Potentially inappropriate prescribing before and after nursing home admission among patients with and without dementia (original) (raw)

Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing in Older People with Dementia in Care Homes

Drugs & Aging, 2012

Background: Older people in general and care home residents in particular are at high risk of suboptimal or inappropriate prescribing. To date, research into potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) has not focused on care home residents and/or has not utilized the recently developed and validated Screening Tool of Older Persons' potentially inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP) criteria. Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of PIP in older people with dementia living in six residential care homes in England, using the STOPP criteria. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using medication data collected for older people with dementia in six residential care homes in England who participated in the prospective, longitudinal EVIDEM -End of Life (EoL) study. Of the 133 residents recruited to the study, medication administration records were available for and reviewed at two timepoints (approximately 16 weeks apart) for 119 residents and 110 residents, respectively. The prevalence of PIP at these timepoints was determined using 31 of the 65 STOPP criteria applicable when there is no access to residents' medical records. Results: At the first timepoint, 68 potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) were identified. Fifty-five residents (46.2%) were prescribed one or more PIM(s), eleven (9.2%) were prescribed two or more PIMs and two (1.7%) were prescribed three PIMs. Thirteen of the 31 STOPP criteria utilized in this study (41.9%) were used to identify PIP. Long-term (i.e. >1 month) neuroleptics (antipsychotics) were the most frequently prescribed PIMs (n = 25; 21.0%), followed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for >3 months, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) at maximum therapeutic

Inappropriate Medication Prescribing in Residential Care/Assisted Living Facilities

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2000

To identify the extent to which inappropriately prescribed medications (IPMs) are administered to older patients in residential care/assisted living (RC/AL) facilities and to describe facility and resident factors associated with receipt of one or more IPMs. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of a stratified, representative sample of 193 facilities in four states. SETTING: We identified representative geographic regions within Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Maryland and drew from within them a stratified random sample of 193 RC/AL facilities. Three subtypes of facilities were included in the sample: small homes ( Ͻ 16 beds), larger "new-model" homes, and larger "traditional" homes. PARTICIPANTS: Within each larger home, a random sample of residents aged 65 and older was approached for consent; in smaller homes all residents were approached. The overall enrollment rate was 92%; 2,078 residents were enrolled. MEASUREMENTS: Questionnaires and on-site observations were used to gather data on facility administration and staffing and resident characteristics. All prescription and nonprescription medications taken at least 4 of the 7 days before data collection were taken from medication administration records and coded for analysis. IPM designation was based on modification of a list developed by Beers et al. and currently used by nursing home surveyors. RESULTS: The majority of RC/AL patients were taking five or more medications; 16.0% of these patients were receiving IPMs. The most common IPMs were oxybutynin, propoxyphene, diphenhydramine, ticlopidine, doxepin, and dipyridamole. In multivariate analyses, using generalized estimating equations, IPM use was associated with the number of medications received, smaller facility bed size, moderate licensed practical nurse turnover, absence of dementia, low monthly fees, and absence of weekly physician visits. CONCLUSIONS: IPMs remain a problem in long-term care, but rates in these RC/AL settings compare favorably with those reported for other frail older populations, suggesting that use of medications with severe adverse effects may be waning. Regular physician facility visits may improve prescribing, as will attention to high-risk groups such as individuals on multiple medications.

Potentially Inappropriate Medication in Community-Dwelling Primary Care Patients who were Screened Positive for Dementia

Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 2016

Background: Potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) in older people is a risk factor for adverse drug effects. This risk is even higher in older people with dementia (PWD). Objective: Our study aimed to determine (1) the prevalence of PIM among primary care patients who were screened positive for dementia and (2) the sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with the use of PIM. Methods: DelpHi-MV (Dementia: life-and person-centered help in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) is a general practitioner-based, cluster-randomized, controlled intervention study to implement and evaluate an innovative concept of collaborative dementia care management in Germany. The comprehensive baseline assessment includes a home medication review. The present analyses are based on the data from 448 study participants (age 70+, DemTect <9). PIMs were identified using the list of Potentially Inappropriate Medications in the Elderly (Priscus). Results: (1) A total of 99 study participants (22%) received at least one PIM. The highest prevalence was found for antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and analgetics. The most frequently prescribed PIMs were amitriptyline, etoricoxib, and doxazosin. (2) Use of a PIM was significantly associated with a diagnosis of a mental or behavioral disorder. Conclusions: The prescription rate of PIMs for community-dwelling PWD was comparable with the rates found for the general population of older people in Germany (20-29%). Antidepressants with anticholinergic properties and long-acting benzodiazepines were the most prescribed PIMs, despite having an unfavorable benefit-risk ratio. This high prevalence of PIM prescriptions in a vulnerable population of PWD indicates that standard care for dementia should include careful medication review and management.

Appropriateness of medication prescribing in nursing homes: A collaboration project between pharmacy and geriatric departments

Revista Española de Geriatría y Gerontología, 2023

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of medication prescribing in ambulatory elderly patients on multiple medications using the Medication Appropriateness Index (MAl). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: General Medical Clinic of the Durham VA Medical Center. PATIENTS: 208 elderly outpatients on five or more regularly scheduled medications. MEASUREMENTS: Medication prescribing appropriateness was measured with the MAl, a reliable method that employs 10 implicit criteria. A weighted MAl score (range 0-18 per drug) served as a summary measure of appropriateness. RESULTS: There were 1644 medications evaluated; 26% received no inappropriate ratings, 37% had one, 19% had two, and 18% had three or more. Of 16,440 ratings, 2295 (14%) were evaluated as inappropriate. The percentage of inappropriate ratings varied across prescribing dimensions: drug-drug interactions, 00/0; drug-disease interactions, 1.4%; medication effectiveness, 4.7%; therapeutic duplication, 5.7%; indication, 11.50/0; duration of treatment, 16.5%; dosage, 17.3%; practical directions, 20.3%; cost, 29.7%; and correct directions, 32.4%. The mean MAl score for all medications was 2.2 ± 2.1 (range 0-10) and varied by therapeutic class. MAl scores were significantly lower for medications with a high potential for adverse effects compared with those with a low potential (MAl score of 1.8 vs 2.9, P < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that no patient characteristics were associated with a higher likelihood of inappropriate prescribing. CONCLUSIONS: Medication prescribing for elderly outpatients taking multiple medications was substantially appropriate. Prescribing dimensions with the most room for

Medication use in nursing home residents with advanced dementia

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2008

Objective To describe medication usage in nursing home residents with advanced dementia, to identify how this usage changed as patients advanced towards death, and to identify correlates of increased medication usage. Methods Prospective cohort study (CareAD) during which data on medication prescription were extracted from medical records at regular intervals using standardized extraction procedures. Results Patients (n ¼ 125) were prescribed a mean of 14.6 medications during the 6 months prior to study enrollment. In a subgroup of patients who died during the study (n ¼ 88), as the time of death approached, the total number of medications prescribed did not vary but the types of medications prescribed did change, with an increase in palliative medications such as opiate analgesics and a decrease in other medication classes such as antibiotics, anti-dementia agents, cardiovascular agents, and psychotropic agents, among others. In linear regression analyses, total medication prescription at study entry was associated with study site, antibiotic treatment, presence of cardiovascular disease, and treatment of gastrointestinal or dermatological conditions. Conclusions Nursing home residents with advanced dementia are prescribed a large number of medications from numerous medication classes and prescribing patterns change over time. Further study is needed to determine the ideal approach to treating chronic medical problems at the end of life in this patient population.

Potentially suboptimal prescribing for older veteran nursing home patients with dementia

The Annals of pharmacotherapy, 2015

Nursing home patients with dementia may be more likely to suffer adverse drug events from suboptimal prescribing. Previous studies have not used national samples, nor have they examined multiple types of suboptimal prescribing by dementia severity. To examine the prevalence of and factors associated with potentially suboptimal prescribing in older veteran nursing home patients with dementia. This is a retrospective descriptive study of 1303 veterans 65 years or older admitted between January 1, 2004, and June 30, 2005, with dementia for long stays (90+ days) to 133 Veterans Affairs Community Living Centers. Dementia severity was determined by the Cognitive Performance Scale and functional status dependences. Overall, 70.2% with mild-moderate dementia (n = 1076) had underuse because they did not receive an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI), and 27.2% had evidence of inappropriate use because of a drug-disease or drug-drug-disease interaction. Of the 227 with severe dementia, 36....

Comparison of Potentially Inappropriate Medications for People with Dementia at Admission and Discharge during An Unplanned Admission to Hospital: Results from the SMS Dementia Study

Healthcare, 2019

People with dementia (PWD) and cognitive impairment are particularly vulnerable to medication problems, and unplanned admission to hospital presents an opportunity to address polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and anticholinergic burden. This study aimed to compare PIMS and other medication data for PWD to determine whether these changed during hospitalization. Medications documented in patient’s records at admission and discharge were evaluated for PWD recruited to phase one of a prospective quasi-experimental pre/post-controlled trial that was conducted at two regional hospitals in NSW, Australia. The study sample included PWD or cognitive impairment having an unplanned admission to hospital. Data were collected using a purpose developed audit tool for medications and PIMs, and a Modified Anticholinergic Burden Scale. Total participants were 277, and results determined that the cognitive status of PWD is not always detected during an unplanned admission. Th...

An investigation of new medications initiation during ambulatory care visits in patients with dementia

Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy, 2021

Background: There is currently insufficient data describing how new medications are provided to older adult ambulatory patients with dementia in the United States (US). Objectives: To describe characteristics of ambulatory care visits for adults ≥65 years old and investigate differences in prescribing of new medications between patients with and without dementia. Methods: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study using the 2016 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) in the US. Non-perioperative ambulatory care visits of patients ≥65 years old with sampling weights were used to provide national estimates of visits. Baseline characteristics were compared between visits for patients with and without dementia using Pearson's chi square or Student's t-tests. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate the odds of receiving a new medication. Results: 218,182,131 non-perioperative ambulatory care visits of patients ≥65 years old were included, 2.1% of which were for patients with dementia; these patients were older on average and had more comorbidities and higher ambulatory care utilization than those without dementia. New medications were provided at 26.3% of visits for patients with dementia. After adjusting for confounders, there was no statistically significant difference in odds of a new medication being provided between visits for patients with and without dementia (odds ratio [OR], 0.555; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.183-1.678). Differences were seen in the provision of cholinesterase inhibitors, antipsychotics, and central nervous system agents at visits for patients with dementia (p = 0.0011, <0.0001, and 0.0011 respectively). Conclusion: While fewer visits for patients with dementia provided new medications compared to patients without dementia, after adjusting for confounders no significant difference were identified. Significant differences were seen in the classes of new medications provided. Further investigation is needed to evaluate new medication usage and the utility of pharmacists in the care of patients with dementia at an outpatient setting.