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Vandenberghe I, Kestens W, Bruyneel L, Van der Linden L, Tournoy J. Patterns of Antipsychotic Use in Belgian Nursing Homes 2017-2022: Admission is a Decision Point. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2024:105222. [PMID: 39168163 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2024.105222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Chronic antipsychotic use among nursing home (NH) residents carries risks with uncertain benefits. Despite guidelines recommending restricted use, these agents remain widely prescribed. This study investigates chronic antipsychotic use in Belgian NHs. DESIGN We examined the evolution of chronic antipsychotic use, associated NH resident profiles, impact of NH admissions, and variation among Belgian NHs in a retrospective dynamic cohort study between 2017 and 2022. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Antipsychotic dispensation rates were extracted for members of the Independent Health Insurance Funds in NHs. Prescription trends and resident profiles were evaluated for around 15,000 residents yearly (n = 14,733-15,451) from 2017 to 2022 and variation was assessed among 59 NHs. The impact of NH admission was analyzed for 9647 admissions between 2020 and 2022, and variation was evaluated among 22 NHs. METHODS For 22 antipsychotics identified at the ATC3 level, chronic use was defined as ≥80 defined daily doses (DDD) and/or ≥16 weekly dispensations per year. We analyzed changes in the 4 most frequently used antipsychotics (haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone) on NH admission, with chronic use defined as ≥80 minimal prescribed doses (MPD) annually. RESULTS The prevalence of chronic antipsychotic use among NH residents decreased from 24% in 2017 to 22.5% in 2022 (P = .002). Factors associated with higher antipsychotic use included younger age, greater dependency, and lower socioeconomic status. Upon NH admission, 30% (n = 818 of 2723) of residents discontinued treatment, while in 33% (n = 949 of 2854) treatment was initiated, predominantly with quetiapine or risperidone. This led to a small but significant increase of 1.4% after admission (P < .001). Defining chronic use as ≥80 MPD annually appeared to be more sensitive in measuring chronic antipsychotic use. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Chronic antipsychotic use remains widespread in Belgian NHs, with care transition as an important decision point. Further research should explore effects of safer (de)prescribing strategies on patient well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida Vandenberghe
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Wies Kestens
- Department of Studies & Innovation, Onafhankelijke Ziekenfondsen-Mutualités Libres, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Luk Bruyneel
- Department of Studies & Innovation, Onafhankelijke Ziekenfondsen-Mutualités Libres, Brussels, Belgium; Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lorenz Van der Linden
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Hospital Pharmacy Department, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jos Tournoy
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Gerontology and Geriatrics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Bae-Shaaw YH, Sood N, Shier V, Chew F, Como DH, Wong CM, Piersol CV, Lekovitch C, Strobel ML, Leland NE. Comparison of Team-Based and Problem-Based Approaches to Dementia Care in Nursing Homes and Their Effects on Resident Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Study. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2024:105217. [PMID: 39163989 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2024.105217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Compare the effectiveness of 2 nonpharmacologic approaches to dementia care in nursing homes on 12- and 18-month resident outcomes, which was after the emergence of COVID-19. DESIGN AND INTERVENTION A cluster randomized pragmatic trial, which included an embedded convergent mixed-methods design. Nursing homes were randomized to a team-based (TB) or problem-based (PB) intervention arm. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Residents (n = 2658 at baseline) and staff (n = 327) from 52 nursing homes in the United States. METHODS The exploratory quantitative analysis used a difference-in-differences model to compare the change in TB arm resident outcomes between baseline, 12 months, and 18 months relative to the PB arm using the Minimum Data Set 3.0. Outcomes included antipsychotic medication use, behavioral symptoms, wandering, and rejection of care. Staff interview data were analyzed in a 3-phase team-based rapid qualitative analysis approach, after which data were integrated. RESULTS Rejection of care decreased by 5.9 percentage points in the TB arm relative to the PB arm at 12 months (95% CI -11.7 to -0.2). Emergent results indicated that COVID-19 visitation restrictions prevented PB staff from working with families to manage rejection of care as was done before the pandemic, whereas TB staff described using collaboration strategies not hindered by the pandemic. There was no statistically significant difference between arms in antipsychotic medication use, behavioral symptoms, and wandering at either follow-up period. When integrated, qualitative data provided contradictory information on antipsychotic medication use and confirmatory information on behavioral symptoms and wandering. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The exploratory nature and mixed results of the quantitative data analysis limited the ability to determine a clear benefit of one approach over the other. Findings suggest that dementia care delivery faced complex challenges during COVID-19 and required engagement from a broad range of nursing home staff underscoring the importance of equipping all staff with foundational dementia care knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuna H Bae-Shaaw
- Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Neeraj Sood
- Sol Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Victoria Shier
- Sol Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Felicia Chew
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Dominique H Como
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Carin M Wong
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Cara Lekovitch
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Michelle L Strobel
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Senior Communities, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Natalie E Leland
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Maxwell CJ, Dampf H, Alkabbani W, Cotton CA, Gamble JM, Hogan DB, Gruneir A, McArthur E, Youngson E, Hsu Z, Hoben M. Psychotropic, Anticonvulsant, and Opioid Use in Assisted Living Residents Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2024; 25:121-129. [PMID: 37863111 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2023.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine the associations between COVID-19 pandemic waves (1-4) and prevalent antipsychotic, antidepressant, benzodiazepine, anticonvulsant, and opioid use among assisted living (AL) residents, by setting (dementia care vs other). DESIGN Population-based, repeated cross-sectional study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Linked clinical and health administrative databases for residents of all publicly subsidized AL homes (N = 256) in Alberta, Canada, examined from January 2018 to December 2021. Setting-specific quarterly cohorts of residents were derived for pandemic (starting March 1, 2020) and comparable historical (2018/2019 combined) periods. METHODS The quarterly proportion of residents dispensed an antipsychotic, antidepressant, benzodiazepine, anticonvulsant, or opioid was examined for each setting and period. Log-binomial generalized estimating equations models estimated prevalence ratios (PR) for period (pandemic vs historical quarterly periods), setting (dementia care vs other AL), and period-setting interactions. RESULTS On March 1, 2020, there were 2874 dementia care and 6611 other AL residents (mean age 82.4 vs 79.9 years, 68.2% vs 66.1% female, 93.5% vs 42.6% with dementia, respectively). Antipsychotic use increased during waves 2 to 4 for residents of both settings, but this increase was significantly greater for dementia care than other AL residents during waves 3 and 4 (eg, wave 3, PR 1.21, 95% CI 1.14-1.27 vs PR 1.12, 95% CI 1.07-1.17, interaction term P = .029). In both settings, there was a significant but modest increase in antidepressant use and a significant decrease in benzodiazepine use during several pandemic waves. For other AL residents only, there was a small statistically significant increase in anticonvulsant use during waves 2 to 4. No significant pandemic effect was observed for prevalent opioid use in either setting. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The persistence of the pandemic-associated increase in antipsychotic, antidepressant, and anticonvulsant use in AL residents, and greater increase in antipsychotic use for dementia care settings, raises concerns about the attendant risks for residents, especially those with dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen J Maxwell
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Hana Dampf
- Faculty of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Wajd Alkabbani
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cecilia A Cotton
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - David B Hogan
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Andrea Gruneir
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Family Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Eric McArthur
- London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Erik Youngson
- Provincial Research Data Services, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; Data and Research Services, Alberta SPOR SUPPORT Unit, Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Zoe Hsu
- Provincial Research Data Services, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; Data and Research Services, Alberta SPOR SUPPORT Unit, Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Matthias Hoben
- Faculty of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; School of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Waheed U, Stedman M, Davies M, Solomon E, Taylor D, Heald A, Narayanan RP, Warner-Levy J. Changes in prescribing of psychotropic vs some physical health medication in primary care through the COVID-19 pandemic in England: a national-level survey. J Pharm Policy Pract 2023; 16:169. [PMID: 38124123 PMCID: PMC10734137 DOI: 10.1186/s40545-023-00655-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic globally impacted healthcare provision. Prescribing changes in common medications can be used as a marker for new diagnoses. We describe how the prescribing of specific psychotropics was impacted by the pandemic. METHODS Primary Care Prescribing data for different classes of drugs from March 2017 to February 2022 were considered. To capture the impact during periods of restricted access to health services for new diagnoses/existing conditions, repeat prescriptions/episodic prescribing were included with account taken of historical trends. The pre-pandemic prescriptions issued each month from March 2018 to February 2020 were linearly extrapolated forward to give an expected annual growth (EAG). The monthly average expected prescriptions for the pandemic period (March 2020-February 2022) were compared. RESULTS Physical health medications had lower monthly prescriptions during the pandemic, most markedly for antibiotics - 12.5% (EAG - 1.3%). Bronchodilator prescribing showed a marked increase in the early pandemic months from March 2020 of 5% (EAG 0.1%). Mental health medication prescribing increased above trend for hypnotics/anxiolytics by 0.2% (EAG - 2.3%), while antidepressants fell by - 0.2% (EAG 5.0%), with no net change for antipsychotics (EAG 2.8%), but a temporary increase in antipsychotic prescribing in the early pandemic period. For all the main antidepressants prescribed in England (Sertraline, Mirtazapine, Venlafaxine, Fluoxetine and Citalopram), prescribing actually decreased in the main pandemic period vs historical trend. CONCLUSIONS The increase in anxiolytic/hypnotic prescribing above trend links to pandemic effects on anxiety/worry. If anything, there was a slight fall in prescribing of the main antidepressants prescribed, which given prevailing circumstances at the time, suggests that access to services may have restricted access to timely assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Unaiza Waheed
- Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford, M6 8HD, UK
| | - Mike Stedman
- The School of Medicine and Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Emma Solomon
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford, UK
| | | | - Adrian Heald
- Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford, M6 8HD, UK.
- The School of Medicine and Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - Ram Prakash Narayanan
- St Helens and Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - John Warner-Levy
- The School of Medicine and Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Hoben M, Hogan DB, Poss JW, Gruneir A, McGrail K, Griffith LE, Chamberlain SA, Estabrooks CA, Maxwell CJ. Comparing quality of care outcomes between assisted living and nursing homes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Am Geriatr Soc 2023; 71:3467-3479. [PMID: 37428008 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While assisted living (AL) and nursing home (NHs) residents in share vulnerabilities, AL provides fewer staffing resources and services. Research has largely neglected AL, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study compared trends of practice-sensitive, risk-adjusted quality indicators between AL and NHs, and changes in these trends after the start of the pandemic. METHODS This repeated cross-sectional study used population-based resident data in Alberta, Canada. Using Resident Assessment Instrument data (01/2017-12/2021), we created quarterly cohorts, using each resident's latest assessment in each quarter. We applied validated inclusion/exclusion criteria and risk-adjustments to create nine quality indicators and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs): potentially inappropriate antipsychotic use, pain, depressive symptoms, total dependency in late-loss activities of daily living, physical restraint use, pressure ulcers, delirium, weight loss, urinary tract infections. Run charts compared quality indicators between AL and NHs over time and segmented regressions assessed whether these trends changed after the start of the pandemic. RESULTS Quarterly samples included 2015-2710 AL residents and 12,881-13,807 NH residents. Antipsychotic use (21%-26%), pain (20%-24%), and depressive symptoms (17%-25%) were most common in AL. In NHs, they were physical dependency (33%-36%), depressive symptoms (26%-32%), and antipsychotic use (17%-22%). Antipsychotic use and pain were consistently higher in AL. Depressive symptoms, physical dependency, physical restraint use, delirium, weight loss were consistently lower in AL. The most notable segmented regression findings were an increase in antipsychotic use during the pandemic in both settings (AL: change in slope = 0.6% [95% CI: 0.1%-1.0%], p = 0.0140; NHs: change in slope = 0.4% [95% CI: 0.3%-0.5%], p < 0.0001), and an increase in physical dependency in AL only (change in slope = 0.5% [95% CI: 0.1%-0.8%], p = 0.0222). CONCLUSIONS QIs differed significantly between AL and NHs before and during the pandemic. Any changes implemented to address deficiencies in either setting need to account for these differences and require monitoring to assess their impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Hoben
- School of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Faculty of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - David B Hogan
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jeffrey W Poss
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrea Gruneir
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kim McGrail
- Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lauren E Griffith
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephanie A Chamberlain
- Faculty of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Carole A Estabrooks
- Faculty of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Colleen J Maxwell
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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Benzinger P, Wahl HW, Bauer JM, Keilhauer A, Dutzi I, Maier S, Hölzer N, Achterberg WP, Denninger NE. Consequences of contact restrictions for long-term care residents during the first months of COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review. Eur J Ageing 2023; 20:39. [PMID: 37847318 PMCID: PMC10581973 DOI: 10.1007/s10433-023-00787-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, stringent measures were implemented in most countries to limit social contact between residents of long-term care facilities (LTCF) and visitors. The objective of this scoping review was to identify and map evidence of direct and indirect consequences of contact restrictions, guided by three conceptual perspectives: (1) stress and learned helplessness (i.e., failure to use coping behaviors even when they are available and actionalble); (2) social contact loss; and (3) 'total institution' (i.e., a facility operates following a fixed plan due to spelled-out rules and norms, controlled by institutional representatives). We used the framework for conducting a scoping review by Arksey and O'Malley; included were peer-reviewed manuscripts reporting on the outcomes of contact restrictions from the beginning of the pandemic until the end of 2020. After removing duplicates, 6,656 records were screened and 62 manuscripts included. Results pertaining to the stress and learned helplessness perspective primarily focused on depressive symptoms, showing substantial increases compared to the pre-pandemic period. Studies examining cognitive and functional decline, as well as non-COVID-19 related mortality, were limited in number and presented mixed findings. The majority of study outcomes related to the social contact loss perspective focused on loneliness, but the study designs did not adequately allow for comparisons with the pre-pandemic status. The evidence concerning outcomes related to the 'total Institution' perspective was inconclusive. Although detrimental effects of social isolation in the long-term care context found support particularly in the negative affect domain, other outcome areas did not allow for definitive conclusions due to considerable variations in findings and, in some cases, insufficient statistical power.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Benzinger
- Center for Geriatric Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, AGAPLESION Bethanien Krankenhaus Heidelberg, Rohrbacher Strasse 149, 69126, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Institute of Health and Generations, University of Applied Sciences Kempten, Bahnhofstrasse 61, 87435, Kempten, Germany.
| | - Hans-Werner Wahl
- Network Aging Research (NAR), Heidelberg University, Bergheimer Str. 20, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jürgen M Bauer
- Center for Geriatric Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, AGAPLESION Bethanien Krankenhaus Heidelberg, Rohrbacher Strasse 149, 69126, Heidelberg, Germany
- Network Aging Research (NAR), Heidelberg University, Bergheimer Str. 20, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne Keilhauer
- Center for Geriatric Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, AGAPLESION Bethanien Krankenhaus Heidelberg, Rohrbacher Strasse 149, 69126, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ilona Dutzi
- Center for Geriatric Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, AGAPLESION Bethanien Krankenhaus Heidelberg, Rohrbacher Strasse 149, 69126, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simone Maier
- Center for Geriatric Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, AGAPLESION Bethanien Krankenhaus Heidelberg, Rohrbacher Strasse 149, 69126, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Natalie Hölzer
- Center for Geriatric Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, AGAPLESION Bethanien Krankenhaus Heidelberg, Rohrbacher Strasse 149, 69126, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wilco P Achterberg
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Natascha-Elisabeth Denninger
- Centre for Research, Development and Technology Transfer, Technical University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim, Hochschulstraße 1, 83024, Rosenheim, Germany
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Health and Nursing Science, International Graduate Academy, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Straße 8, 06112, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, Nursing Science and Interprofessional Care, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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7
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Reppas-Rindlisbacher C, Boblitz A, Fowler RA, Lapointe-Shaw L, Sheehan KA, Stukel TA, Rochon PA. Trends in Delirium and New Antipsychotic and Benzodiazepine Use Among Hospitalized Older Adults Before and After the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2327750. [PMID: 37548976 PMCID: PMC10407689 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.27750] [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] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The COVID-19 pandemic caused large disruptions to health care for hospitalized older adults. The incidence and management of delirium may have been affected by high rates of COVID-19 infection, staffing shortages, overwhelmed hospital capacity, and changes to visitor policies. OBJECTIVE To measure changes in rates of delirium and related medication prescribing during the COVID-19 pandemic among hospitalized older adults. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This population-based, repeated cross-sectional study used linked databases to measure rates of delirium and related medication prescriptions among adults aged 66 years or older hospitalized before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (January 1, 2017, to March 31, 2022) in Ontario, Canada. EXPOSURE The first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 1, 2020, to March 31, 2022). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The main outcomes were weekly rates of delirium per 1000 admitted population and monthly rates of new antipsychotic and benzodiazepine prescriptions per 1000 discharged population. Observed rates were compared with projected rates based on modeling from 3 years before pandemic onset. RESULTS Among 2 128 411 hospitalizations of older adults over the 5-year study period (50.7% female; mean [SD] age, 78.9 [8.3] years), absolute rates of delirium increased from 35.9 per 1000 admitted population during the prepandemic period to 41.5 per 1000 admitted population throughout the pandemic. The adjusted rate ratio (ARR) of delirium during the pandemic compared with the projected rate was 1.15 (95% CI, 1.11-1.19). Monthly rates of new antipsychotic prescriptions increased from 6.9 to 8.8 per 1000 discharged population and new benzodiazepine prescriptions from 4.4 to 6.0 per 1000 discharged population and were significantly higher during the pandemic compared with projected rates (antipsychotics: ARR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.19-1.38; benzodiazepines: ARR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.20-1.57). Rates were highest during pandemic waves 1 (March to June 2020), 3 (March to June 2021), and 5 (December 2021 to February 2022) and remained elevated above projected levels throughout the first 2 years of the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this repeated cross-sectional study of hospitalized older adults, there was a temporal association between COVID-19 pandemic onset and significant increases in rates of delirium in the hospital and new antipsychotic and benzodiazepine prescriptions after hospital discharge. Rates remained elevated over 2 years. Pandemic-related changes such as visitor restrictions, staff shortages, isolation practices, and reduced staff time at the bedside may have contributed to these trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Reppas-Rindlisbacher
- Women’s Age Lab and Women’s College Research Institute, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Sinai Health System and the University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Robert A. Fowler
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lauren Lapointe-Shaw
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Sinai Health System and the University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kathleen A. Sheehan
- Centre for Mental Health, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Therese A. Stukel
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paula A. Rochon
- Women’s Age Lab and Women’s College Research Institute, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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8
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Langlais AL, Mountain RV, Kunst RF, Barlow D, Houseknecht KL, Motyl KJ. Thermoneutral housing does not rescue olanzapine-induced trabecular bone loss in C57BL/6J female mice. Biochimie 2023; 210:50-60. [PMID: 37236340 PMCID: PMC10357956 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Antipsychotic drugs are prescribed to a wide range of individuals to treat mental health conditions including schizophrenia. However, antipsychotic drugs cause bone loss and increase fracture risk. We previously found that the atypical antipsychotic (AA) drug risperidone causes bone loss through multiple pharmacological mechanisms, including activation of the sympathetic nervous system in mice treated with clinically relevant doses. However, bone loss was dependent upon housing temperature, which modulates sympathetic activity. Another AA drug, olanzapine, has substantial metabolic side effects, including weight gain and insulin resistance, but it is unknown whether bone and metabolic outcomes of olanzapine are also dependent upon housing temperature in mice. We therefore treated eight week-old female mice with vehicle or olanzapine for four weeks, housed at either room temperature (23 °C) or thermoneutrality (28-30 °C), which has previously been shown to be positive for bone. Olanzapine caused significant trabecular bone loss (-13% BV/TV), likely through increased RANKL-dependent osteoclast resorption, which was not suppressed by thermoneutral housing. Additionally, olanzapine inhibited cortical bone expansion at thermoneutrality, but did not alter cortical bone expansion at room temperature. Olanzapine also increased markers of thermogenesis within brown and inguinal adipose depots independent of housing temperature. Overall, olanzapine causes trabecular bone loss and inhibits the positive effect of thermoneutral housing on bone. Understanding how housing temperature modulates the impact of AA drugs on bone is important for future pre-clinical studies, as well as for the prescription of AA drugs, particularly to older adults and adolescents who are most vulnerable to the effects on bone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrie L Langlais
- Center for Molecular Medicine, MaineHealth Institute for Research, MaineHealth, Scarborough, ME, USA; Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Rebecca V Mountain
- Center for Molecular Medicine, MaineHealth Institute for Research, MaineHealth, Scarborough, ME, USA
| | - Roni F Kunst
- Center for Molecular Medicine, MaineHealth Institute for Research, MaineHealth, Scarborough, ME, USA
| | - Deborah Barlow
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, USA
| | - Karen L Houseknecht
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, USA
| | - Katherine J Motyl
- Center for Molecular Medicine, MaineHealth Institute for Research, MaineHealth, Scarborough, ME, USA; Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA; Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
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