Medication Use In Older People Research Articles

The development of the PROMPT (PRescribing Optimally in Middle-aged People's Treatments) criteria.

BackgroundWhilst multimorbidity is more prevalent with increasing age, approximately 30% of middle-aged adults (45–64 years) are also affected. Several prescribing criteria have been developed to optimise medication use in older people (≥65 years) with little focus on potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) in middle-aged adults. We have developed a set of explicit prescribing criteria called PROMPT (PRescribing Optimally in Middle-aged People’s Treatments) which may be applied to prescribing datasets to determine the prevalence of PIP in this age-group.MethodsA literature search was conducted to identify published prescribing criteria for all age groups, with the Project Steering Group (convened for this study) adding further criteria for consideration, all of which were reviewed for relevance to middle-aged adults. These criteria underwent a two-round Delphi process, using an expert panel consisting of general practitioners, pharmacists and clinical pharmacologists from the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. Using web-based questionnaires, 17 panellists were asked to indicate their level of agreement with each criterion via a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree, 5 = Strongly Agree) to assess the applicability to middle-aged adults in the absence of clinical information. Criteria were accepted/rejected/revised dependent on the panel’s level of agreement using the median response/interquartile range and additional comments.ResultsThirty-four criteria were rated in the first round of this exercise and consensus was achieved on 17 criteria which were accepted into the PROMPT criteria. Consensus was not reached on the remaining 17, and six criteria were removed following a review of the additional comments. The second round of this exercise focused on the remaining 11 criteria, some of which were revised following the first exercise. Five criteria were accepted from the second round, providing a final list of 22 criteria [gastro-intestinal system (n = 3), cardiovascular system (n = 4), respiratory system (n = 4), central nervous system (n = 6), infections (n = 1), endocrine system (n = 1), musculoskeletal system (n = 2), duplicates (n = 1)].ConclusionsPROMPT is the first set of prescribing criteria developed for use in middle-aged adults. The utility of these criteria will be tested in future studies using prescribing datasets.

Potentially inappropriate medication use in older people with cancer: prevalence and correlates.

Potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use has been associated with an increase in adverse drug events, hospitalization and mortality. This study investigated the prevalence and factors associated with PIM use in patients presenting to a medical oncology outpatient clinic. Consecutive patients (n=385) aged ≥ 70 years referred to a medical oncology outpatient clinic between January 2009 and July 2010 completed a structured data collection instrument. The instrument assessed medication use, diagnoses, self-reported falls in the previous six months, pain (10-point visual analog scale [VAS]) and distress (10-point VAS). Frailty was defined using exhaustion, weight loss, Karnofsky Performance Scale, instrumental activities of daily living and physical function. PIM use was defined by the Beers Criteria. Logistic regression was used to compute odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for factors associated with PIM use. In total, 26.5% (n=102) of the sample used ≥1 PIM. The five most prevalent classes of PIMs were benzodiazepines (n=34, 8.8%), tricyclic antidepressants (n=16, 4.2%), alpha-adrenoreceptor antagonists (prazosin) (n=15, 3.9%), propulsives (metoclopramide) (n=15, 3.9%) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (n=14, 3.6%). In multivariate analyses, PIM use was associated with age 75-79 years (OR 1.83; 95%CI 1.02-3.26) compared to age 70-74 years, using ≥ 5 medications (OR 4.10; 95%CI 2.26-7.44) compared to <5 medications and being frail (OR 3.05; 95%CI 1.18-7.87) compared to being robust. More than one quarter of older people with cancer used one or more PIMs, and this was associated with being frail compared to being robust.

The Role of the Pharmacist in Optimizing Pharmacotherapy in Older People

Prescription of medicines is a fundamental component of the care of older people, but evidence suggests that pharmacotherapy in this population is often inappropriate. Pharmacists have been involved in different approaches for the optimization of prescribing and rational medication use in older people. This article describes the different models of care in which pharmacists are involved in the optimization of pharmacotherapy in older people, and reviews the impact of these approaches on both process and outcome measures. The provision of pharmaceutical care, medication reviews and educational interventions by pharmacists in the nursing home, ambulatory and acute care settings are discussed. We selected systematic reviews, reviews and original studies, and for the latter, we focused more specifically on European publications published between 2001 and 2011. From the literature reviewed, it is clear that when pharmacists play a proactive role in performing medication reviews and in the active education of other healthcare professionals, pharmacotherapy for older patients is improved. However, the evidence of the impact of pharmacists' interventions on health outcomes, quality of life or cost effectiveness of care is mixed. Better results have been reported when pharmacists are skilled and work in the context of a multidisciplinary team. Opportunities remain for multicentre, European-based, pharmacist-intervention trials in all settings, to determine the effectiveness and economic benefit of pharmacist involvement in the optimization of pharmacotherapy in older people.

Vísbendingar um gæði lyfjameðferða aldraðra við innlögn á Landspítala

Increased morbidity and higher prevalence of medication use commonly coexists among the elderly. When managed appropriately, older patients can benefit from drug therapy. However, drug related problems are more frequent and more serious in the elderly. The aim of the study was to assess the quality of medication use in older people at hospital admission. A retrospective medical record review was performed for patients 70 years and older who had an unplanned admission to the internal medicine and geriatric units at Landspitali University Hospital in 2007. Among the sampled medical records, 913 met inclusion criteria. Assessment was carried out using 15 drug-specific quality indicators. Mean age was 80.9 years and 54.5% were women. Mean number of drugs at admission was 7.0 for women and 6.5 for men (p=0.047). The prevalence of having one or more quality indicators on admission was 48.4%. Women were more likely to have a quality indicator than men (women 56.2%, men 39.9%). The probability also increased with increasing age and number of drugs. The quality of drug therapy among older patients at hospital admission appears to be suboptimal. A more accurate estimate of the problem could be obtained through a prospective study where drug regimens are correlated with symptoms and reason for admission. Additional studies are also needed in the outpatient setting. Such studies could provide more accurate evidence and assist policy making towards improved quality of drug prescribing for a growing number of older patients. elderly, quality indicators, hospitalization, drugs, inappropriate prescribing.

Frequency and appropriateness of antipsychotic medication use in older people in long-term care

Many studies have reported excessive use of antipsychotic medications in long stay institutions in Britain and America. We examined the frequency and appropriateness of antipsychotic prescribing in a variety of extended care settings in the west of Ireland. Clinical details of 345 residents (211 public and 134 private) were obtained from medication sheets and medical notes and by interviewing nursing staff. American prescribing guidelines were applied for those residents taking antipsychotic medications. Of the 345 residents, 80 (23%) were prescribed regular antipsychotic medications of whom 41 (51%) were deemed to be receiving these agents inappropriately. There was no difference in the use of antipsychotic drugs (21.3% vs. 26.1%, Chi-sq = 1.1, p = 0.3) between residents of public and private units. However, inappropriate antipsychotic use was more common among those in private care (23/35 (66%) vs. 18/45 (40%); Chi-sq = 5.2, p = 0.02). Prominent inappropriate indications for antipsychotic use were: restlessness (26/41 (63%) patients); history of very intermittent aggression (23 (56%) patients); and wandering (19 (46%) patients). Inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications, as judged by American legislative guidelines, is common in long-stay units in the west of Ireland.

Psychotropic Medication Use in Older People

ABSTRACTOlder people have high rates of mental health disorders such as mood and anxiety disorders, bipolar affective disorder, psychotic disorders, and dementia. All of these disorders are associated with significant morbidity and mortality and have been historically under‐recognised and under‐treated. Recent advances in psychopharmacology have brought great benefit to many young patients with these conditions where they are supported by a clear evidence base. To date, this evidence base has been incompletely developed for older people leaving the prescriber with many difficult decisions. There is moderate and growing evidence supporting the use of antidepressants in this population. The use of mood stabilisers and antipsychotics for indications other than the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia currently occurs in the absence of effective evidence.

Social engagement and health and social care use and medication use among older people.

Social engagement has been associated with improved health outcomes in older people, although the precise mechanisms by which this is mediated are not clear. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between social engagement and health and social care use and medication use in older people. Data were derived from the 1985, 1989 and 1993 waves of the Nottingham Longitudinal Study of Activity and Ageing, a nationally representative sample of people aged 65 and over. Logistic regression models were used to determine whether social engagement predicted cross-sectional and longitudinal health and social care use and medication use. People with higher social engagement were significantly less likely to have seen their family doctor, the district nurse or home help services, and to be taking two or more medications cross-sectionally. This relationship was independent of demographic factors, physical and mental health and physical activity for contact with the district nurse or home help services. Higher social engagement was associated with reduced contact with home help services after 4years, independent of demographic factors, physical and mental health, and with reduced medication use after 4years in unadjusted models. Higher social engagement was associated with increased contact with home help services after 8years, when controlling for demographic factors, physical and mental health and physical activity. Higher social engagement may help to reduce cross-sectional health and social care service and medication use but further research is required to understand the benefits of social engagement and medium- and long-term service/medication use.

Self-reported medication use for older people in England and Wales.

To describe the patterns of self-reported medication use, including both prescription and non-prescription drugs, for older people in five areas in England and Wales, and to identify the effects of socio-demographic features on medication use. A cross-sectional survey on population random samples of people aged 65 and over. The survey is a part of the screening interviews at the first stage of the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (MRC CFAS) carried out between 1991 and 1994. The sample was stratified to provide equal numbers in the 65-74 years and 75 years and over age groups. Three urban (Newcastle, Nottingham and Oxford) and two rural (Cambridgeshire and Gwynedd) centres. Older people living in both the general community and institutions were included. 12489 older people whose medication data were collected among the 13009 participants of the CFAS, of which the participation rate is 80%. Overall prevalence of medication use was 75% (95% confidence interval 74-76%) for people aged 65-74 and 84% (83-85%) for people aged 75 and over, with a mean number of 2.03 (standard deviation 1.95) and 2.47 (2.02) drugs reported per respondent in each group, respectively. Concurrent use of five or more drugs (polypharmacy) was found in 11% (10-12%) of people in the 65-74 age group and in 15% (14-16%) in the 75 and over age group. People aged 75 and over were more likely to be taking at least one drug than people aged 65-74 (OR=1.69, 1.54-1.85), and women were more likely to be so compared with men (OR=1.43, 1.30-1.56). Centre variation was found but none of the centres consistently showed higher or lower usage of medications across the major drug categories. People living in institutions were more likely to be taking gastrointestinal drugs, central nervous system drugs and experience polypharmacy. The use of respiratory and central nervous system drugs (except hypnotics and anxiolytics) increased in lower social class and decreased in people attending full-time education for 10 years or more. The use of haematology/dietetic drugs (85% of which were vitamin and mineral preparations) decreased in lower social class. This study provides representative estimates of medication usage among older people in England and Wales and identified associated factors and regional variations for medication use in a category-specific manner. The findings, suggesting the existence of centre variation and the association between type of accommodation, social class and medication use warrant further investigation.

Applying sound principles of medication use for older people

As a student nurse I was taught about the many deteriorative aspects of ageing that were to be anticipated, for example that gut absorption and motility rates in older people were impaired as a result of ageing. Realistically, and more in line with today’s views on pharmacokinetics, the article by Roger Watson (2000) taught me not to accept this negative ageing thesis as readily. It also reinforced for me that nurses are responsible for assessing and monitoring the effects of medications in older people, ensuring the use of theoretical insight, practical judgement, observing and reporting from the patient. This should all be achieved in an individual, and not a standardised, manner. Each patient’s physiology and history is individual. This article taught me that so much of the symptomatology in older people, for example constipation and confusion which are commonly encountered, can be as a result of polypharmacy.