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Pazan F, Wehling M. [The FORTA (Fit fOR The Aged) List]. INNERE MEDIZIN (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 65:3-8. [PMID: 38063911 DOI: 10.1007/s00108-023-01629-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multimorbidity and the resulting polypharmacy are widespread in the very old and the evidence on the efficacy and safety of drugs in older people is sparse. Driven by guidelines, this often leads to inappropriate prescribing and drug-related problems. MATERIAL AND METHODS To improve this, numerous listing approaches were developed as tools to optimize medication. These approaches can be divided into drug-oriented listing approaches (DOLA), such as the Beers Criteria®, a list of potentially inappropriate medications for older people or patient-in-focus listing approaches (PILA), such as the Fit fOR The Aged (FORTA) list. RESULTS The most recent version of the FORTA list was published in 2022 and contains 299 drugs or drug groups targeting 30 age-related indications. In addition, several country-specific or region-specific FORTA lists, such as the EURO-FORTA list have been developed. Very few randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the utility of existing listing approaches for improving clinical outcomes, such as adverse drug events, falls or hospitalizations. In the VALFORTA study, the use of FORTA led to a significant improvement in medication treatment. In addition, important clinical endpoints, such as the occurrence of adverse drug events (number needed to treat = 5), activities of daily living (ADL) and the incidence of falls were significantly improved by the FORTA intervention in a clinically relevant manner. CONCLUSION Based on these promising results, the use of the FORTA list for medication optimization in older patients is recommended; the prerequisite for application is the needs analysis for drugs according to diagnoses, severity, life expectancy, functional status, and patient wishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhad Pazan
- Ehemals Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim, Universität Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Deutschland
| | - Martin Wehling
- Ehemals Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim, Universität Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Deutschland.
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Pazan F, Weiss C, Wehling M. The EURO-FORTA (Fit fOR The Aged) List Version 2: Consensus Validation of a Clinical Tool for Improved Pharmacotherapy in Older Adults. Drugs Aging 2023; 40:417-426. [PMID: 37129833 PMCID: PMC10152014 DOI: 10.1007/s40266-023-01024-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aging of our societies leads to a higher prevalence of multimorbidity and therefore polypharmacy, which often results in inappropriate drug treatment. To address this issue, numerous listing approaches, such as the Fit fOR The Aged (FORTA) list have been developed. FORTA's positive impact on the quality of medications and relevant clinical outcomes has been shown. Based on new emerging evidence and experiences with the existing FORTA lists, we aimed to update the FORTA lists in several European countries/regions. METHODS Two-step Delphi consensus procedures were conducted in Poland, UK/Ireland, Italy, Spain, the Nordic countries, The Netherlands and France. The existing European FORTA lists served as survey proposals. RESULTS Thirty-two experts agreed to take part in this study (return rate: 96.9%). The country/region-specific overall consensus for all items and participants after the first round was > 90%. FORTA lists from six participating countries, plus the FORTA list for the German-speaking countries, were collated into the new EURO-FORTA List, which now contains 267 items aligned to 27 indications. Three items were added to the EURO-FORTA List, and no drugs were deleted. Eight FORTA items were relabeled, and 96.9% of the labels remained unchanged. CONCLUSION In this study, seven new country/region specific FORTA lists, as well as a new overarching EURO-FORTA List, were developed. An overall increase in the mean consensus coefficient and increases for all disease-specific mean consensus coefficients show a wider consensus among participants. The new lists have the potential to improve drug therapy in older people internationally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhad Pazan
- Clinical Pharmacology Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Christel Weiss
- Department of Medical Statistics, Biomathematics and Information Processing, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Martin Wehling
- Clinical Pharmacology Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
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Pazan F, Wehling M, Weiss C, Frohnhofen H. Medication optimization according to the Fit fOR The Aged (FORTA) rules improves functional status in patients hospitalized for geriatric rehabilitation. Eur Geriatr Med 2023:10.1007/s41999-023-00779-w. [PMID: 37074562 DOI: 10.1007/s41999-023-00779-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Functional status is one of the most important issues of geriatric care. Polypharmacy seems to be a modifiable factor associated with functional decline in older adults. However, the impact of pharmacotherapy optimization on the activities of daily living in patients undergoing geriatric rehabilitation has not been investigated prospectively so far. METHODS This post hoc analysis of a subsample of the VALFORTA study included individuals only undergoing geriatric rehabilitation with a length of in-hospital stay of at least 14 days. Medication was modified according to the FORTA rules in the intervention group while in the control group standard drug treatment was applied. Both groups received comprehensive geriatric treatment. RESULTS The intervention and control groups consisted of 96 and 93 individuals respectively. They did not differ according to basic data except for age and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) on admission. On discharge, activities of daily living (Barthel index, BI) were improved in both groups. An increase of at least 20 points of the BI was observed in 40% of patients in the intervention group and in 12% of patients in the control group (p< 0.001). Logistic regression analysis with an increase of at least 20 BI-points was significantly and independently associated with patient group (2.358, p< 0.02), BI on admission (0.957, p< 0.001), and the CCI (0.793, p< 0.041). CONCLUSION This post hoc analysis of a subsample of older individuals hospitalized for geriatric rehabilitation demonstrates a significant additional improvement in activities of daily living by modification of medication according to FORTA. REGISTRATION DRKS-ID: DRKS00000531.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhad Pazan
- Clinical Pharmacology Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Martin Wehling
- Clinical Pharmacology Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Christel Weiss
- Department of Medical Statistics, Biomathematics and Information Processing, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Helmut Frohnhofen
- Faculty of Health, Department Medicine, University Witten-Herdecke, Alfred-Herrhausen-Str. 50, 58455, Witten, Germany
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany
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Bülow C, Clausen SS, Lundh A, Christensen M. Medication review in hospitalised patients to reduce morbidity and mortality. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023; 1:CD008986. [PMID: 36688482 PMCID: PMC9869657 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd008986.pub4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A medication review can be defined as a structured evaluation of a patient's medication conducted by healthcare professionals with the aim of optimising medication use and improving health outcomes. Optimising medication therapy though medication reviews may benefit hospitalised patients. OBJECTIVES We examined the effects of medication review interventions in hospitalised adult patients compared to standard care or to other types of medication reviews on all-cause mortality, hospital readmissions, emergency department contacts and health-related quality of life. SEARCH METHODS In this Cochrane Review update, we searched for new published and unpublished trials using the following electronic databases from 1 January 2014 to 17 January 2022 without language restrictions: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), ClinicalTrials.gov and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). To identify additional trials, we searched the reference lists of included trials and other publications by lead trial authors, and contacted experts. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised trials of medication reviews delivered by healthcare professionals for hospitalised adult patients. We excluded trials including outpatients and paediatric patients. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently selected trials, extracted data and assessed risk of bias. We contacted trial authors for data clarification and relevant unpublished data. We calculated risk ratios (RRs) for dichotomous data and mean differences (MDs) or standardised mean differences (SMDs) for continuous data (with 95% confidence intervals (CIs)). We used the GRADE (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach to assess the overall certainty of the evidence. MAIN RESULTS In this updated review, we included a total of 25 trials (15,076 participants), of which 15 were new trials (11,501 participants). Follow-up ranged from 1 to 20 months. We found that medication reviews in hospitalised adults may have little to no effect on mortality (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.05; 18 trials, 10,108 participants; low-certainty evidence); likely reduce hospital readmissions (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89 to 0.98; 17 trials, 9561 participants; moderate-certainty evidence); may reduce emergency department contacts (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.03; 8 trials, 3527 participants; low-certainty evidence) and have very uncertain effects on health-related quality of life (SMD 0.10, 95% CI -0.10 to 0.30; 4 trials, 392 participants; very low-certainty evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Medication reviews in hospitalised adult patients likely reduce hospital readmissions and may reduce emergency department contacts. The evidence suggests that mediation reviews may have little to no effect on mortality, while the effect on health-related quality of life is very uncertain. Almost all trials included elderly polypharmacy patients, which limits the generalisability of the results beyond this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cille Bülow
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stine Søndersted Clausen
- The Research Unit for General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andreas Lundh
- Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Odense (CEBMO) and Cochrane Denmark, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikkel Christensen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Copenhagen Center for Translational Research (CCTR), Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Higher FORTA (Fit fOR The Aged) scores are associated with poor functional outcomes, dementia, and mortality in older people. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2022; 78:1851-1859. [PMID: 36167853 PMCID: PMC9546968 DOI: 10.1007/s00228-022-03389-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Higher Fit fOR The Aged (FORTA) scores have been shown to be negatively associated with adverse clinical outcomes in older hospitalized patients. This has not been evaluated in other health care settings. The aim of this study was to examine the association of the FORTA score with relevant outcomes in the prospective AgeCoDe-AgeQualiDe cohort of community-dwelling older people. In particular, the longitudinal relation between the FORTA score and mortality and the incidence of dementia was evaluated. METHODS Univariate and multivariate correlations between the FORTA score and activities of daily living (ADL) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) as well as comparisons between high vs. low FORTA scores were conducted. RESULTS The FORTA score was significantly correlated with ADL/IADL at baseline and at all follow-up visits (p < 0.0001). ADL/IADL results of participants with a low FORTA score were significantly better than in those with high FORTA scores (p < 0.0001). The FORTA score was also significantly (p < 0.0001) correlated with ADL/IADL in the multivariate analysis. Moreover, the mean FORTA scores of participants with dementia were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than in those without dementia at follow-up visits 6 through 9. The mean FORTA scores of participants who died were significantly higher than those of survivors at follow-up visits 7 (p < 0.05), 8 (p < 0.001), and 9 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION In this study, an association between higher FORTA scores and ADL as well as IADL was demonstrated in community-dwelling older adults. Besides, higher FORTA scores appear to be linked to a higher incidence of dementia and even mortality.
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Schmitt AK, Weiss C, Burkhardt H, Frohnhofen H, Wehling M, Pazan F. The Sex-Specific Impact of the FORTA (Fit-fOR-The-Aged) List on Medication Quality and Clinical Endpoints in Older Hospitalized Patients: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Drugs Real World Outcomes 2022; 9:287-297. [PMID: 35297495 PMCID: PMC9114217 DOI: 10.1007/s40801-022-00292-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the sex-specific impact of drug optimization tools such as the Fit fOR The Aged (FORTA) list on drug use and relevant clinical endpoints in older people. OBJECTIVE We aimed to detect gender differences of interventional effects on medication quality and related clinical effects in the VALFORTA trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS A sex-specific analysis of data from 409 patients (147 men and 262 women, mean age 79.4 and 82.7 years, respectively) in acute geriatric care comparing the control and FORTA intervention groups was performed. Changes of the FORTA score (sum of over- and undertreatment errors per patient), the incidence of adverse drug events (ADEs) during hospitalization, and several clinically relevant endpoints [e.g., the Barthel index (BI)] were tested for equivalence at a 20% margin. "Success" or "failure" for the development of these clinical endpoints was defined and their frequencies compared by a risk reduction analysis. RESULTS Sex differences were insignificant for the reduction of the FORTA score, the improvement of BI, or over- and undertreatment errors (p > 0.05). In women only, the FORTA intervention significantly increased the number of patients without an ADE (p = 0.010). Statistical sex equivalence was found for the improvement of the FORTA scores, BI, and the number of prevented events (e.g., falls, confusion, or renal failure) (p < 0.05), but not for the improvement of specific mistreatments or over- and undertreatment scores under altered inclusion criteria (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Both sexes benefit equally from the FORTA intervention regarding the amelioration of the quality of drug treatment as well as several clinically relevant outcomes. In addition, the positive impact of the FORTA intervention on the number of adverse drug events appears to be greater in women. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER DRKS00000531.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Kathrin Schmitt
- Clinical Pharmacology Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Christel Weiss
- Department of Medical Statistics, Biomathematics and Information Processing, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Heinrich Burkhardt
- IV. Medical Department, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Medical Center, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Helmut Frohnhofen
- Fakultät für Gesundheit, Universität Witten Herdecke, Alfred-Herrhausen-Str. 50, 58455, Witten, Germany
- Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf, UKD, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Martin Wehling
- Clinical Pharmacology Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Farhad Pazan
- Clinical Pharmacology Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
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The FORTA (Fit fOR The Aged) List 2021: Fourth Version of a Validated Clinical Aid for Improved Pharmacotherapy in Older Adults. Drugs Aging 2022; 39:245-247. [PMID: 35194722 PMCID: PMC8934757 DOI: 10.1007/s40266-022-00922-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Auvinen KJ, Räisänen J, Voutilainen A, Jyrkkä J, Mäntyselkä P, Lönnroos E. Interprofessional Medication Assessment has Effects on the Quality of Medication Among Home Care Patients: Randomized Controlled Intervention Study. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2020; 22:74-81. [PMID: 32893136 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2020.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Multimorbidity and complex medications increase the risk of medication-related problems, especially in vulnerable home care patients. The objective of this study was to examine whether interprofessional medication assessment has an effect on medication quality among home care patients. DESIGN The FIMA (Finnish Interprofessional Medication Assessment) study was a randomized, controlled study comparing physician-led interprofessional medication assessment and usual care. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS The FIMA study was conducted in home care settings in Finland. The participants were ≥65-year-old home care patients with ≥6 drugs daily, dizziness, orthostatic hypotension, or a recent fall. METHODS Primary outcome measures over the 6-month follow-up were number of drugs, drug-drug-interactions, medication-related risk loads, and use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) examined by SFINX, RENBASE, PHARAO, and Meds75+ databases. The databases classified information as follows: A (no known pharmacologic or clinical basis for an increased risk), B (evidence not available/uncertain), C (moderately increased risk which may have clinical relevance), and D (high risk, best to avoid). Logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, and the baseline level of the outcome measure served as statistical methods. RESULTS The mean number of all drugs for home care patients (n = 512) was 15. The odds of drug-induced impairment of renal function (RENBASE D, P = .020) and medication-related risk loads for bleeding (PHARAO D, P = .001), anticholinergic effects (PHARAO D, P = .009), and constipation (PHARAO D, P = .003) decreased significantly in the intervention group compared with usual care. The intervention also reduced the odds of using PIMs (Meds75+ D, P = .005). There were no significant changes in drug-drug-interactions or number of drugs. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FIMA intervention improved the medication quality of home care patients. Risks for renal failure, anticholinergic effects, bleeding, constipation, and the use of PIMs were reduced significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kati J Auvinen
- The East Savo Hospital District, Savonlinna, Finland; Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Johanna Räisänen
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Ari Voutilainen
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Johanna Jyrkkä
- Assessment of Pharmacotherapies, Finnish Medicines Agency, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pekka Mäntyselkä
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Kuopio University Hospital, Primary Health Care Unit, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Eija Lönnroos
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Pazan F, Wehling M. The Fit fOR The Aged (FORTA) project and its clinical implications. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2020; 16:275-277. [PMID: 32163717 DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2020.1742323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Farhad Pazan
- Clinical Pharmacology Mannheim, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Martin Wehling
- Clinical Pharmacology Mannheim, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
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