Medication Use In Older Adults Research Articles

Potentially inappropriate medications and potential prescribing omissions in hospitalised older adults in New Zealand: A retrospective study.

Medication errors can have detrimental effects on patient outcomes, yet there are limited data on the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and potential prescribing omissions (PPOs) among older adult inpatients in New Zealand (NZ). This study investigated exposure to PIMs and PPOs in older adults in a New Zealand hospital. Electronic medical records of 846 older adults (≥ 65 years) discharged from the Auckland District Health Board between June 2020 and May 2021 were retrospectively reviewed to extract data on sociodemographic, medication and diagnostic information. STOPP/START version 2 was used to evaluate PIMs and PPOs on admission and discharge. The mean age was 77.47 ± 8.12 years, and 51% were female. On admission, 48% had ≥1 PIMs and 40% had ≥1 PPOs. On discharge, 45% had ≥1 PIMs and 40% had ≥1 PPOs. Increasing age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.02, 95% CI [confidence interval] 1.01, 1.04), number of medicines (AOR = 1.23, CI 1.17, 1.29) and 28-day admission history (AOR = 1.58, CI 1.15, 2.18) were associated with higher odds of PIMs use on admission. At discharge, the number of medicines (AOR = 1.19, CI 1.13, 1.25) and history of readmission (AOR = 1.47, CI 1.08, 2.02) were associated with higher odds of PIMs. Female patients had higher odds of PPOs both on admission (AOR = 1.35, CI 1.02, 1.78) and discharge (AOR = 1.34, CI 1.01, 1.78). Māori, Asian and Pacific patients were more likely to have prescribing omissions compared to NZ Europeans. Prescribing omissions and inappropriate medications were common in older inpatients. There were differences observed between different ethnic groups, with NZ Europeans having fewer omissions than other ethnic groups. These findings highlight key opportunities for health-care providers to improve medication use in older adults in NZ.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of the Hospital and Community Pharmacists in Saudi Arabia (Jeddah) towards Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults.

In Saudi Arabia, the older adult population is growing and is projected to increase three-fold by 2030. Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are harmful to older adults' and have a direct impact on clinical, health and economic outcomes. Pharmacists have a vital role in medication tailoring for older adults as multidisciplinary team members. However, there is also a paucity of research regarding pharmacists' participation in detecting and avoiding PIMs use among older adults in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional, self-administered survey was conducted to assess the knowledge, practices, and attitude of pharmacists from seven hospitals and ten community pharmacies in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The survey comprised three sections; (i) identifying participants' general characteristics, (ii) assessing their knowledge of PIMs use in older adults and (iii) examining the pharmacist's attitude towards the procedures followed in dispensing for older adults. Inferential and descriptive statistics were used to analyse the survey data. A total of 157 community and hospital pharmacists participated in this study. Most of them dispensed medication weekly to older adults (85.4%), and 43.3% had relevant work experience of six to ten years. Though 44.6% of the participants were aware of PIMs that older adults should avoid, only 10.8% claimed adequate knowledge about PIMs. From the given three clinical case scenarios, a minority of pharmacists (21.7%) chose the correct answers, with a mean score of 2.38 ± 2.91 (95% CI 2.35-3.15). Participants who claimed to have knowledge of PIMs had a significantly higher mean score than those who did not, 4.59 ± 2.81 25 (95% CI 2.35-2.61). A minority of the pharmacists (14.7%) used screening tools such as STOPP, Beers criteria, or Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI) to detect PIMs in older adults. No statistically significant differences were detected when comparing the levels of knowledge of pharmacists with 1 to 5 years of practice to pharmacists with 6 to 15 and more years of experience (p = 0.431). Pharmacists' knowledge, attitude and practices toward PIMs use in older adults in Saudi Arabia should be improved. The application of PIMs detection tools such as STOPP/START or Beers criteria currently has no place in day-to-day pharmacists' roles in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, concerned stakeholders should develop educational programs to improve pharmacists' knowledge of PIMs and promote the effective use of PIM screening tools such as Beers and STOPP criteria in their practice.

Effectiveness and sustainment of a tailored over-the-counter medication safety intervention in community pharmacies: A randomized controlled trial.

The Senior Section is a continuation of a previous intervention that aims to address a gap in medication safety, specifically related to older adult selection and use of over-the-counter medications. The purpose of this paper is to describe the protocol of this study. This study will occur in three phases: an adaptation phase, an effectiveness phase using a randomized controlled trial, and a sustainment phase. This study will take place in conjunction with administrative leadership and pharmacy sites of a regional Midwest integrated health system. Eye tracking technology will inform the adaptation of the intervention and demonstrate effectiveness in the randomized controlled trial. Following the randomized controlled trial, the health system will implement the intervention without research team support. Fidelity and long-term effectiveness outcomes will be collected to demonstrate sustainment. The potential implications of this study are a complete and sustained redesign of the pharmacy setting to include educational and directional materials on medication safety, leading to a decrease in over-the-counter medication misuse in older adults. This project could provide a road map for pharmacy organizations to tailor and adopt the Senior Section, to ultimately reduce inappropriate over-the-counter medication use in older adults.

Optimizing Medication Use in Older Adults With Rheumatic Musculoskeletal Diseases: Deprescribing as an Approach When Less May Be More.

The world population is aging, and the rheumatology workforce must be prepared to care for medically complex older adults. We can learn from our colleagues and experts in geriatrics about how to best manage multimorbidity, polypharmacy, geriatric syndromes, and shifting priorities of older adults in the context of delivering care for rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). Polypharmacy, a common occurrence in an aging population with multimorbidity, affects half of older adults with RMDs and is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. In addition, potentially inappropriate medications that should be avoided under most circumstances is common in the RMD population. In recent years, deprescribing, known as the process of tapering, stopping, discontinuing, or withdrawing drugs, has been introduced as an approach to improve appropriate medication use among older adults and the outcomes that are important to them. As the rheumatology patient population ages globally, it is imperative to understand the burden of polypharmacy and the potential of deprescribing to improve medication use in older adults with RMDs. We encourage the rheumatology community to implement geriatric principles, when possible, as we move toward becoming an age-friendly health care specialty.

Polypharmacy and Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

To assess the prevalence and potential risk factors for polypharmacy and prescribing of the potentially inappropriate medications, opioids and benzodiazepines/Z-drugs, in older adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study population comprised adults age ≥50 years meeting American College of Rheumatology or Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics classification criteria followed at a tertiary care rheumatology clinic. Information on prescriptions filled in the 4 months preceding chart review was obtained from the Manitoba Drug Program Information Network. Clinical data, including age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 score, prednisone use, SLE duration, and rural residence were abstracted from electronic medical records. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess any association between polypharmacy (using 2 definitions: ≥5 and ≥10 medications), potentially inappropriate medication use, and clinical features. A total of 206 patients (mean age 62 years, 91% female, 36% rural) were included: 148 (72%) filled ≥5 medications, 71 (35%) filled ≥10 medications, 63 (31%) used benzodiazepines/Z-drugs, and 50 (24%) used opioids. Among the 77 patients age ≥65 years, 57 (74%) filled ≥5 medications, and 26 (34%) filled ≥10 medications, compared to 30% and 4%, respectively, of Manitobans age ≥65 years (National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System, 2016). The odds of polypharmacy were greater with prednisone use (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.70 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.40-9.79] for ≥5 medications), CCI score (adjusted OR 1.62 [95% CI 1.20-2.17]), and rural residence (adjusted OR 2.05 [95% CI 1.01-4.18]). Odds of benzodiazepine/Z-drug use were increased with polypharmacy (adjusted OR 4.35 [95% CI 1.69-11.22]), and odds of opioid use were increased with polypharmacy (adjusted OR 6.75 [95% CI 1.93-23.69]) and CCI score (adjusted OR 1.29 [95% CI 1.08-1.54]). The prevalence of polypharmacy in this SLE cohort was higher than in the general Manitoban population. Polypharmacy is a strong marker for use of prescription benzodiazepines/Z-drugs and opioids.

Habitual Physical Activity Is Associated With Prescription Medication Use In Older Adults

Increased prescription medication (Rx) use has been associated with adverse drug events, drug-drug interactions, and rising health-care costs. Few studies have examined the potential relationship between physical activity (PA) level and Rx use. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine if habitual PA is associated with Rx use in older adults. METHODS: In 171 older adults (116 women, 55 men, 72 ± 8y, BMI: 27 ± 5 kg/m2) physical activity (PA) was measured via 1) self-report (PA-SR) using the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) and 2) objectively (PA-O) using 7-day accelerometry (Actical, Phillips Respironics, Bend, Oregon). PA-SR data were calculated as kcal/wk of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Accelerometry data were processed as min/day of MVPA and sedentary behavior, as well as the ratio of Sedentary/MVPA behavior (Sed/Mod). Prescription medication use (Rx) was collected during health history screening. Bivariate and partial correlations (controlling for age and BMI) were utilized to determine if measures of PA were significantly correlated with Rx. Hierarchical linear regression was utilized to determine the predictive power of age, BMI, and PA for estimating Rx use. RESULTS: Average Rx use was 2.5 ± 0.16 meds. Average physical activity was 1,632 ± 1,280 kcal/wk of moderate-to-vigorous PA for PA-SR and 55 ± 35 min/day of MVPA for PA-O. Age (r = 0.21), BMI (r = 0.47), PA-SR (r = -0.31), PA-O (r = -0.45), and Sed/Mod (r = 0.47) were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with Rx use. Partial correlations (controlling for age and BMI) showed that PA-O and Sed/Mod, but not PA-SR, remained significantly correlated with Rx use. Utilizing hierarchical linear regression, a model containing BMI, Sed/Mod, and age was the most predictive of prescription medication use—explaining 42% of the variance. Of these independent variables, BMI and Sed/Mod ratio explained 21.7% and 21.6% of the variance in Rx use when included in a regression model individually, while age explained 3.8% of the variance in Rx use. CONCLUSION: These data extend previous reports that PA is inversely associated with Rx use. They further suggest that BMI and objective measures of PA are more predictive of Rx use than age in older adults.

Risk factors for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults: a cohort study.

Much of the knowledge on the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) in older adults is derived from cross-sectional studies, with little known about the risk factors over time. Longitudinal analysis was applied to estimate the occurrence and risk factors of PIM use among older adults in a 10-year follow-up. Longitudinal study with 418 older adult residents of a capital city of Central-West Brazil. The PIM were classified according to the Beers criteria 2019. The usage rate was calculated at baseline (2008) and at the 10-year follow-up moment (2018). Analysis of predictors (sociodemographic, self-rated health, hospitalization, number of comorbidities, polypharmacy, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and nutritional status) was performed using Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models. Mean age at baseline was 70.6years (SD 7.1) and 76% were women; 221 older adults took part in the follow up. The rate of PIM use was 50.4% at baseline and 57.5% at the 10-year follow-up. Multiple analysis showed that PIM use in the cohort was statistically higher in the older adults with a history of hospitalization (RRadj 1.20; 95% CI 1.01-1.40), with three or more diseases (RRadj 1.41; 95% CI 1.14-1.74), with polypharmacy (RRadj 1.81; 95% CI 1.47-2.24) and with diabetes mellitus (RRadj 1.24; 95% CI 1.05-1.47). A high level of potentially inappropriate medication use was observed, reaching 50% of the older adults, with a 7% increase in the prevalence over the 10-year follow-up period. Hospitalization, multimorbidities, polypharmacy and diabetes mellitus were associated with the use of these medications. Interventions for surveillance of the deprescribing process need to be encouraged to avoid potential harm caused by the use of medications.

Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults with Chronic Kidney Disease.

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication use (PIMU) in adults above the age of 65 with chronic kidney disease (CKD) according to the American Geriatric Society Beers Criteria (Beers), Screening Tool of Older People's Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions Criteria (STOPP) and medication appropriateness index (MAI) 30 criteria and to compare them to justify their use in this specific patient group. This was a retrospective and descriptive study conducted between October 1st, 2019 and March 18th, 2020 at Ibni Sina Hospital, Nephrology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University. Among 269 patients discharged from the hospital during the study period, 100 of them were eligible for the study. The mean age was 73.3 ± 6.9 years and 51.9% of them were male. The prevalence of 35 PIMU was 91%, 42%, and 70% according to the Beers, STOPP, and MAI criteria, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in terms of prevalence among 3 criteria (p<0.001). Beer detected more PIMU (11.3% vs. 6.4%) and had higher sensitivity among older adults with CKD (0.97 vs. 0.56) compared to the STOPP criteria. Most patients had at least one drug-drug interaction (DDIs) in their discharge prescription (93%) and DDI was one of the main contributors of PIMU. Proton pump inhibitors were the most common medication associated with PIMU in all 3 criteria. The prevalence of PIMU was high among older adults with CKD at discharge according to these criteria. To improve the prescriptions after hospital discharge, it is considered appropriate to use Beers criteria under guidance of a clinical pharmacist.

0479 Prescribing Patterns for Hypnotic Medication Among Adults Seeking CBTI Treatment: A Preliminary Report from the RESTING Study

Abstract Introduction Use of prescription hypnotic medications is common among adults with chronic insomnia; however, little is known about prescribing patterns for hypnotic medication in middle-to-older age adults with insomnia disorder who seek to engage in cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI). Methods Participants were 235 adults aged 50 or older with insomnia disorder (mean age 63.1y [SD 7.7y], 73.6% women) enrolled in the ongoing Randomized Controlled Study on Effectiveness of Stepped-Care Sleep Therapy (RESTING). At screening, participants provided information about prescribed medications for sleep, insomnia severity (Insomnia Severity Index), daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), chronotype (Composite Morningness Questionnaire), depression (Geriatric Depression Scale) and physical and mental health (PROMIS Global-10, Physical and Mental Health Subscales). Results Of the 235 participants, 95 (40.4%) reported taking at least one medication prescribed to improve sleep. 26.5% were prescribed multiple medications (polypharmacy). Non-benzodiazepine receptor agonists (non-BzRAs) were the most common (prescribed to 51.6% of medication-using sample), followed by benzodiazepines (Bzs; 35.8%) and trazodone (20.0%). 25.2% of participants took a variety of other prescription medications at lower frequencies.Comparing patient characteristics for patients prescribed non-BzRAs, Bzs, and trazodone monotherapies, as well as polypharmacy, there were no significant differences in age, gender, insomnia severity or any other clinical characteristics, outside of modest associations within the PROMIS physical health scale (F[3,81]=2.78, p=.046); participants prescribed trazodone as monotherapy had significantly higher scores (better physical functioning) than participants prescribed non-BzRAs. Bzs were more likely to be prescribed as part of polypharmacy (52.9% of patients prescribed Bz) in the total medication using sample compared to those taking non-BzRAs (34.7%) or trazodone (36.8%; p&amp;lt;.001). Conclusion In this study, a high percentage of adults with insomnia seeking CBTI were also taking medications prescribed for sleep, including medications that are associated with increased risk (benzodiazepines, polypharmacy) or are not FDA-approved for insomnia (trazodone). Increasing prescriber knowledge about CBTI may promote adherence to the American Geriatric Society Beers Criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults. More research on how prescription patterns may differ among provider specialties could help target educational efforts to increase utilization of CBTI. Support (If Any) 1R01AG057500

Analysis of inappropriate medication use and drug interaction in older people visiting tertiary care center of eastern Nepal

Background: Medication use in older people has been increasing as the incidence of chronic diseases increases worldwide. Use of more medicines may increase the chance of prescribing potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and may increases the risk of potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs). The objective of this study was to assess PIMs and pDDIs to improve the rational use of medicationsMethods: In this study data from the older people were obtained from patient visiting medicine, OPD, BPKIHS, Dharan. Demographic and medications information were collected. PIM and pDDIs were evaluated from medication data using the Beer’s criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults, 2015 and lexicomp application respectively.Results: Among 550 patients 50.9% patients were male. Common diagnosis was systemic hypertension 335 (64.5%) followed by type 2 diabetes mellitus 276 (50.18%). The most commonly prescribed drug was metformin (215) followed by amlodipine (205), atorvastatin (176), losartan (158), glimepiride (113) and aspirin (100). One or more fixed drug combination was present in 295 prescriptions. One or more PIM were present in 29 (5.3%) prescriptions. Commonly prescribed PIM was prazosin (11) followed by nitrofurantoin (5). There were total of 753 cases of pDDIs, with 116 (15.40%) cases of risk categories X and D.Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated PIM use were relatively less. However, pDDIs were common in older people suggesting that optimal medication use and further similar studies in larger scale are necessary in this population.

Abstract MP60: Sleep Fragmentation, Sleep Medications, And Incident Heart Failure And Subtypes In Post-menopausal Women

Background: Women, specifically post-menopausal women, have poorer sleep quality and an increased risk for insomnia relative to men. Insomnia is more prevalent among patients with heart failure, and prior research has shown a dose-dependent association between the severity of insomnia and the risk of heart failure. However, it is unclear which aspects of insomnia are most associated with heart failure, and whether any associations exist between sleep medication use and incident heart failure subtypes. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of 42,832 post-menopausal women from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI). Insomnia was assessed using the validated WHI Insomnia Rating Scale (WHIIRS) which includes sleep fragmentation, trouble falling asleep, waking up early, difficulty in falling back asleep upon waking up, and perceived sleep quality. Sleep medication use was asked and arranged into three categories. Association between insomnia components and sleep medication use and incident HF and its subtypes were evaluated using Cox proportional hazard models. Results: In our multivariable-adjusted model, Sleep fragmentation for more than two nights per week is associated with incident overall HF (HR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.19 - 1.46) and HFpEF (HR=1.43, 95% CI: 1.24 - 1.65). Sleep medications use for more than two nights per week was associated with HF (HR=1.46, 95% CI: 1.28 - 1.67), HFpEF (HR=1.40, 95% CI: 1.16- 1.68), and HFrEF (HR=1.44, 95% CI: 1.12 - 1.85). There were no significant associations between HF and the remaining insomnia components. Conclusions: In postmenopausal women, sleep fragmentation is associated with an increased risk of incident HF and HFpEF. Sleep medication use for more than two nights per week is associated with an increased risk of incident HF, HFpEF, and HFrEF among postmenopausal women. Whether interventions to decrease the frequency of sleep fragmentation and sleep medication use in older adults will reduce HF risk warrants further study.

Evaluation of Polypharmacy and Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults with Dementia Using the TIME Criteria

Evaluation of Polypharmacy and Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults with Dementia Using the TIME Criteria

Polypharmacy among older individuals with heart failure: trends between 2000 and 2017 in the province of Quebec, Canada.

Objective:Pharmacological management of heart failure and comorbidities may result in polypharmacy, but there are few population-based studies that portray the use of medications over time. We aimed to describe the trends in polypharmacy and medication use in older adults with heart failure.Methods:We performed a study including all adults >65 years with heart failure between 2000 and 2017 using health administrative databases in Quebec, Canada. Medication use was ascertained by the presence of at least one claim in each year. We defined three levels of polypharmacy: ⩾10, ⩾15 and ⩾20 different medications/year, and evaluated the use of guideline-recommended and potentially inappropriate medications. We calculated age- and sex-standardized proportions of users each year.Results:The use of ⩾10, ⩾15 and ⩾20 medications increased from 62.2%, 30.6% and 12.2% in 2000 to 71.9%, 43.9% and 22.7%, respectively, in 2017. The combination of β-blocker and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) was used by 30.4% of individuals in 2000 and 45.5% in 2017. ACEI/ARB users decreased from 65.8% in 2000 to 62.1% in 2017. Potentially inappropriate medication use decreased over time.Conclusion:Polypharmacy is significant among older adults with heart failure. Implications of such medication burden should be investigated.

Falls Among High- and Low- Frequency Sleep Medication Users With and Without Dementia

Difficulty with sleep and falls are prevalent among older adults. Sleep medication use is associated with falls in older adults, but little is known about its impact in older adults with dementia. We used data from the 2011 National Health and Aging Trends Study to assess the association of low- versus high- frequency sleep medication use with falls in older adults with self-reported dementia. In our fully adjusted model, among those with dementia, high-frequency sleep medication users were more likely to fall than low-frequency sleep medication users (OR=3.86, 95% CI: 1.31, 11.37). Among those without dementia, high-frequency sleep medication users were more likely to fall than low-frequency sleep medication users (OR=1.40, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.77). Reducing sleep medication use in older adults with and without dementia may help reduce the risk of falls and fall-related outcomes in older adults.

Trends of ARNI and Other Heart Failure Medication Use in Older Adults

In 2015-2017, we identified 276,679 to 315,788 Medicare beneficiaries with HFrEF (mean age 76.6-76.7 years, 75.0-76.2% male, 82.0-83.4% Whites, and 44.8-50.9% frail). Since its approval in July 2015, ARNI use increased from 0.3% to 5.7%. ARNI uptake was lower in patients with older age (6.6% for 65-74 years vs 3.4% for ≥85 years), non-Hispanic race (7.3% for Hispanic vs 5.6-6.6% for other race), no dual eligibility (6.4% for dual eligibility vs 5.5% for no dual eligibility), frailty (5.1% for frailty vs 6.1% for non-frailty) and dementia (3.8% for dementia vs 6.1% for no dementia). Frail patients were less likely than non-frail patients to receive disease-modifying treatments, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (32.4% vs 38.9%), angiotensin receptor blockers (14.5% vs 17.5%), aldosterone antagonists (20.8% vs 23.4%), and beta-blockers (65.1% vs 68.3%), but more likely to receive symptomatic treatment with loop diuretics (56.4% vs 48.0%).

Falls risk among high‐ and low‐ frequency sleep medication users with and without dementia

AbstractBackgroundSleep disturbances and falls are common in older adults, particularly in people living with dementia (PLWD). Increasing sleep disturbances occur with increasing age (M. Ohayon, 2002), and one third of those 65 and older experience falls at least once per year (World Health Organization, 2007). Sleep medication use is associated with falls in older adults, but little is known about its impact in PLWD. This study seeks to determine if there is a differential association between high‐ and low‐ frequency sleep medication use among those with and without dementia.MethodUsing data from the 2011 National Health and Aging Trends Study (n=8,245), we used logistic regression models to examine the association of high‐ versus low‐ frequency sleep medication use with falls in community‐dwelling older adults with and without self‐reported dementia.ResultIn our fully adjusted model, PLWD (n=176), high‐frequency sleep medication users were more likely to fall than low‐frequency sleep medication users (OR=3.86, 95% CI: 1.31, 11.37). Among those without self‐reported dementia (n=6,658), high‐frequency sleep medication users were more likely to fall than low‐frequency sleep medication users (OR=1.40, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.77).ConclusionAfter controlling for potential confounders, PLWD who have high ‐ frequency sleep medication use are almost 4 times more likely to experience falls than PLWD who have low‐frequency sleep medication use. Reducing sleep medication use in older adults with and without dementia may help reduce the risk of falls and fall‐related outcomes in older adults. Future studies to examine sleep medication alternatives are warranted.

18 SEDATIVE LOAD IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS WITH MILD–MODERATE ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE: LONGITUDINAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADVERSE EVENTS, DELIRIUM AND FALLS

Abstract Background Older adults are frequently prescribed medications with sedative effects, which are associated with numerous adverse consequences. However, the use and longitudinal associations of sedative medication use in older adults with mild–moderate Alzheimer Disease (AD), has not been explored to date. Methods The association between Sedative Load (SL) and adverse events, unscheduled healthcare utilisation, delirium and falls over 18 months was assessed in older adults with mild–moderate AD from 9 Countries. Additionally, the impact of SL on dementia progression was evaluated. Results Over half (52.35%; 267/510) of those with mild–moderate ad (72.8 ± 8.26 years, 61.89%) were prescribed a regular medication with sedation as a primary effect or prominent side effect with 17.65% (90/510) having a high SL (≥3). The most common medications contributing to SL were antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics and hypnotics. Over 18 months, greater SL was associated with adverse events (IRR 1.18, 1.14–1.23, p &amp;lt; 0.001)/serious adverse events (IRR 1.32, 1.18–1.49, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and unscheduled GP visits (IRR 1.26, 1.15–1.38, p &amp;lt; 0.001). Further, increasing SL was associated with greater likelihood of incident delirium (IRR 1.47, 1.25–1.73, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and falls (IRR 1.25, 1.06–1.48, p = 0.007) which persisted after covariate adjustment. SL was not associated with accelerated cognitive decline or ad progression. Conclusion Most adults with mild–moderate ad are prescribed at least one drug with a sedative effect and a significant minority have a high SL. Increasing SL was associated with a greater likelihood of experiencing adverse events, delirium and falls, highlighting the need for optimal prescribing in this vulnerable cohort.

Clinical and Humanistic Outcomes of Community Pharmacy-Based Healthcare Interventions Regarding Medication Use in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the clinical and humanistic outcomes of community pharmacy-based interventions on medication-related problems of older adults at the primary care level. We identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the impact of various community pharmacy-based interventions from five electronic databases (namely, MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), CINAHL, APA PSYInfo, and Scopus) from January 2010 to December 2020. Consequently, we assessed these interventions’ clinical and humanistic outcomes on older adults and compared them with non-intervention. We included 13 RCTs in the current review and completed a meta-analysis with six of them. The included studies had a total of 6173 older adults. Quantitative analysis showed that patient education was significantly associated with an increase in the discontinuation of sedative–hypnotics use (risk ratio 1.28; 95% CI (1.20, 1.36) I2 = 0%, p < 0.00001). Moreover, the qualitative analysis showed that medication reviews and education with follow-ups could improve various clinical outcomes, including reducing adverse drug events, reducing uncontrolled health outcomes, and improving appropriate medication use among the elderly population. However, medication review could not significantly reduce the number of older adults who fall (risk ratio 1.25; 95% CI (0.78, 1.99) I2 = 0%, p = 0.36) and require hospitalization (risk ratio 0.72; 95% CI (0.47, 1.12) I2 = 45%, p = 0.15). This study showed that community pharmacy-based interventions could help discontinue inappropriate prescription medications among older adults and could improve several clinical and humanistic outcomes. However, more effective community pharmacy-based interventions should be implemented, and more research is needed to provide further evidence for clinical and humanistic outcomes of such interventions on older adults.

Effects of Antihypertensive Deprescribing Strategies on Blood Pressure, Adverse Events, and Orthostatic Symptoms in Older Adults: Results From TONE.

The Trial of Nonpharmacologic Interventions in the Elderly (TONE) demonstrated the efficacy of weight loss and sodium reduction to reduce hypertension medication use in older adults. However, the longer-term effects of drug withdrawal (DW) on blood pressure (BP), adverse events, and orthostatic symptoms were not reported. TONE enrolled adults, ages 60-80 years, receiving treatment with a single antihypertensive and systolic BP (SBP)/diastolic BP <145/<85 mm Hg. Participants were randomized to weight loss, sodium reduction, both, or neither (usual care) and followed up to 36 months; ~3 months postrandomization, the antihypertensive was withdrawn and only restored if needed for uncontrolled hypertension. BP and orthostatic symptoms (lightheadedness, feeling faint, imbalance) were assessed at randomization and throughout the study. Two physicians independently adjudicated adverse events, masked to intervention, classifying symptomatic (lightheadedness, dizziness, vertigo), or clinical events (fall, fracture, syncope). Among the 975 participants (mean age 66 years, 48% women, 24% black), mean (±SD) BP was 128 ± 9/71 ± 7 mm Hg. Independent of assignment, DW increased SBP by 4.59 mm Hg (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.89, 5.28) compared with baseline. There were 113 adverse events (84 symptomatic, 29 clinical), primarily during DW. Compared with usual care, combined weight loss and sodium reduction mitigated the effects of DW on BP (β = -4.33 mm Hg; 95% CI: -6.48, -2.17) and reduced orthostatic symptoms long term (odds ratio = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.92), without affecting adverse events (hazard ratio = 1.81; 95% CI: 0.90, 3.65). In contrast, sodium reduction alone increased risk of adverse events (hazard ratio = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.95), mainly during DW. In older adults, antihypertensive DW may increase risk of symptomatic adverse events, highlighting the need for caution in withdrawing their antihypertensive medications. Trial Number NCT00000535.

Voice Assistant Reminders and the Latency of Scheduled Medication Use in Older Adults With Pain: Descriptive Feasibility Study.

BackgroundPain is difficult to manage in older adults. It has been recommended that pain management in older adults should include both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic strategies. Unfortunately, nonadherence to pain medication is more prevalent than nonadherence to any other chronic disease treatment. Technology-based reminders have some benefit for medication adherence, but adherence behavior outcomes have mostly been verified by self-reports.ObjectiveWe aimed to describe objective medication adherence and the latency of medication use after a voice assistant reminder prompted participants to take pain medications for chronic pain.MethodsA total of 15 older adults created a voice assistant reminder for taking scheduled pain medications. A subsample of 5 participants were randomly selected to participate in a feasibility study, in which a medication event monitoring system for pain medications was used to validate medication adherence as a health outcome. Data on the subsample’s self-assessed pain intensity, pain interference, concerns and necessity beliefs about pain medications, self-confidence in managing pain, and medication implementation adherence were analyzed.ResultsIn the 5 participants who used the medication event monitoring system, the overall latency between voice assistant reminder deployment and the medication event (ie, medication bottle cap opening) was 55 minutes. The absolute latency (before or after the reminder) varied among the participants. The shortest average time taken to open the cap after the reminder was 17 minutes, and the longest was 4.5 hours. Of the 168 voice assistant reminders for scheduled pain medications, 25 (14.6%) resulted in the opening of MEMS caps within 5 minutes of the reminder, and 107 (63.7%) resulted in the opening of MEMS caps within 30 minutes of the reminder.ConclusionsVoice assistant reminders may help cue patients to take scheduled medications, but the timing of medication use may vary. The timing of medication use may influence treatment effectiveness. Tracking the absolute latency time of medication use may be a helpful method for assessing medication adherence. Medication event monitoring may provide additional insight into medication implementation adherence during the implementation of mobile health interventions.