR = 2.8 (95 % CI 1.12–7.07), p = 0.04] were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of using anticholinergic drugs. The odds of having an ACB score ≥ 3 over an ACB score = 0 were significantly increased by schizophrenia [OR = 4.9 (95 % CI 1.65–8.02), p = 0.01], anemia [OR = 1.32 (95 % CI 1.90–6.90), p = 0.02], and polypharmacy [OR = 1.74 (95 % CI 1.10–2.40), p = 0.04], while they were significantly decreased by age [OR = 0.86 (95 % CI 0.78–0.96), p < 0.001]. Patients with cognitive impairment were less likely than those without cognitive impairment to have an ACB score ≥ 3 over an ACB score = 0. ConclusionsOur study revealed that older adults with psychiatric illnesses were exposed to high anticholinergic burden.

Longitudinal associations of anticholinergic medications on cognition and possible mitigating role of physical activity.

Many older adults take at least one prescription medication with anticholinergic (ACH) activity, which can impact the central nervous system and can lead to cognitive decline and impairment especially in an aging population susceptible to cognitive changes. We examined this relationship between ACH burden and cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults. We further determined if increased activity levels mitigated the relationships between ACH burden and cognition. Data from The Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke project were used. We included 20,575 adults aged ≥45 years with longitudinal cognitive testing. The anticholinergic cognitive burden (ACB) scale was used to assess for ACH use and overall burden. Cognitive data included an overall composite score, a memory, and verbal fluency composites. Mixed effects models were conducted to determine if cognitive function worsened over time for participants with higher ACB (>3) scores. The full model adjusted for age, sex, race, education, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure, and dyslipidemia, self-reported physical activity (PA) and depressive symptoms. A significant relationship between ACH burden and composite cognitive scores was found (p= <0.001), with those with higher ACB showing more rapid cognitive decline over time. There was an effect of age for participants with higher ACB (>3) scores and ACB as a continuous variable. Baseline PA level was associated with less cognitive decline over time and this effect was greater in older cohorts. We observed an effect of ACHs on cognition in adults ≥45 years old that worsened with age. ACH users showed more cognitive effects, whereas PA emerged as a possible mitigating factor.

The relationship between dry eye disease and anticholinergic burden.

Anticholinergic drugs are widely prescribed for many medical conditions. However, data on the association of anticholinergic burden with dry eye disease (DED) are limited. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between anticholinergic burden and DED. In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated a total of 120 participants who underwent ophthalmological examination between February 2021 and February 2022. The drugs used by the patients in the last 2 months were recorded from the institute's electronic data system. Anticholinergic burden was assessed using the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) scale. The mean age of those patients was 59.0 ± 11.6 years and more than half (n = 33, 64.7%) were women. Patients with DED had significantly higher Charlson comorbidity index scores (p = 0.01), lower Schirmer test values (p = 0.01), higher Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores (p = 0.01), and higher anticholinergic burden (p = 0.01). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between ACB and OSDI scores (r = 0.22, p = 0.02) and a negative correlation between ACB scores and Schirmer test values (r = -0.46, p = 0.01). After adjusting for potential confounding factors (age, gender, and comorbidities), each 1-point increase in anticholinergic burden was found to result in a 2.97-fold increase in the risk of DED (OR: 2.97, 95% confidence interval: 1.22-7.24, p = 0.02). Anticholinergic burden appears to be associated with DED. Therefore, greater caution in prescribing anticholinergic drugs for adult patients may be important in reducing the rates of many adverse outcomes.

Anticholinergic Medications and Parent-Reported Anticholinergic Symptoms in Neurologically Impaired Children.

Children with severe neurological impairment and polypharmacy are exposed to anticholinergic (AC) medications that may have anticholinergic side effects, but this is understudied. Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) scores measure total anticholinergic burden for a medication regimen, and scores ≥3 have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in adults. We assessed the relationship between ACB scores and parent-reported anticholinergic symptoms in children. Cross-sectional study of patients one to 18 years-old with ICD-defined severe neurological impairment and polypharmacy. At routine clinical visits, total ACB scores were computed for all medications. Parent-reported AC symptoms (constipation, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, dry mouth, or urinary problems) were assessed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to test the association between total ACB scores ≥3 for scheduled medications and the presence of AC symptoms, adjusted for age and recent acute healthcare utilization. Among 123 unique patients, 87% were prescribed AC medications. Common AC medication classes included: systemic antihistamines (64%), anxiolytics (53%), antidepressants (30%), H2 blockers (22%), and muscle relaxants (20%). Total ACB scores ≥3 were observed in 44% for scheduled medications and in 63% of patients for scheduled plus PRN medications. Total ACB scores ≥3 were significantly associated with an increased odds of ≥1 anticholinergic symptoms for scheduled medications (OR: 3.1; 95% CI: 1.4, 6.7) and for scheduled plus PRN medications (OR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.3, 6.4). If replicated in larger populations, the association between elevated total ACB scores and anticholinergic side effects in children should prompt clinicians to consider deprescribing potentially unneeded anticholinergic medications.

Evaluation of anticholinergic burden in elderly outpatients and the risk factors.

The use of anticholinergic drugs in the elderly may lead to negative events such as falls, delirium, urinary retention and cognitive decline, and the higher the number of anticholinergic drugs use, the more such negative events occur. This study aims to analyze the risk factors associated with the prescription of total anticholinergic drugs in elderly outpatients and evaluate the rationality of anticholinergic drugs, and to provide a reference for reducing the adverse effects of anticholinergic drugs. A list of drugs with anticholinergic activity based on the Beers criteria was established. The basic information (such as age and gender), clinical diagnosis, and medications of elderly outpatient were extracted from hospital electronic medical records, and the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) Scale was used to calculate the anticholinergic burden for each patient. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the potential risk factors for the occurrence of problems such as multiple medication and insomnia. A total of 1 840 prescriptions for elderly patients were reviewed. Of these patients, ACB score was more than or equal to 1 in 648 (35.22%) patients. Number of prescription medication (95% CI: 1.221 to 1.336) and insomnia (95% CI: 3.538 to 6.089) were independent factors affecting ACB scores (both P<0.01). Medications for patients of ACB scores were most commonly treated with the central nervous system drugs (such as alprazolam and eszopiclone) and for the cardiovascular system drugs (such as metoprolol and nifedipine). There is a high rate of ACB drugs use in geriatric patients, and the clinical focus should be on multiple medication prescriptions, especially on the central nervous system drugs (such as alprazolam and eszopiclone) and cardiovascular system drugs (such as metoprolol and nifedipine). The prescription review should be emphasized to reduce adverse reactions to anticholinergic drugs in elderly patients.

329 ANTICHOLINERGIC BURDEN IN PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA ATTENDING GERIATRIC MEDICINE AND PSYCHIATRY FOR OLDER PERSONS SERVICES

Abstract Background Anticholinergic burden is associated with an increase in cognitive decline, delirium and confusion. We aimed to examine the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) of patients referred to local dementia services, and the prescribing of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in patients with a significant anticholinergic burden. We also looked at frequency of prescribing of classes of some medications known to increase anticholinergic burden. Methods A retrospective chart review was carried out of new referrals attending local Geriatric Medicine and/or Psychiatry For Older Persons outpatient services with a diagnosis of dementia between 2017 and 2018. Medications in use at the time of patient review were obtained. ACB was calculated using ACB score. Results were analysed descriptively. Results 163 patients over 65 years old were included in this study, 94 (57.6%) were female. 30% (N = 49) had a significant anticholinergic burden (ACB &amp;gt;3). The mean ACB was 1.69 (Range 0 – 8). 38% of all patients (N = 63) were prescribed an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, and of those, 20% (N = 13) had a significant anticholinergic burden. Polypharmacy (use of 5 medications or more) was evident with 76% (N = 124) patients. Regarding groups of medications known to increase ACB, 35.5% (N = 58) were prescribed antipsychotics and 18.4% (30) were prescribed benzodiazepines. Conclusion There is a significant anticholinergic burden among people living with dementia attending the geriatric medicine and psychiatry of later life services. Some patients with a significant anticholinergic burden were being prescribed acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. This suggests acetylcholinesterase inhibitors may be prescribed without also discontinuing inappropriate medications that are contributing to the anticholinergic burden. We should look to further reduce the anticholinergic burden of patients attending the dementia services by avoiding these medications or using alternatives where available.

Anticholinergic Burden, Polypharmacy, and Cognition in Parkinson’s Disease Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Introduction: Anticholinergic burden may be an important risk factor for the cognitive impairment. Especially in polypharmacy, even drugs with low anticholinergic effects may contribute to a significant anticholinergic burden. The drugs with anticholinergic effects are used in treatment of motor and nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Therefore, it is important to screen for polypharmacy and anticholinergic burden in PD patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 58 patients with PD. PD-MCI was diagnosed according to MDS Level 2 Comprehensive Assessment. Cognitive performance (attention – working memory, executive functions, language, memory, and visuospatial functions) of patients was evaluated. The anticholinergic burden was scored by Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) Scale, Anticholinergic Risk Scale (ARS), and Anticholinergic Drug Scale (ADS). Results: There was no significant difference in anticholinergic burden between PD-MCI and PD-normal cognition. A significant concordance was observed between ACB, ARS, and ADS scores (p < 0.001; Kendall’s W = 0.653). While the variable predicting anticholinergic burden was the total number of drugs for ACB and ADS scales, it was the number of antiparkinson drugs for ARS scale. Conclusion: Patients with PD are at high risk for polypharmacy and anticholinergic burden. Anticholinergic burden should be considered in the selection of drugs, especially for comorbidities in patients with PD. No significant correlation was found between the cognition and anticholinergic burden in patients with PD-MCI. Although the risk scores of antiparkinson and other drugs were different among the 3 scales, significant concordance was observed between scales.

Anticholinergic burden for prediction of cognitive decline or neuropsychiatric symptoms in older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

Medications with anticholinergic properties are commonly prescribed to older adults with a pre-existing diagnosis of dementia or cognitive impairment. The cumulative anticholinergic effect of all the medications a person takes is referred to as the anticholinergic burden because of its potential to cause adverse effects. It is possible that a high anticholinergic burden may be a risk factor for further cognitive decline or neuropsychiatric disturbances in people with dementia. Neuropsychiatric disturbances are the most frequent complication of dementia that require hospitalisation, accounting for almost half of admissions; hence, identification of modifiable prognostic factors for these outcomes is crucial. There are various scales available to measure anticholinergic burden but agreement between them is often poor. Our primary objective was to assess whether anticholinergic burden, as defined at the level of each individual scale, was a prognostic factor for further cognitive decline or neuropsychiatric disturbances in older adults with pre-existing diagnoses of dementia or cognitive impairment. Our secondary objective was to investigate whether anticholinergic burden was a prognostic factor for other adverse clinical outcomes, including mortality, impaired physical function, and institutionalisation. We searched these databases from inception to 29 November 2021: MEDLINE OvidSP, Embase OvidSP, PsycINFO OvidSP, CINAHL EBSCOhost, and ISI Web of Science Core Collection on ISI Web of Science. We included prospective and retrospective longitudinal cohort and case-control observational studies, with a minimum of one-month follow-up, which examined the association between an anticholinergic burden measurement scale and the above stated adverse clinical outcomes, in older adults with pre-existing diagnoses of dementia or cognitive impairment. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed studies for inclusion, and undertook data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and GRADE assessment. We summarised risk associations between anticholinergic burden and all clinical outcomes in a narrative fashion. We also evaluated the risk association between anticholinergic burden and mortality using a random-effects meta-analysis. We established adjusted pooled rates for the anticholinergic cognitive burden (ACB) scale; then, as an exploratory analysis, established pooled rates on the prespecified association across scales. MAIN RESULTS: We identified 18 studies that met our inclusion criteria (102,684 older adults). Anticholinergic burden was measured using five distinct measurement scales: 12 studies used the ACB scale; 3 studies used the Anticholinergic Risk Scale (ARS); 1 study used the Anticholinergic Drug Scale (ADS); 1 study used the Anticholinergic Effect on Cognition (AEC) Scale; and 2 studies used a list developed by Tune and Egeli. Risk associations between anticholinergic burden and adverse clinical outcomes were highly heterogenous. Four out of 10 (40%) studies reported a significantly increased risk ofgreater long-term cognitive decline for participants with an anticholinergic burden compared to participants with no or minimal anticholinergic burden. No studies investigated neuropsychiatric disturbance outcomes. One out of four studies (25%) reported a significant association with reduced physical function for participants with an anticholinergic burden versus participants with no or minimal anticholinergic burden. No study (out of one investigating study) reported a significant association between anticholinergic burden and risk of institutionalisation. Six out of 10 studies (60%) found a significantly increased risk of mortality for those with an anticholinergic burden compared to those with no or minimal anticholinergic burden. Pooled analysis of adjusted mortality hazard ratios (HR) measured anticholinergic burden with the ACB scale, and suggested a significantly increased risk of death for those with a high ACB score relative to those with no or minimal ACB scores (HR 1.153, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.030 to 1.292; 4 studies, 48,663 participants). An exploratory pooled analysis of adjusted mortality HRs across anticholinergic burden scales also suggested a significantly increased risk of death for those with a high anticholinergic burden (HR 1.102, 95% CI 1.044 to 1.163; 6 studies, 68,381 participants). Overall GRADE evaluation of results found low- or very low-certainty evidence for all outcomes. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is low-certainty evidence that older adults with dementia or cognitive impairment who have a significant anticholinergic burden may be at increased risk of death. No firm conclusions can be drawn for risk of accelerated cognitive decline, neuropsychiatric disturbances, decline in physical function, or institutionalisation.

Anticholinergic burden and cognitive performance: cross-sectional results from the ELSA-Brasil study.

Using multiple drugs with anticholinergic properties is common and might lead to cumulative anticholinergic toxicity and increased risk of cognitive impairment. Therefore, we sought to investigate the association between the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) Scale and cognitive performance among middle-aged and older adults. In this cross-sectional study with 13,065 participants from the baseline visit of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil), mean age was 51.7 ± 9.0years old, 55% women, and 53% white. The ACB was calculated based on the medications in use. We investigated the association of ACB with global cognition and memory, verbal fluency (VF), and trail-making test version B (TMT-B) z-scores, using multiple linear regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical variables. Overall, 16% of participants had an ACB score greater than 0. ACB was associated with poor cognitive performance in all tests in crude analysis. After adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, the association remained significant for the global cognitive score, as well as the memory and the TMT-B z-scores. However, after further adjustments for clinical variables, only trend associations of ACB with poor memory (β = - 0.02, 95% Cl = - 0.05, 0.00, p = 0.056) and the TMT-B z-scores (β = - 0.02, 95% Cl = - 0.04, 0.00, p = 0.054) were found. In stratified analyses by age groups, ACB was associated with poor cognitive performance on the TMT-B (β = - 0.03, 95% Cl = - 0.05, - 0.01, p = 0.005) in individuals aged less than 65years old. Although the ACB was associated with poor executive function only among middle-aged adults in adjusted analysis, residual confounding may partly explain our results.

Potential Targets for Deprescribing in Medically Complex Older Adults with Suspected Cognitive Impairment.

Deprescribing may be particularly beneficial in patients with medical complexity and suspected cognitive impairment (CI). We describe central nervous system (CNS) medication use and side effects in this population and explore the relationship between anticholinergic burden and sleep. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a pilot randomized-controlled trial in older adult veterans with medical complexity (Care Assessment Need score > 90), and suspected CI (Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status score 20–31). CNS medication classes included antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, H2-receptor antagonists, hypnotics, opioids, and skeletal muscle relaxants. We also coded anticholinergic-active medications according to their Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) score. Other measures included self-reported medication side effects and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). ACB association with sleep (PSQI) was examined using adjusted linear regression. In this sample (N = 40), the mean number of prescribed CNS medications was 2.2 (SD 1.5), 65% experienced ≥ 1 side effect, and 50% had an ACB score ≥ 3 (high anticholinergic exposure). The ACB score ≥ 3 compared to ACB < 3 was not significantly associated with PSQI scores (avg diff in score = −0.1, 95% CI −2.1, 1.8). Although results did not demonstrate a clear relationship with worsened sleep, significant side effects and anticholinergic burden support the deprescribing need in this population.

Older adults' exposure to anticholinergic medications: Implications for pharmaceutical care for Nigerian older adults.

Introduction:Anticholinergic medications which are commonly prescribed to older adults can produce more pronounced adverse effects compared to the younger population.Objectives:To investigate the prevalence of polypharmacy, describe the prescription patterns of anticholinergic medications, determine the prevalence of exposure to high-risk anticholinergic cognitive burden (ACB) medications, and identify the potential predictors of exposure to high-risk ACB medications in older adults in a Nigerian secondary hospital.Methods:This cross-sectional study that included older adults prescribed at least one anticholinergic medication was conducted at a secondary care hospital in Nigeria. The study data were initially summarized using descriptive statistics, whereas multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the potential predictors of exposure to high-risk ACB medications. In this study, the cumulative ACB scores were dichotomized into low risk (score 1–2) and high risk (score ⩾ 3). A p value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.Results:A total of 256 older adults were included in this study; 113 (44.1%) had polypharmacy, whereas 26.6% (188/256) were exposed to high-risk ACB medications. Of a total of 391 anticholinergic medications used by the population, furosemide (36.57%) was the most commonly prescribed. The adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that patients who had acute diseases were 2.5 times (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40–4.45) more likely to be exposed to high-risk ACB medications than those with chronic diseases.Conclusion:The study demonstrates a high prevalence of polypharmacy and exposure to high-risk ACB medications suggesting the need for pharmaceutical care in this high-risk population. Older adults’ exposure to high-risk ACB medications was significantly associated with prescriptions for acute diseases.

Anticholinergic medication burden and cognitive function in participants of the ASPREE study

What is the association between anticholinergic burden and specific domains of cognitive function in older adults who are initially without major cognitive impairment? Post-hoc analysis of longitudinal observational data from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study. 19,114 participants from Australia and the United States aged 70 years and older (65 years and older for US minorities) were recruited and followed for a median of 4.7 years. At enrollment, participants were free of known cardiovascular disease, major physical disability, or dementia. Cognitive assessments administered at baseline and biennially at follow-up visits included the Modified Mini-Mental State examination (3MS), Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R) delayed recall, Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Anticholinergic burden was calculated at baseline using the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) scale and grouped as scores of 0 (no burden), 1-2 (low to moderate), or 3+ (high). Linear mixed effects models were used to assess the relationship between ACB score and cognition over time. After adjusting for sex, age, education, minority status, smoking status, hypertension, diabetes, depression, chronic kidney disease, country, and frailty, participants with a high ACB score had worse performance over time for 3MS (Adjusted [Adj] B=-0.092, P=0.034), HVLT-R delayed recall (Adj B=-0.104, P<0.001), COWAT (Adj B=-0.151, P<0.001), and SDMT (Adj B=-0.129, P=0.026), than participants with an ACB score of 0. A low to moderate ACB score was also associated with worse performance over time for HVLT-R delayed recall (Adj B=-0.037, P=0.007) and COWAT (Adj B=-0.065, P=0.003), compared to those with no ACB. Anticholinergic burden predicts worse cognitive function over time in initially dementia-free older adults, particularly for executive function (COWAT) and episodic memory (HVLT-R).