Potentially Harmful Medication Use and Decline in Health-Related Quality of Life among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Fall Risk-Increasing Drugs, Polypharmacy, and Falls Among Low-Income Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Background and Objectives

Medication exposure is a potential risk factor for falls and subsequent death and functional decline among older adults. However, controversy remains on the best way to assess medication exposure and which approach best predicts falls. The objective of the current study was to examine the association between different measures of medication exposure and falls risk among community-dwelling older adults.

Research Design and Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted using Falls Free PA program data and a linked prescription claims data from Pennsylvania's Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly program. Participants were community-dwelling older adults living in Pennsylvania, United States. Three measures of medication exposure were assessed: (a) total number of regular medications (polypharmacy); (b) counts of potentially inappropriate medications derived from current prescription guidance tools (Fall Risk-Increasing Drugs [FRIDs], Beers Criteria); and (c) medication burden indices based on pharmacologic mechanisms (Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden, Drug Burden Index) all derived from claims data. The associations between the different medication risk measures and self-reported falls incidence were examined with univariate and multivariable negative binomial regression models to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs).

Results

Overall 343 older adults were included and there were 236 months with falls during 2,316 activity-adjusted person-months (10.2 falls per 100 activity-adjusted person-months). Of the 6 measures of medication risk assessed in multivariate models, only the use of 2 or more FRIDs (adjusted IRR 1.67 [95% CI: 1.04-2.68]) independently predicted falls risk. Among the 13 FRID drug classes, the only FRID class associated with an increased fall risk was antidepressants.

Discussion and Implications

The presence of multiple FRIDs in a prescription is an independent risk factor for falls, even in older adults with few medications. Further investigation is required to examine whether deprescribing focused on FRIDs effectively prevents falls among this population.

Anticholinergic Burden Measures Predict Older People's Physical Function and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42019115918) compared the evidence behind anticholinergic burden (ACB) measures and their ability to predict changes in older people's physical function and quality of life.

DESIGN

Eligible cohort or case-control studies were identified systematically using comprehensive search terms and a validated search filter for prognostic studies. Medline (OVID), EMBASE (OVID), CINAHL (EMBSCO), and PsycINFO (OVID) databases were searched. Risk of bias, using Quality in Prognosis Studies tool, and quality of evidence, using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation, were assessed.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

People aged 65 years and older from any clinical setting.

MEASURES

Any ACB measures were accepted (including the anticholinergic domain of the Drug Burden Index). Any global/multidimensional measure for physical function and/or quality of life was accepted for outcome.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies reporting associations between ACB and physical function (n = 10) or quality of life (n = 4) were included. Exposure measures included Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale, Anticholinergic Drug Scale, Anticholinergic Risk Scale, Clinician Rated Anticholinergic Score, and the anticholinergic domain of the Drug Burden Index. All studies were rated moderate risk of bias in ≥2 Quality in Prognosis Studies categories with 5 rated high risk in ≥1 categories. Seven of 10 studies (5251 of 7569 participants) reported significant decline in physical function with increased burden. All 4 studies (2635 participants) reporting quality of life demonstrated similar association with increased burden. High risk of biases and inadequate data reporting restricted analysis. There was no evidence to support one measure being superior to another.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The evidence supports association between increased ACB and future impairments in physical function and quality of life. No conclusion can be made regarding which ACB measure has the best prognostic value. Well-designed longitudinal studies are required to address this. Clinicians should be aware of patient's anticholinergic burden and consider alternative medications where appropriate.

Factors Associated with Health-Related Quality of Life in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Multinomial Logistic Analysis

The main aim of this study was to determine the association of various clinical, functional and pharmacological factors with the physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) summary components of the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of community-dwelling older adults. Design: Cross-sectional study. Patients and setting: Sample of 573 persons aged over 65 years, recruited at 12 primary healthcare centres in Málaga, Spain. Sociodemographic, clinical, functional, and comprehensive drug therapy data were collected. The main outcome was HRQoL assessed on the basis of the SF-12 questionnaire. A multinomial logistic regression model was constructed to study the relationship between independent variables and the HRQoL variable, divided into intervals. The average self-perceived HRQoL score was 43.2 (± 11.02) for the PCS and 48.5 (± 11.04) for the MCS. The factors associated with a poorer PCS were dependence for the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), higher body mass index (BMI), number of medications, and presence of osteoarticular pathology. Female gender and the presence of a psychopathological disorder were associated with worse scores for the MCS. The condition that was most strongly associated with a poorer HRQoL (in both components, PCS and MCS) was that of frailty (odds ratio (OR) = 37.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 8.96–156.22, and OR = 20.95, 95% CI = 7.55–58.17, respectively). It is important to identify the determinant factors of a diminished HRQoL, especially if they are preventable or modifiable.