Hospitalisations caused by adverse drug reactions (ADR): a meta-analysis of observational studies

Drug-related falls: proportion and impact of hospitalizations in geriatric departments on the prescription of fall-risk increasing drugs (FRIDs)

PURPOSE

The incidence of drug-related admissions in France was 8.5% in 2018, with falls being the 5 th cause of DRA. The screening of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in old adults can be challenging. Our objective was to determine the proportion of old patients hospitalized for drug-related falls in a geriatrics department, assess their preventability and the impact of hospitalizations on the prescription of fall-risk increasing drugs (FRIDs).

METHODS

A retrospective observational study, including patients aged over 75 years who were admitted to an acute geriatrics medicine department from May 10, 2022, to February 2, 2023, was conducted. We used a previously published method to detect DRA and assess their preventability.

RESULTS

Of the 512 patients admitted to the department during the study period, 104 patients (20%) were hospitalized due to falls, of whom 71 (14%) were considered to be drug-related. Falls associated with drugs were categorized as more severe (p = 0.01). In 41% of drug-related falls, ADRs were considered to be definitively avoidable. The most commonly implicated FRIDs classes were beta-blockers (53%, n = 38); diuretics (47%, n = 34); antidepressants (41%, n = 29); benzodiazepines (6%, n = 20); and underuse of vitamin D in patients with a documented deficiency (65%, n = 46). In patients hospitalized for drug-related falls, the FRIDs decreased between admission (n = 314) and discharge (n = 198, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The proportion of hospitalizations for drug-related falls is notably high in geriatric department, and a substantial proportion can be prevented. These findings emphasize the importance of targeting high-risk patients for falls and implementing preventive measures, such as reassessing their medication as recommended in the latest international guidelines for falls prevention.

Predictive Models for Identifying Adult Patients at High Risk of Developing Opioid-Related Harms: a Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Opioids are the most frequently prescribed medications for managing moderate-to-severe pain and are associated with significant potential for harm. Several models have been developed to predict opioid-related harms (ORHs). This study aimed to describe and evaluate the methodological quality of predictive models for identifying patients at high risk of ORHs.

METHODS

Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline, we reviewed published studies on developing or validating models for predicting ORHs, identified through a literature search of Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar. The quality of studies was assessed using the Prediction model Risk Of Bias ASsessment Tool (PROBAST). The models were assessed by area under the curve (AUC) or c-statistic, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive or negative predictive value. The study protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42024540456).

RESULTS

We included 36 studies involving participants aged 18 years or older. The frequently modeled ORHs were opioid use disorder (12 studies), opioid overdose (8 studies), opioid-induced respiratory depression (6 studies), and adverse drug events (4 studies). In total, 16 studies (44.4%) developed and validated tools. Most studies measured predictive ability using AUC (31, 86.1%), and some only reported sensitivity (14, 38.9%), specificity (11, 30.6%), or accuracy (4, 11.1%). Of the 31 studies that reported AUC values, 29 (93.5%) had moderate-to-high predictive ability (AUC > 0.70). History of opioid use (66.7%), age (58.3%), comorbidities (41.7%), sex (41.7%), and drug abuse and psychiatric problems (36.1%) were typical factors used in developing models.

CONCLUSIONS

The included predictive models showed moderate-to-high discriminative ability for screening patients at risk of ORHs. However, future studies should refine and validate them in various settings before considering the translation into clinical practice.

Multi-Knowledge Graph and Multi-View Entity Feature Learning for Predicting Drug-Related Side Effects

Computational prediction of potential drug side effects plays a crucial role in reducing health risks for clinical patients and accelerating drug development. Recent methods have constructed heterogeneous graphs that represent drugs and their side effects, utilizing graph learning strategies such as graph convolutional networks to predict associations between them. However, existing approaches fail to fully exploit the diverse topologies and semantics present in multiple knowledge graphs. We propose MVDSA, a novel multi-view drug-side effect association prediction model. Our approach integrates multiple relationship semantics, local topologies of knowledge graphs, and multi-view features of drug-side effect entity pairs. First, we constructed two knowledge graphs based on drug functional and structural similarity, side effect similarity, and drug-side effect associations. These knowledge graphs capture the topological and semantic connections between drug and side effect entities from diverse perspectives. Second, considering the diverse similarities and associations between entities, we designed a space-sensitive learning strategy where a relation-gated semantic encoder is constructed for each type of relationship. This encoder adaptively adjusts the contribution of each entity feature to the relational semantic representation, facilitating the learning of entity-specific semantic features within each relational space. Third, for the two knowledge graphs, given the multiple types of connections between head and tail entities, we propose a connection-sensitive tail entity attention mechanism to integrate these diverse semantic relationships. To capture the contribution of different knowledge graphs to entity feature learning, we designed a knowledge graph-level attention mechanism to adaptively fuse the enhanced features from multiple knowledge graphs. Finally, we propose a multi-view enhanced multi-layer perceptron (MLP) strategy to encode the features of drug-side effect pairs from three perspectives and capture the potential associations between entities. Extensive experiments demonstrate that MVDSA outperforms 10 state-of-the-art methods in predicting drug-side effect associations. Ablation studies validate the contributions of the proposed innovations to improved prediction performance. Additionally, case studies on candidate side effects for five drugs highlight MVDSA's capability to discover potential drug-side effect associations.

'Despite the Pain, I Keep Moving Forward': A Qualitative Study on Brazilian Older Adults' Experiences With Chronic Low Back Pain

OBJECTIVE

The burden of chronic low back pain (CLBP) is increasing rapidly along with the global population ageing. Such an increase will occur more rapidly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Yet, few studies have explored the experiences of older adults with CLBP, and these are primarily conducted in high-income countries. To address this concern, we explored the experiences of older Brazilian adults with CLBP.

METHODS

We used a descriptive qualitative study and gathered data through interviews and drawings from participants representing their experiences. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis principles.

RESULTS

We interviewed 22 participants and identified the following themes: (1) Low back pain: an intense sensory and emotional experience; (2) causes of pain: wear and tear due to ageing, physical overload and emotional overload; (3) seeking treatment and not improving; (4) health professionals with a biomedical and pessimistic view; (5) the impact of pain on life: functional limitations and social repercussions; and (6) dealing with pain through movement, resilience and passive strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants described CLBP as a sensory and emotional experience that impacts various aspects of their lives. Wear and tear due to ageing, physical and emotional overload were highlighted as causes of pain, and health professionals as a source of pessimism. Despite this, many participants discussed coping through movement, resilience, and passive strategies. Health professionals should address the emotional aspects associated with CLBP, explore its impact on their patients' lives and provide information that aligns with current evidence, promoting reassurance and a multidimensional understanding of CLBP.

The Effect of Age on Antipsychotic Serum Concentration in Males and Females: A Study Based on Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Data From 19,926 Patients

BACKGROUND

Antipsychotic medications are commonly prescribed for older patients; however, documentation on their safety and efficacy in this population is limited. This study aimed to investigate and compare the effect of age on dose-adjusted serum concentrations of 6 commonly used antipsychotic medications in both sexes.

METHODS

Patients with serum concentration measurements of amisulpride, aripiprazole, clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, and zuclopenthixol were retrospectively included from a therapeutic drug monitoring service. The primary outcome measure for each antipsychotic was the dose-adjusted serum concentration (C:D ratio), assessed across groups divided by sex and age (18-49 years, 50-74 years, and ≥75 years). The data were analyzed using linear mixed modeling with restricted maximum likelihood estimation.

RESULTS

A total of 19,926 patients (53% male) with 74,194 serum concentration measurements were included. For most antipsychotics, the C:D ratios increased significantly with age, with generally larger differences observed in females compared with males. The largest impact of age was observed for risperidone, where C:D ratios in the age groups 50-74 years and ≥75 years were 20% and 81% higher for males, respectively, compared with the reference group (18-49 years). For females, the C:D ratios were 28% and 92% higher, respectively, compared with females aged 18-49 years (all P < 0.001). The smallest impact of age was observed for aripiprazole, with no significant differences in C:D ratios across age groups for males. For females treated with aripiprazole, C:D ratios were 8% and 28% higher in the 50-74 and ≥75 years age groups, respectively, compared with females aged 18-49 years (both P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The age-dependent increase in dose-adjusted serum concentrations among males and females varied across different antipsychotics and was highest for risperidone. These findings emphasize the importance of proper monitoring of antipsychotic use in older adults.

Dealing with adverse drug reactions in the context of polypharmacy using regression models

Polypharmacy in older adults increases the risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), but studying this relationship is complex. In real-world data, the high number of medications, coupled with rare drug combinations, results in high-dimensional datasets that are difficult to analyze using conventional statistical methods. This study applies horseshoe and lasso regression for analyzing rare events in polypharmacy contexts, focusing on severe ADRs such as falls and bleedings. These regression models are executed on a multi-center dataset compiling 7175 cases from the ADRED project to detect potential ADR-associated drugs among 100 most common drugs in emergency department admissions. Positive predictors are classified by using 50% and 90% credibility intervals. This study demonstrates that regression models with horseshoe or lasso priors are effective for analyzing ADRs, providing a comprehensive consideration of multiple factors in large, sparse datasets and improving signal detection in polypharmacy, addressing a significant challenge in pharmacovigilance. Both priors yielded consistent and clinically meaningful results. The horseshoe regression resulted in fewer potential positive predictors overall, which could make it suitable as a diagnostic tool. While these regressions generate valuable information, there are still challenges in setting appropriate thresholds for determining and interpreting the positive results.

Daily consumption of ketone ester, bis-octanoyl (R)-1,3-butanediol, is safe and tolerable in healthy older adults in a randomized, parallel arm, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot study

OBJECTIVES

Ketone bodies are endogenous metabolites produced during fasting or a ketogenic diet that have pleiotropic effects on aging pathways. Ketone esters (KEs) are compounds that induce ketosis without dietary changes, but KEs have not been studied in an older adult population. The primary objective of this trial was to assess the tolerability and safety of KE ingestion in a cohort of older adults.

DESIGN

Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, parallel-arm trial (NCT05585762).

SETTING

General community, Northern California, USA.

PARTICIPANTS

Community-dwelling older adults, independent in activities of daily living, with no unstable acute medical conditions (n = 30; M = 15, F = 15; age = 76 y, range 65-90 y) were randomized and n = 23 (M = 14, F = 9) completed the protocol.

INTERVENTION

Participants were randomly allocated to consume either KE (25 g bis-octanoyl (R)-1,3-butanediol) or a taste, appearance, and calorie-matched placebo (PLA) containing canola oil daily for 12 weeks.

MEASUREMENTS

Tolerability was assessed using a composite score from a daily log for 2-weeks, and then via a bi-weekly phone interview. Safety was assessed by vital signs and lab tests at screening and weeks 0, 4 and 12, along with tabulation of adverse events.

RESULTS

There was no difference in the prespecified primary outcome of proportion of participants reporting moderate or severe nausea, headache, or dizziness on more than one day in a two-week reporting period (KE n = 2 (14.3% [90% CI = 2.6-38.5]); PLA n = 1 (7.1% [90% CI = 0.4-29.7]). Dropouts numbered four in the PLA group and two in the KE group. A greater number of symptoms were reported in both groups during the first two weeks; symptoms were reported less frequently between 2 and 12 weeks. There were no clinically relevant changes in safety labs or vital signs in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

This KE was safe and well-tolerated in this study of healthy older adults. These results provide an initial foundation for use of KEs in clinical research with older adults.

National patterns of paroxetine use among US Medicare patients from 2015-2020

Introduction

Paroxetine is an older "selective" serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that is notable for its lack of selectivity, resulting in an anticholinergic adverse-effect profile, especially among older adults (65+).

Methods

Paroxetine prescription rates and costs per state were ascertained from the Medicare Specialty Utilization and Payment Data. States' annual prescription rate, corrected per thousand Part D enrollees, outside a 95% confidence interval were considered significantly different from the average.

Results

Nationally, there was a steady decrease in population-corrected paroxetine prescriptions (-34.52%) and spending (-29.55%) from 2015-2020 but a consistent, five-fold state-level difference. From 2015-2020, Kentucky (194.9, 195.3, 182.7, 165.1, 143.3, 132.5) showed significantly higher prescriptions rates relative to the national average, and Hawaii (42.1, 37.9, 34.3, 31.7, 27.7, 26.6) showed significantly lower prescription rates. North Dakota was often a frequently elevated prescriber of paroxetine (2016: 170.7, 2018: 143.3), relative to the average. Neuropsychiatry and geriatric medicine frequently prescribed the most paroxetine, relative to the number of providers in that specialty, from 2015-2020.

Discussion

Despite the American Geriatrics Society's prohibition against paroxetine use in older adults and many effective treatment alternatives, paroxetine was still commonly used in the US in this population, especially in Kentucky and North Dakota and by neuropsychiatry and geriatric medicine. These findings provide information on the specialty types and states where education and policy reform would likely have the greatest impact on improving adherence to the paroxetine prescription recommendations.

More than a number: Incorporating the aged phenotype to improve in vitro and in vivo modeling of neurodegenerative disease

Age is the number one risk factor for developing a neurodegenerative disease (ND), such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Parkinson's disease (PD). With our rapidly ageing world population, there will be an increased burden of ND and need for disease-modifying treatments. Currently, however, translation of research from bench to bedside in NDs is poor. This may be due, at least in part, to the failure to account for the potential effect of ageing in preclinical modelling of NDs. While ageing can impact upon physiological response in multiple ways, only a limited number of preclinical studies of ND have incorporated ageing as a factor of interest. Here, we evaluate the aged phenotype and highlight the critical, but unmet, need to incorporate aspects of this phenotype into both the in vitro and in vivo models used in ND research. Given technological advances in the field over the past several years, we discuss how these could be harnessed to create novel models of ND that more readily incorporate aspects of the aged phenotype. This includes a recently described in vitro panel of ageing markers, which could help lead to more standardised models and improve reproducibility across studies. Importantly, we cannot assume that young cells or animals yield the same responses as seen in the context of ageing; thus, an improved understanding of the biology of ageing, and how to appropriately incorporate this into the modelling of ND, will ensure the best chance for successful translation of new therapies to the aged patient.

Daily consumption of ketone ester, bis-octanoyl (R)-1,3-butanediol, is safe and tolerable in healthy older adults, a randomized, parallel arm, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot study

Objectives

Ketone bodies are endogenous metabolites produced during fasting or a ketogenic diet that have pleiotropic effects on aging pathways. Ketone esters (KEs) are compounds that induce ketosis without dietary changes, but KEs have not been studied in an older adult population. The primary objective of this trial was to determine tolerability and safety of KE ingestion in older adults.

Design

Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, parallel-arm trial, with a 12-week intervention period ( NCT05585762 ).

Setting

General community, Northern California, USA.

Participants

Community-dwelling older adults, independent in activities of daily living, with no unstable acute medical conditions (n=30) were randomized and n=23 (M= 14, F=9) completed the protocol.

Intervention

Participants were randomly allocated to consume either KE (bis-octanoyl (R)-1,3-butanediol) or a taste, appearance, and calorie-matched placebo (PLA) containing canola oil.

Measurements

Tolerability was assessed using a composite score from a daily log for 2-weeks, and then via a bi-weekly phone interview. Safety was assessed by vital signs and lab tests at screening and weeks 0, 4 and 12, along with tabulation of adverse events.

Results

There was no difference in the prespecified primary outcome of proportion of participants reporting moderate or severe nausea, headache, or dizziness on more than one day in a two-week reporting period (KE n =2 (14.3% [90% CI = 2.6 - 38.5]); PLA n=1 (7.1% [90% CI = 0.4 - 29.7]). Dropouts numbered four in the PLA group and two in the KE group. A greater number of symptoms were reported in both groups during the first two weeks; symptoms were reported less frequently between 2 - 12 weeks. There were no clinically relevant changes in safety labs or vital signs in either group.

Conclusions

This KE was safe and well-tolerated in healthy older adults. These results provide a foundation for use of KEs in aging research.

Highlights

Ketones esters induce ketosis without dietary changes and may target aging biologyStudies of ketone esters were limited in duration and focused on younger adultsWe found ketone esters were safe and tolerable for 12 weeks in healthy older adults.

Investigation of intradetrusor onabotulinum toxin A efficacy and safety in older adults with urge urinary incontinence

PURPOSE

Intradetrusor onabotulinum toxin A (BTX-A) has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment option for overactive bladder (OAB). However, concerns about frailty and frequent injections may deter its use in the elderly. This study aims to assess the safety, efficacy, and treatment duration of BTX-A in managing OAB in elderly women.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed female patients aged 70 and above who were diagnosed with OAB with predominant urge urinary incontinence and underwent intravesical BTX-A treatment. We collected demographic and clinical data, with repeat BTX-A injections re-administered upon patient-reported symptom recurrence.

RESULTS

Twenty-one female patients, median age 77 (range 71-92), were included. The median time between the first and second injection was 185 (84-448) days, 186 (105-959) days between the second and third injection, and increased to 206.5 (84-256) days between the third and fourth injection. However, the median interval trended downward after the fourth injection (Fig. 1). Patients with four or more injections had a shorter median interval between injections, 154 days, compared to those with fewer injections, 210 days. Two patients (6.9%) experienced urinary retention after the initial treatment, with 1 (2.2%) among a total of 46 subsequent treatments (Table 3). There were ten (13.3%) episodes of UTIs within 2 weeks of treatment. Patients reported improvement in symptoms following 93.3% of the injections.

CONCLUSION

This real-world study demonstrates that BTX-A effectively controls OAB symptoms in elderly women, with just two injections annually. BTX-A appears safe and efficacious for treating OAB in elderly females.

Informational continuity of medication management in transitions of care: Qualitative interviews with stakeholders from the HYPERION-TransCare study

BACKGROUND

The transition of patients between inpatient and outpatient care can lead to adverse events and medication-related problems due to medication and communication errors, such as medication discontinuation, the frequency of (re-)hospitalizations, and increased morbidity and mortality. Older patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy are particularly at high risk during transitions of care. Previous research highlighted the need for interventions to improve transitions of care in order to support information continuity, coordination, and communication. The HYPERION-TransCare project aims to improve the continuity of medication management for older patients during transitions of care.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

Using a qualitative design, 32 expert interviews were conducted to explore the perspectives of key stakeholders, which included healthcare professionals, patients and one informal caregiver, on transitions of care. Interviews were conducted between October 2020 and January 2021, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using content analysis. We narratively summarized four main topics (stakeholders' tasks, challenges, ideas for solutions and best practice examples, and patient-related factors) and mapped them in a patient journey map. Lacking or incomplete information on patients' medication and health conditions, inappropriate communication and collaboration between healthcare providers within and across settings, and insufficient digital support limit the continuity of medication management.

CONCLUSIONS

The study confirms that medication management during transitions of care is a complex process that can be compromised by a variety of factors. Legal requirements and standardized processes are urgently needed to ensure adequate exchange of information and organization of medication management before, during and after hospital admissions. Despite the numerous barriers identified, the findings indicate that involved healthcare professionals from both the inpatient and outpatient care settings have a common understanding.

Comorbidity of patients with noncommunicable diseases in general practice. Eurasian guidelines

Создание руководства поддержано Советом по терапевтическим наукам отделения клинической медицины Российской академии наук.

Use of drugs with pharmacogenomics (PGx)-based dosing guidelines in a Danish cohort of persons with chronic kidney disease, both on dialysis and not on dialysis: Perspectives for prescribing optimization

AIM

The objective of this registry study is to assess the utilization of pharmacogenomic (PGx) drugs among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

METHODS

This study was a retrospective study of patients affiliated with the Department of Nephrology, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark in 2021. Patients diagnosed with CKD were divided into CKD without dialysis and CKD with dialysis. PGx prescription drugs were retrieved from the Patient Administration System. Actionable dosing guidelines (AG) for specific drug-gene pairs for CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and SLCO1B1 were retrieved from the PharmGKB homepage.

RESULTS

Out of 1241 individuals, 25.5% were on dialysis. The median number of medications for each patient was 9 within the non-dialysis group and 16 within the dialysis group. Thirty-one distinct PGx drugs were prescribed. Altogether, 76.0% (943 individuals) were prescribed at least one PGx drug and the prevalence of prescriptions of PGx drugs was higher in the dialysis group compared to the non-dialysis group. The most frequently prescribed drugs with AG were metoprolol, pantoprazole, atorvastatin, simvastatin and warfarin.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that a substantial proportion of patients with CKD are exposed to drugs or drug combinations for which there exists AG related to PGx of CYP2D6, CYP2C19, CYP2C9 and SLCO1B1.

Differences in prescribing errors between electronic prescribing and traditional prescribing among medical students: A randomized pilot study

AIMS

This randomized controlled pilot study aimed to assess the differences in the frequency, type and severity of prescribing errors made by medical students when assessed in an electronic (e-)prescribing system compared to a traditional prescribing method (e.g., typing out a prescription).

METHODS

Fourth year medical students in the period of 1 November to 31 July 2023, were asked to participate in this single-centre prospective, randomized, controlled intervention study. Participants performed a prescribing assessment in either an e-prescribing system (intervention group) or in a more traditional prescribing platform (control group). The prescriptions were checked for errors, graded and categorized. Differences in prescribing errors, error categories and severity were analysed.

RESULTS

Out of 334 students, 84 participated in the study. Nearly all participants (98.8%) made 1 or more prescribing errors, primarily involving inadequate information errors. In the intervention group, more participants made prescribing errors involving the prescribed amount (71.4 vs. 19.0%; P < .01), but fewer involving administrative errors (2.4 vs. 19.0%; P = .03). Prescribing-method-specific errors were identified in 4.8 and 40.5% of the intervention and control group, respectively, with significant differences in overlapping errors as well.

CONCLUSION

This pilot study shows the importance of training e-prescribing competencies in medical curricula, in addition to traditional prescribing methods. It identifies prescribing-method-specific prescribing errors and emphasizes the need for further research to define e-prescribing competencies. Additionally, the need for an accessible real-life-like e-prescribing environment tailored to educators and students is essential for effective learning and incorporation of e-prescribing into medical curricula.

Prevalence of urgent hospitalizations caused by adverse drug reactions: a cross-sectional study

Adverse drug reactions account for a substantial portion of emergency hospital admissions. However, in the last decade, few studies have been conducted to determine the prevalence of hospitalization due to adverse drug reactions. Therefore, this cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the proportion of adverse drug reactions leading to emergency hospital admission and to evaluate the risk factors for these reactions. A total of 5707 consecutive patients aged > 18 years who were emergently hospitalized due to acute medical illnesses between June 2018 and May 2021 were included. Causality assessment for adverse drug reactions was performed by using the World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Centre criteria. The median patient age was 78 years (IQR 63-87), and the proportion of women was 47.9%. Among all the hospitalizations, 287 (5.0%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.5-5.6%) were caused by 368 adverse drug reactions. The risk factors independently associated with hospitalization due to adverse drug reactions were polypharmacy (OR 2.66), age ≥ 65 years (OR 2.00), and ambulance use (OR 1.41). Given that the population is rapidly aging worldwide, further efforts are needed to minimize hospitalizations caused by adverse drug reactions.

Drug-related hospitalizations - insights from the Czech Republic

Drug-related hospitalizations - insights from the Czech Republic Background and objective: Drug-related hospitalizations represent a significant burden on healthcare. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of drug-related hospitalizations and identify medications and clinical manifestations associated with drug-related hospitalizations in patients admitted to hospital through the emergency department.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study examined unplanned hospitalizations at the University Hospital Hradec Kralove through the Department of Emergency Medicine between August and November 2018. Data were obtained from electronic health records. The methodology for identifying drug-related hospitalizations was based on the guideline of the European project OPERAM. This article focuses on a subgroup of drug-related problems related to the medication safety.

RESULTS

Of the total 1252 hospitalizations analyzed, 145 cases were identified as drug-related. The prevalence of drug-related hospitalizations was 12% (95% confidence interval 10-13). In 62% of cases, medications only contributed to the cause of hospitalization. Antithrombotics, cytostatics, diuretics, and systemic corticosteroids were the most common medication classes leading to drug-related hospitalizations. Gastrointestinal bleeding was the most common cause of drug-related hospitalizations. The potential preventability of drug-related hospitalizations was 34%.

CONCLUSION

Drug-related hospitalizations remain relatively common, while some of them could be potentially prevented. Pharmacists can contribute to enhancing patient safety by detecting drug-related problems and proposing measures to minimize risks.

Time-dependent association between STOPP and START criteria and gastrointestinal bleeding in older patients using routinely collected primary care data

PURPOSE

Only few studies have assessed the preventive effect of the STOPP/START criteria on adverse events. We aim to quantify 1) the association between nonadherence to STOPP/START criteria and gastrointestinal bleedings, and 2) the association between exposure to the potentially harmful START-medications and gastrointestinal bleedings.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study using routinely collected data of patients aged ≥ 65 years from the electronic health records (EHR) of 49 general practitioners (GPs) in 6 GP practices, from 2007 to 2014. The database is maintained in the academic research network database (AHA) of Amsterdam UMC, the Netherlands.

METHODS

Gastrointestinal bleedings were identified using ICPC codes and free text inspections. Three STOPP and six START criteria pertaining to gastrointestinal bleedings were selected. Cox proportional hazards regression with time-dependent covariate analysis was performed to assess the independent association between nonadherence to the STOPP/START criteria and gastrointestinal bleedings. The analysis was performed with all criteria as a composite outcome, as well as separately for the individual criteria.

RESULTS

Out of 26,576 participants, we identified 19,070 Potential Inappropriate Medications (PIM)/Potential Prescribing Omission (PPO) instances for 3,193 participants and 146 gastrointestinal bleedings in 143 participants. The hazard ratio for gastrointestinal bleedings of STOPP/STARTs, taken as composite outcome, was 5.45 (95% CI 3.62-8.21). When analysed separately, two out of nine STOPP/STARTs showed significant associations.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates a significant positive association between nonadherence to the STOPP/START criteria and gastrointestinal bleeding. We emphasize the importance of adherence to the relevant criteria for gastrointestinal bleeding, which may be endorsed by decision support systems.

Representation of older patients in the safety analysis of protein kinase inhibitor registration studies

INTRODUCTION

Older patients (≥65 years old) make up the majority of the cancer population. Older patients seem to experience more adverse events (AEs) from protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs) in clinical practice. Yet they are underrepresented in clinical trials. We aimed to evaluate whether age-related safety differences were described at authorization of PKIs. Representation of older patients in registration studies was also evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

European Public Assessment Reports (EPARs) of PKIs authorized between 2010 and 2015 were evaluated for the description of age-related safety- and pharmacokinetic differences. The International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirement for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) E7 guideline was applied to EPARs to assess the representation of older patients. Study results were presented descriptively.

RESULTS

Eighteen PKIs with 19 EPARs were analyzed. Age-related safety differences were described in 14 out of 19 EPARs, and age-related pharmacokinetic differences in 1 out of 19 EPARs. More than 100 older patients were included in half of the studies. Older patients were not excluded solely by age, although other inclusion and exclusion criteria negatively influenced enrollment of older patients. None of the PKIs met all criteria from the ICH E7 guideline.

DISCUSSION

Age-related safety differences are described for most PKIs. Older patients were underrepresented in PKI registration studies. Adequate representation of older patients in clinical trials for PKIs is vital, since they make up most of the cancer population.

Insight into Risk Factors, Pharmacogenetics/Genomics, and Management of Adverse Drug Reactions in Elderly: A Narrative Review

The European Medicine Agency (EMA) has defined Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) as "a noxious and unintended response to a medicine", not including poisoning, accidental, or intentional overdoses. The ADR occurrence differs based on the approach adopted for defining and detecting them, the characteristics of the population under study, and the research setting. ADRs have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality, particularly among older adults, and represent a financial burden for health services. Between 30% and 60% of ADRs might be predictable and preventable, emerging as a result of inappropriate prescription, drug chemistry inherent toxicity, cell-specific drug toxicity, age- and sex-related anomalies in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME), and drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in combination therapies or when a patient is treated with different drugs for concomitant disorders. This is particularly important in chronic diseases which require long-term treatments. Rapid developments in pharmacogenetics/genomics have improved the understanding of ADRs accompanied by more accurate prescriptions and reduction in unnecessary costs. To alleviate the burden of ADRs, especially in the elderly, interventions focused on pharmaceutical principles, such as medication review and reconciliation, should be integrated into a broader assessment of patients' characteristics, needs, and health priorities. Digital health interventions could offer valuable solutions to assist healthcare professionals in identifying inappropriate prescriptions and promoting patient adherence to pharmacotherapies.

A Multi-method Exploratory Evaluation of a Service Designed to Improve Medication Safety for Patients with Monitored Dosage Systems Following Hospital Discharge

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Medication safety problems are common post-hospital discharge, and an important global healthcare improvement target. The Transfers of Care Around Medicines (TCAM) service was launched by a National Health Service Trust in the North-West of England, initially focusing on patients with new or existing Monitored Dosage Systems (MDS). The TCAM service is designed to enable the prompt transfer of medication information, with referrals made by hospitals at discharge to a named community pharmacy. This study aimed to explore the utilisation and impact of the TCAM service on medication safety.

METHODS

The evaluation included a descriptive analysis of 3033 anonymised patient referrals to 71 community pharmacies over a 1-year period alongside an assessment of the impact of the TCAM service on unintentional medication discrepancies and adverse drug events using a retrospective before-and-after study design. Impact data were collected across 18 general practices by 16 trained clinical pharmacists.

RESULTS

Most patient referrals (70%, 2126/3033) were marked as 'completed' by community pharmacies, with 15% of completed referrals delayed beyond 30 days. Screening of 411 patient records by clinical pharmacists yielded no statistically significant difference in unintentional medication discrepancies or adverse drug event rates following TCAM implementation using a multivariable regression analysis (unintentional medication discrepancies adjusted odds ratio = 0.79 [95% confidence interval 0.44-1.44, p = 0.46]; and adverse drug events adjusted odds ratio = 1.19 [95% confidence interval 0.57-2.45, p = 0.63]), although there remained considerable uncertainty.

CONCLUSIONS

The TCAM service facilitated a number of community pharmacy services offered to patients with monitored dosage systems; but the impact of the intervention on unintentional medication discrepancies and adverse drug event rates post-hospital discharge for this patient group was uncertain. The results of this exploratory study can inform the ongoing implementation of the TCAM service at hospital discharge and highlight the need to understand service implementation in different contexts, which may influence its impact on medication safety.

Potentially inappropriate medications among elderly people with neurocognitive disorders - A nationwide register-based study using 3 different explicit criteria

BACKGROUND

The use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) is a problem since it might contribute significantly to adverse drug reactions and hospital admissions among elderly with major neurocognitive disorder (NCD). To assess the appropriateness of drug treatment, different explicit criteria have been developed.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate and compare the prevalence of PIM users among elderly with major NCD on a nationwide basis using 3 different explicit criteria. Furthermore, the study aimed to investigate factors associated with the use of PIMs.

METHODS

This nationwide register-based study included 35,212 people, 65 years or older, diagnosed with major NCD and registered in the Swedish registry for cognitive/dementia disorders up to June 30, 2017 and alive December 31, 2017. PIMs were identified using 3 different explicit criteria; the Swedish quality indicators, the EU(7)-PIM list and the AGS Beers Criteria. PIM use was defined as having collected a minimum of one PIM at least once between July 01 - December 31, 2017.

RESULTS

The numbers of people using one or more PIMs were 7629 (21.7%) according to the Swedish quality indicators, 11,838 (33.6%) according to the EU(7)-PIM list, and 12,002 (34.1%) according to AGS Beers Criteria. Antipsychotics, antithrombotic agents and anxiolytics were the most frequently used PIM class according to the different assessment tools, respectively. The use of PIMs was positively associated with vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia/Parkinson's disease dementia, regardless of the assessment tool used. However, the association between using at least one PIM and age, sex, MMT-value and frontotemporal dementia, differed depending on the criteria used.

CONCLUSIONS

The different results and included PIMs indicate the different perspectives on PIMs between criteria, which make it difficult to compare the results. However, psychotropic drug use requires further highlighting, as well as the association between PIM use and different types of major NCD.

Evaluation of a multifaceted medication review in older patients in the outpatient setting: a before-and-after study

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of medication-related emergency department visits and acute hospital admissions in older patients is rising due to the ageing of the population and increasing prevalence of multimorbidity and associated polypharmacy.

AIM

To explore whether a combined medication review performed in the outpatient setting reduces the number of medication-related emergency department visits and hospital (re)admissions.

METHOD

All consecutive patients visiting the geriatric outpatient clinic underwent a multifaceted medication review (i.e. evaluation by at least a geriatrician, and/or pharmacist and use of clinical decision support system). Subsequently, we analysed the number of, and reason for, emergency department visits, acute hospital admissions and readmissions in the year prior to and the year following the index-date (date of first presentation and medication review).

RESULTS

A multifaceted medication review reduced the number of potentially medication-related emergency department visits (38.9% vs. 19.6%, p < 0.01), although the total number of ED visits or acute hospital admissions per patient in the year before and after medication review did not differ.

CONCLUSION

A multifaceted medication review performed in the outpatient clinic reduced the number of potentially medication-related emergency department visits and could therefore reduce negative health outcomes and healthcare costs.

Reporting Antimicrobial-Related Adverse Drug Events in Jordan: An Analysis from the VigiBase Database

This study aims to assess the reporting of antimicrobial-related adverse drug events (ADEs) in Jordan between 2003 and 2022. Data regarding the antimicrobial-related ADEs were extracted from the WHO's global database (VigiBase) by the Rational Drug Use and Pharmacovigilance Department at the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA). A total of 279 Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSRs) were recorded. The number of ICSRs increased from 2019 onwards (219 out of 279 cases). This increase in the reported ADEs was influenced by the actions of the JFDA, including the introduction of electronic reporting forms, updating the national pharmacovigilance guidelines, which encouraged adverse drug reactions reporting, the implementation of the AMR-national action plan, the encouragement to report due to COVID-19 vaccine, and the continuous awareness campaigns and training programs. Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders (n = 105; 19.48%) were the most reported antimicrobial-related ADEs. The highest number of ADEs was reported for tetracyclines (n = 101; 18.74%) followed by fluoroquinolones (n = 54; 10.02%), third-generation cephalosporines (n = 48; 8.9%), and carbapenems (n = 42; 7.79%). From the top 10 consumed antibiotics, the number of ADEs in patients who consumed Watch group antibiotics (97 ADEs) was higher than those who consumed Access group antibiotics (28 ADEs). The findings highlight the need to monitor and rationalize the use of Watch antibiotics. Enhanced reporting of antimicrobial-related adverse drug reactions is needed to inform antimicrobial stewardship and improve the pharmacovigilance system in Jordan.

The impact of medication reconciliation and review in patients using oral chemotherapy

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Verifying and reviewing a patients medication list can detect and reduce drug related problems (DRPs). However little is known about its effects in patients using oral chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of these interventions and the adapted Medication Appropriateness Index (aMAI) as a tool to carry out a medication review.

METHODS

A case-control study was carried out. The hospital pharmacist performed a medication reconciliation and medication review, using the aMAI tool, in 54 patients starting oral chemotherapy. Discrepancies, DRP's and associated pharmaceutical interventions were reported via the electronic patient record (EPR). After one month, the acceptance rate was measured and the aMAI score recalculated. Kappa statistics were used to test intra- and interrater reliability.

RESULTS

The medication list in the EPR was incomplete in 74,1% of patients with an average of 2.4 errors per patient. After medication review, the aMAI score decreased significantly from 7.2 to 5.4 (SD  =  4,7; p <0.001), indicating an improvement in the appropriateness of the drugs patients were taking. Acceptance rates were 41,4% and 53,2% for advices resulting from medication reconciliation and medication review respectively. Kappa values of 0.90 and 0.70 respectively indicate good intra- and interrater reliability.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The study shows that medication reconciliation can identify and address discrepancies. Furthermore, medication review seems to ensure that drug treatment better meets patient needs. The aMAI was a reliable tool. Future research will have to determine the clinical relevance of these interventions.

Specialty-type and state-level variation in paroxetine use among older adult patients

Introduction

Paroxetine is an older "selective" serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that is notable for its lack of selectivity, resulting in a cholinergic adverse-effect profile, especially among older adults (65+).

Methods

Paroxetine prescription rates and costs per state were ascertained from the Medicare Specialty Utilization and Payment Data. States' annual prescription rate, corrected per thousand Part D enrollees, outside 95% confidence interval were considered significantly different from the average.

Results

There was a steady decrease in paroxetine prescriptions (-34.52%) and spending (-16.69%) from 2015-2020 but a consistent, five-fold state-level difference. From 2015-2020, Kentucky (194.9, 195.3, 182.7, 165.1, 143.3, 132.5) showed significantly higher prescriptions rates relative to the national average, and Hawaii (42.1, 37.9, 34.3, 31.7, 27.7, 26.6) showed significantly lower prescription rates. North Dakota was often a frequent elevated prescriber of paroxetine (2016: 170.7, 2018: 143.3), relative to the average. Neuropsychiatry and geriatric medicine frequently prescribed the largest amount of paroxetine prescriptions, relative to the number of providers in that specialty, from 2015-2020.

Discussion

Despite the American Geriatrics Society prohibition against paroxetine use in the older adults and many effective treatment alternatives, paroxetine was still commonly used in this population, especially in Kentucky and North Dakota and by neuropsychiatry and geriatric medicine. These findings provide information on the specialty types and states where education and policy reform would likely have the greatest impact on improving adherence to the paroxetine prescription recommendations.

Analysis of electronic health records from three distinct and large populations reveals high prevalence and biases in the co-administration of drugs known to interact

The co-administration of drugs known to interact has a high impact on morbidity, mortality, and health economics. We study the drug-drug interaction (DDI) phenomenon by analyzing drug administrations from population-wide Electronic Health Records (EHR) in Blumenau (Brazil), Catalonia (Spain), and Indianapolis (USA). Despite very different health care systems and drug availability, we find a common large risk of DDI administration that affected 13 to 20% of patients in these populations. In addition, the increasing risk of DDI as patients age is very similar across all three populations but is not explained solely by higher co-administration rates in the elderly. We also find that women are at higher risk of DDI overall- except for men over 50 years old in Indianapolis. Finally, we show that PPI alternatives to Omeprazole can reduce the number of patients affected by known DDIs by up to 21% in both Blumenau and Catalonia, and 2% in Indianapolis, exemplifying how analysis of EHR data can lead to a significant reduction of DDI and its associated human and economic costs. Although the risk of DDIs increases with age, administration patterns point to a complex phenomenon that cannot be solely explained by polypharmacy and multimorbidity. The lack of safer drug alternatives, particularly for chronic conditions, further overburdens health systems, thus highlighting the need for disruptive drug research.

Which Adverse Events and Which Drugs Are Implicated in Drug-Related Hospital Admissions? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Adverse drug events (ADEs) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are leading causes of iatrogenic injury, which can result in emergency department (ED) visits or admissions to inpatient wards. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide up-to-date estimates of the prevalence of (preventable) drug-related ED visits and hospital admissions, as well as the type and prevalence of implicated ADRs/ADEs and drugs. A literature search of studies published between January 2012 and December 2021 was performed in PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Retrospective and prospective observational studies investigating acute admissions to EDs or inpatient wards due to ADRs or ADEs in the general population were included. Meta-analyses of prevalence rates were conducted using generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) with the random-effect method. Seventeen studies reporting ADRs and/or ADEs were eligible for inclusion. The prevalence rates of ADR- and ADE-related admissions to EDs or inpatient wards were estimated at 8.3% ([95% CI, 6.4-10.7%]) and 13.9% ([95% CI, 8.1-22.8%]), respectively, of which almost half (ADRs: 44.7% [95% CI: 28.1; 62.4]) and more than two thirds (ADEs: 71.0% [95% CI, 65.9-75.6%]) had been classified as at least possibly preventable. The ADR categories most frequently implicated in ADR-related admissions were gastrointestinal disorders, electrolyte disturbances, bleeding events, and renal and urinary disorders. Nervous system drugs were found to be the most commonly implicated drug groups, followed by cardiovascular and antithrombotic agents. Our findings demonstrate that ADR-related admissions to EDs and inpatient wards still represent a major and often preventable health care problem. In comparison to previous systematic reviews, cardiovascular and antithrombotic drugs remain common causes of drug-related admissions, while nervous system drugs appear to have become more commonly implicated. These developments may be considered in future efforts to improve medication safety in primary care.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of the Hospital and Community Pharmacists in Saudi Arabia (Jeddah) towards Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults

In Saudi Arabia, the older adult population is growing and is projected to increase three-fold by 2030. Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are harmful to older adults' and have a direct impact on clinical, health and economic outcomes. Pharmacists have a vital role in medication tailoring for older adults as multidisciplinary team members. However, there is also a paucity of research regarding pharmacists' participation in detecting and avoiding PIMs use among older adults in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional, self-administered survey was conducted to assess the knowledge, practices, and attitude of pharmacists from seven hospitals and ten community pharmacies in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The survey comprised three sections; (i) identifying participants' general characteristics, (ii) assessing their knowledge of PIMs use in older adults and (iii) examining the pharmacist's attitude towards the procedures followed in dispensing for older adults. Inferential and descriptive statistics were used to analyse the survey data. A total of 157 community and hospital pharmacists participated in this study. Most of them dispensed medication weekly to older adults (85.4%), and 43.3% had relevant work experience of six to ten years. Though 44.6% of the participants were aware of PIMs that older adults should avoid, only 10.8% claimed adequate knowledge about PIMs. From the given three clinical case scenarios, a minority of pharmacists (21.7%) chose the correct answers, with a mean score of 2.38 ± 2.91 (95% CI 2.35-3.15). Participants who claimed to have knowledge of PIMs had a significantly higher mean score than those who did not, 4.59 ± 2.81 25 (95% CI 2.35-2.61). A minority of the pharmacists (14.7%) used screening tools such as STOPP, Beers criteria, or Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI) to detect PIMs in older adults. No statistically significant differences were detected when comparing the levels of knowledge of pharmacists with 1 to 5 years of practice to pharmacists with 6 to 15 and more years of experience (p = 0.431). Pharmacists' knowledge, attitude and practices toward PIMs use in older adults in Saudi Arabia should be improved. The application of PIMs detection tools such as STOPP/START or Beers criteria currently has no place in day-to-day pharmacists' roles in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, concerned stakeholders should develop educational programs to improve pharmacists' knowledge of PIMs and promote the effective use of PIM screening tools such as Beers and STOPP criteria in their practice.

Analysis of the nature and contributory factors of medication safety incidents following hospital discharge using National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) data from England and Wales: a multi-method study

Introduction

Improving medication safety during transition of care is an international healthcare priority. While existing research reveals that medication-related incidents and associated harms may be common following hospital discharge, there is limited information about their nature and contributory factors at a national level which is crucial to inform improvement strategy.

Aim

To characterise the nature and contributory factors of medication-related incidents during transition of care from secondary to primary care.

Method

A retrospective analysis of medication incidents reported to the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) in England and Wales between 2015 and 2019. Descriptive analysis identified the frequency and nature of incidents and content analysis of free text data, coded using the Patient Safety Research Group (PISA) classification, examined the contributory factors and outcome of incidents.

Results

A total of 1121 medication-related incident reports underwent analysis. Most incidents involved patients over 65 years old (55%, n = 626/1121). More than one in 10 (12.6%, n = 142/1121) incidents were associated with patient harm. The drug monitoring (17%) and administration stages (15%) were associated with a higher proportion of harmful incidents than any other drug use stages. Common medication classes associated with incidents were the cardiovascular (n = 734) and central nervous (n = 273) systems. Among 408 incidents reporting 467 contributory factors, the most common contributory factors were organisation factors (82%, n = 383/467) (mostly related to continuity of care which is the delivery of a seamless service through integration, co-ordination, and the sharing of information between different providers), followed by staff factors (16%, n = 75/467).

Conclusion

Medication incidents after hospital discharge are associated with patient harm. Several targets were identified for future research that could support the development of remedial interventions, including commonly observed medication classes, older adults, increase patient engagement, and improve shared care agreement for medication monitoring post hospital discharge.

Plain language summary

Study using reports about unsafe or substandard care mainly written by healthcare professionals to better understand the type and causes of medication safety problems following hospital discharge Why was the study done? The safe use of medicines after hospital discharge has been highlighted by the World Health Organization as an important target for improvement in patient care. Yet, the type of medication problems which occur, and their causes are poorly understood across England and Wales, which may hamper our efforts to create ways to improve care as they may not be based on what we know causes the problem in the first place.What did the researchers do? The research team studied medication safety incident reports collected across England and Wales over a 5-year period to better understand what kind of medication safety problems occur after hospital discharge and why they happen, so we can find ways to prevent them from happening in future.What did the researchers find? The total number of incident reports studied was 1121, and the majority (n = 626) involved older people. More than one in ten of these incidents caused harm to patients. The most common medications involved in the medication safety incidents were for cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, conditions such as mental illness, pain and neurological conditions (e.g., epilepsy) and other illnesses such as diabetes. The most common causes of these incidents were because of the organisation rules, such as information sharing, followed by staff issues, such as not following protocols, individual mistakes and not having the right skills for the task.What do the findings mean? This study has identified some important targets that can be a focus of future efforts to improve the safe use of medicines after hospital discharge. These include concentrating attention on medication for the cardiovascular and central nervous systems (e.g., via incorporating them in prescribing safety indicators and pharmaceutical prioritisation tools), staff skill mix (e.g., embedding clinical pharmacist roles at key parts of the care pathway where greatest risk is suspected), and implementation of electronic interventions to improve timely communication of medication and other information between healthcare providers.

Incidence and preventability of hospital admissions for adverse drug reactions in France: A prospective observational study (IATROSTAT)

AIMS

In the last French study in 2007, the incidence of hospital admissions (HAs) related to adverse drug reactions (ADRs) was 3.6%. The objective was to assess the current ADR-HA incidence in France and to describe both its characteristics and preventability.

METHODS

A prospective multicentre study was conducted among randomly selected French public hospital medical wards (April-July 2018). Patients admitted during a week period were included. ADR-HA cases were collected by the French Regional Pharmacovigilance Centres network. An independent committee validated potential cases and ADR preventability.

RESULTS

ADR-HA incidence was 8.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.6-9.4%), increasing with age (3.3% [95%CI: 1.8-5.5%] ≤16 y vs. 10.6% [95%CI: 9.3-12.0%] ≥65 y). The most common ADRs were haemorrhagic events (8.8%), haematological disorders (6.5%), acute renal failure (6.3%), fluid and electrolyte disorders (6.0%), and falls (5.2%). New drugs were involved: targeted therapies (22.8% of antineoplastics), direct oral anticoagulants (29.6% of antithrombotics) and incretin-based drugs (20.0% of antidiabetics). ADRs were preventable in 16.1% of cases because the drugs involved had not been used in accordance with monographies, package leaflets or other therapeutic guidelines. The main situations of noncompliance addressed either dose or duration of use (27.9%), warning (23.2%), use precaution (18.6%) and inappropriate self-medication or misuse by patients (11.6%).

CONCLUSION

In France, ADR-HA incidence dramatically increased over the last decade. A significant proportion was related to new pharmacological classes and considered as preventable. These findings should lead to in-depth thought on preventive actions on at-risk drug classes.

Impact of suspected adverse drug reactions on mortality and length of hospital stay in the hospitalised patients: a meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To estimate the risk of mortality and length of stay in hospitalised patients who have experienced suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) as compared to patients who did not experience suspected ADRs.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted on databases for observational and randomised controlled studies conducted in any inpatient setting that reported deaths and/or length of hospital stay in patients who had suspected ADRs and did not have suspected ADRs during hospitalisation. PRISMA guidelines were strictly followed during the review. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using a tool designed by Smyth et al. for the studies of adverse drug reactions. The meta-analytic summary of all-cause mortality was estimated using odds ratio-OR (95% CI) and length of stay using mean difference-MD (95% CI). Both outcomes were pooled using a random effect model (DerSimonian and Laird method). Subgroup and meta-regression were performed based on study variables: study design, age group, study ward, study region, types of suspected ADRs (ADRAd-suspected ADRs that lead to hospitalisation and ADRIn-suspected ADRs that occur following hospitalisation), study duration, sample size and study period. The statistical analysis was conducted through the 'Review manager software version 5.4.1 and JASP (Version 0.14.1)'.

RESULTS

After screening 475 relevant articles, 55 studies were included in this meta-analysis. Patients having suspected ADRs had reported significantly higher odds of all-cause mortality [OR: 1.50 (95% CI: 1.21-1.86; I2 = 100%) than those patients who did not have suspected ADRs during hospitalisation. Study wards, types of suspected ADRs and sample size were observed as significant predictors of all-cause mortality (p < 0.05). Patients having suspected ADRs had reported significantly higher mean difference in hospital stay [MD: 3.98 (95% CI: 2.91, 5.05; I2 = 99%) than those patients who did not have suspected ADRs during hospitalisation. Types of suspected ADRs and study periods were observed as significant predictors of length of stay (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Suspected ADRs significantly increase the risk of mortality and length of stay in hospitalised patients.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

CRD42020176320.

A novel strategy to optimize critical information on over the counter labels for older adults

Background and Aims

Labels designed to communicate critical information are paramount for the safe and effective use of over-the-counter medications; in recognition of this, the content and formatting of over the counter (OTC) labels sold in interstate commerce has been regulated for decades. Yet, available studies suggest that consumers frequently rely on limited information during decision making, failing to access the information required in the Drug Facts Label. This is particularly important for older consumers, who are at greater risk for adverse reactions to medicines. In two experiments we objectively evaluate how novel label designs that employ highlighting and a warning label placed on the package's front impact older consumers' attention to, and use of, critical information.

Methods

In Experiment 1, 68 OTC patients (65+) engaged with a computer-based task answering yes/no scenario-based questions about a drug's appropriateness. In Experiment 2, 63 OTC patients (65+) conducted a forced-choice task where one of two drugs presented on a computer screen was appropriate for a provided scenario while the other was not. Both tasks required participants to access and use critical label information (i.e., warnings or active ingredients) to respond correctly. Dependent variables analyzed were the proportion of correct responses and time to correct response.

Results

Highlighting or placing critical information on the front of the package significantly improved response accuracy and time to correct response in Experiment 1 as compared to responses utilizing the standard label. For Experiment 2, participants were faster and more accurate when critical information was highlighted.

Conclusions

Results provide direct measures of the efficacy of novel labeling strategies. This information is relevant for regulations which dictate label design in ways that enhance ease and safety of use of medications for older adults.

Exploring the prevalence and characteristics of adverse drug events among older adults in South Korea using a national health insurance database

Background: Adverse drug events (ADEs) in the elderly frequently occur because of their multiple chronic diseases and complexity of drug therapy. To better understand adverse drug events, the prevalence and characteristics of adverse drug events in elderly South Korean patients were assessed.

Methods: The National Health Insurance databases for 2015 and 2016 were used for the analysis. We included patients aged ≥65 years that had at least one claim with the diagnosis codes ‘drug-induced,’ ‘poisoning by drug,’ and ‘vaccine-associated’ each year for the base-case analysis. To minimize the underestimation of adverse drug event prevalence, we also used an extended definition analysis by adding the ‘adverse drug event very likely’ codes. We estimated the prevalence of adverse drug events by sex, age group, and type of insurance and examined the frequent types of adverse drug events in 2015 and 2016.

Results: In the base-case analysis, adverse drug event prevalence in individuals aged 65 years and older was 2.75% in 2015 and 2.77% in 2016. With advanced age, the prevalence of adverse drug event tended to increase, peaking in the age group of 75–79 years. In addition, the adverse drug event prevalence was higher in females and Medical Aid enrollees. The most frequently occurring adverse drug event was ‘allergy, unspecified,’ followed by ‘other drug-induced secondary parkinsonism,’ and ‘generalized skin eruption due to drugs and medicaments.’ When we examined the extended definition analysis, the prevalence of adverse drug events was 4.47% in 2015 and 4.52% in 2016, which significantly increased from those estimated in the base-case analysis.

Conclusion: Among the older adults, the prevalence of adverse drug event was higher in advanced age, females, and Medical Aid enrollees. In particular, allergy and drug-induced secondary parkinsonism frequently occurred. This study provides evidence that health policies addressing the prevention and management of adverse drug events should be a priority for the most vulnerable elderly patients.

Detectability of Medication Errors With a STOPP/START-Based Medication Review in Older People Prior to a Potentially Preventable Drug-Related Hospital Admission

INTRODUCTION

Multimorbidity and polypharmacy are risk factors for drug-related hospital admissions (DRAs) in the ageing population. DRAs caused by medication errors (MEs) are considered potentially preventable. The STOPP/START criteria were developed to detect potential MEs in older people.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the detectability of MEs with a STOPP/START-based in-hospital medication review in older people with polypharmacy and multimorbidity prior to a potentially preventable DRA.

METHODS

Hospitalised older patients (n = 963) with polypharmacy and multimorbidity from the intervention arm of the OPERAM trial received a STOPP/START-based in-hospital medication review by a pharmacotherapy team. Readmissions within 1 year after the in-hospital medication review were adjudicated for drug-relatedness. A retrospective assessment was performed to determine whether MEs identified at the first DRA were detectable during the in-hospital medication review.

RESULTS

In total, 84 of 963 OPERAM intervention patients (8.7%) were readmitted with a potentially preventable DRA, of which 72 patients (n = 77 MEs) were eligible for analysis. About half (48%, n = 37/77) of the MEs were not present during the in-hospital medication review and therefore were not detectable at that time. The pharmacotherapy team recommended a change in medication regimen in 50% (n = 20/40) of present MEs, which corresponds to 26% (n = 20/77) of the total identified MEs at readmission. However, these recommendations were not implemented.

CONCLUSION

MEs identified at readmission were not addressed by a prior single in-hospital medication review because either these MEs occurred after the medication review (~50%), or no recommendation was given during the medication review (~25%), or the recommendation was not implemented (~25%). Future research should focus on optimisation of the timing and frequency of medication review and the implementation of proposed medication recommendations.

REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02986425. December 8, 2016.

FUNDING

European Union HORIZON 2020, Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).

Implementation of a medicine management plan (MMP) to reduce medication-related harm (MRH) in older people post-hospital discharge: a randomised controlled trial

Background

Medication-related harm (MRH) is an escalating global challenge especially among older adults. The period following hospital discharge carries high-risk for MRH due to medication discrepancies, limited patient/carer education and support, and poor communication between hospital and community professionals. Discharge Medical Service (DMS), a newly introduced NHS scheme, aims to reduce post-discharge MRH through an electronic communication between hospital and community pharmacists. Our study team has previously developed a risk-prediction tool (RPT) for MRH in the 8-weeks period post discharge from a UK hospital cohort of 1280 patients. In this study, we aim to find out if a Medicines Management Plan (MMP) linked to the DMS is more effective than the DMS alone in reducing rates of MRH.

Method

Using a randomized control trial design, 682 older adults ≥ 65 years due to be discharged from hospital will be recruited from 4 sites. Participants will be randomized to an intervention arm (individualised medicine management plan (MMP) plus DMS) or a control arm (DMS only) using a 1:1 ratio stratification. Baseline data will include patients’ clinical and social demographics, and admission and discharge medications. At 8-weeks post-discharge, a telephone interview and review of GP records by the study pharmacist will verify MRH in both arms. An economic and process evaluation will assess the cost and acceptability of the study methods.

Data analysis

Univariate analysis will be done for baseline variables comparing the intervention and control arms. A multivariate logistic regression will be done incorporating these variables. Economic evaluation will compare the cost-of-service use among the study arms and modelled to provide national estimates. Qualitative data from focus-group interviews will explore practitioners’ understanding, and acceptance of the MMP, DMS and the RPT.

Conclusion

This study will inform the use of an objective, validated RPT for MRH among older adults after hospital discharge, and provide a clinical, economic, and service evaluation of a specific medicines management plan alongside the DMS in the National Health Service (UK).

Interdisciplinary collaboration across secondary and primary care to improve medication safety in the elderly (The IMMENSE study) - a randomized controlled trial

Background

Suboptimal medication use contributes to a substantial proportion of hospitalizations and emergency department visits in older adults. We designed a clinical pharmacist intervention to optimize medication therapy in older hospitalized patients. Based on the integrated medicine management (IMM) model, the 5-step IMMENSE intervention comprise medication reconciliation, medication review, reconciled medication list upon discharge, patient counselling, and post discharge communication with primary care. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the intervention on healthcare use and mortality.

Methods

A non-blinded parallel group randomized controlled trial was conducted in two internal medicine wards at the University Hospital of North Norway. Acutely admitted patients ≥ 70 years were randomized 1:1 to intervention or standard care (control). The primary outcome was the rate of emergency medical visits (readmissions and emergency department visits) 12 months after discharge.

Results

Of the 1510 patients assessed for eligibility, 662 patients were asked to participate, and 516 were enrolled. After withdrawal of consent and deaths in hospital, the modified intention-to-treat population comprised 480 patients with a mean age of 83.1 years (SD: 6.3); 244 intervention patients and 236 control patients. The number of emergency medical visits in the intervention and control group was 497 and 499, respectively, and no statistically significant difference was observed in rate of the primary outcome between the groups [adjusted incidence rate ratio of 1.02 (95% CI: 0.82–1.27)]. No statistically significant differences between groups were observed for any of the secondary outcomes, neither in subgroups, nor for the per-protocol population.

Conclusions

We did not observe any statistical significant effects of the IMMENSE intervention on the rate of emergency medical visits or any other secondary outcomes after 12 months in hospitalized older adults included in this study.

Trial registration

The trial was registered in clinicaltrials.gov on 28/06/2016, before enrolment started (NCT02816086).

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-022-08648-1.

Safety of Mexidol® (ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate) in adult patients of different age groups

To reduce the risk of developing adverse events (AEs) and increase the adherence of elderly patients to treatment, it is recommended to limit maximally the total number of prescribed drugs (DR), using one drug for the treatment of two or more pathologies if possible. The drugs that meet the criteria for use in elderly patients and / or patients with comorbidity include the original Russian drug Mexidol® (ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate), which has a multimodal mechanism of action and has multiple pharmacological effects. In order to study the safety of Mexidol in comparison with placebo in different age groups of patients with chronic cerebral ischemia, a post hoc analysis of the international multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled MEMO study with an adaptive design was carried out, which assessed the efficacy and safety of sequential therapy with Mexidol®, a solution for intravenous and intramuscular injection, 50 mg/ml (NPK PHARMASOFT, Russia) and Mexidol® FORTE 250 film-coated tablets, 250 mg (NPK PHARMASOFT, Russia) in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia. The study involved 318 patients aged from 40 to 90 years.

Comparable safety and tolerability of Mexidol was demonstrated in middle-aged and elderly people with chronic cerebral ischemia, including patients over 75 years of age. 

[Deaths from adverse drug events in Brazil: Mortality Information System as a source of information]

Adverse drug events (ADEs) are harmful events caused by medication, and some of which can lead to death. Death records are an important source of information when using codes from the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) suggestive of ADE. This study aimed to identify the ADEs registered in Brazililian Mortality Information System (SIM), analyzing data distribution by year, age group, and type of event. This is an ecological study with retrospective data collection, identifying ADEs in the SIM, using the ICD-10 codes. The study included deaths that occurred in Brazil from 2008 to 2016. An increase in the number of deaths associated with ADE was observed from 2008 to 2016, with a mortality rate per 1 million inhabitants ranging from 8.70 to 14.40 in the period. Most events corresponded to mental and behavioral disorders due to the use of psychotropic drugs. Most deaths (12,311) related to ADE codes were identified in several chapters of the ICD-10. Chapter XX, about adverse events, allowed the identification of a smaller number of deaths (4,893). Higher event rates were observed among individuals aged 60 years and over (39.8/1 million) and children younger than one year (22.0/1 million). The identification of ADE-related deaths on the SIM is an important strategy for addressing undesirable drug-related events. Deaths related to the use of psychotropic drugs were the most frequent ADE-related deaths and the elderly were the age group most affected by ADEs.

Pharmacist-led medication reviews in primary healthcare for adult community-dwelling patients – a descriptive study charting a new target group

Background

Medication treatment can reduce morbidity but can also cause drug-related problems (DRPs). One method to identify and solve DRPs is medication reviews (MRs) that are aimed at increased patient safety and quality in drug treatment. In Skåne county, Sweden, a well-established multi-professional model for MRs in nursing homes is practiced. However, a demand for MRs regarding community-dwelling patients has emerged. These patients may be extra vulnerable since they have less supervision from healthcare personnel.

AIM: To describe the community-dwelling patients in primary healthcare considered in need of an MR, as well as the outcomes of these pharmacist-led MRs.

Methods

Personnel from 14 primary healthcare centers selected patients for the MRs. Based on electronic medical records, the symptom assessment tool PHASE-20 (PHArmacotherapeutical Symptom Evaluation 20 questions) and medication lists, pharmacists conducted MRs and communicated adjustment suggestions via the medical record to the general practitioners (GPs).

Results

A total of 109 patients were included in the study and 90.8% (n = 99) of the patients were exposed to at least one DRP, with an average of 3.9 DRPs per patient. Patients with impaired renal function (glomerular filtration rate, GFR < 45 ml/min) or ≥ 10 medications were exposed to a significantly higher number of DRPs per patient, 5.1 DRP and 5.3 respectively. The most frequent DRP-categories were Unnecessary drug therapy and Adverse drug reaction, which represented 23.0% respectively 22.9% of the total amount of DRPs.

Conclusions

Our results indicate a prioritized need for MRs for community-dwelling patients, specifically with impaired renal function or polypharmacy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12875-022-01849-x.

OntoPharma: ontology based clinical decision support system to reduce medication prescribing errors

Background

Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) have been shown to reduce medication errors. However, they are underused because of different challenges. One approach to improve CDSS is to use ontologies instead of relational databases. The primary aim was to design and develop OntoPharma, an ontology based CDSS to reduce medication prescribing errors. Secondary aim was to implement OntoPharma in a hospital setting.

Methods

A four-step process was proposed. (1) Defining the ontology domain. The ontology scope was the medication domain. An advisory board selected four use cases: maximum dosage alert, drug-drug interaction checker, renal failure adjustment, and drug allergy checker. (2) Implementing the ontology in a formal representation. The implementation was conducted by Medical Informatics specialists and Clinical Pharmacists using Protégé-OWL. (3) Developing an ontology-driven alert module. Computerised Physician Order Entry (CPOE) integration was performed through a REST API. SPARQL was used to query ontologies. (4) Implementing OntoPharma in a hospital setting. Alerts generated between July 2020/ November 2021 were analysed.

Results

The three ontologies developed included 34,938 classes, 16,672 individuals and 82 properties. The domains addressed by ontologies were identification data of medicinal products, appropriateness drug data, and local concepts from CPOE. When a medication prescribing error is identified an alert is shown. OntoPharma generated 823 alerts in 1046 patients. 401 (48.7%) of them were accepted.

Conclusions

OntoPharma is an ontology based CDSS implemented in clinical practice which generates alerts when a prescribing medication error is identified. To gain user acceptance OntoPharma has been designed and developed by a multidisciplinary team. Compared to CDSS based on relational databases, OntoPharma represents medication knowledge in a more intuitive, extensible and maintainable manner.

Pharmacist-led medication reconciliation at patient discharge: a tool to reduce healthcare utilization? an observational study in patients 65 years or older

Background

Older patients often experience adverse drug events (ADEs) after discharge that may lead to unplanned readmission. Medication Reconciliation (MR) reduces medication errors that lead to ADEs, but results on healthcare utilization are still controversial. This study aimed to assess the effect of MR at discharge (MRd) provided to patients aged over 65 on their unplanned rehospitalization within 30 days and on both patients’ experience of discharge and their knowledge of their medication.

Methods

An observational multicenter prospective study was conducted in 5 hospitals in Brittany, France.

Results

Patients who received both MR on admission (MRa) and MRd did not have significantly fewer deaths, unplanned rehospitalizations and/or emergency visits related to ADEs (OR = 1.6 [0.7 to 3.6]) or whatever the cause (p = 0.960) 30 days after discharge than patients receiving MRa alone. However, patients receiving both MRa and MRd were more likely to feel that their discharge from the hospital was well organized (p = 0.003) and reported more frequently that their community pharmacist received information about their hospital stay (p = 0.036).

Conclusions

This study found no effect of MRd on healthcare utilization 30 days after discharge in patients over 65, but the process improved patients’ experiences of care continuity. Further studies are needed to better understand this positive impact on their drug care pathway in order to improve patients’ ownership of their drugs, which is still insufficient. Improving both the interview step between pharmacist and patient before discharge and the transmission of information from the hospital to primary care professionals is needed to enhance MR effectiveness.

Trial registration

NCT04018781 July 15, 2019.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-03192-3.

A Prescribing Cascade of Proton Pump Inhibitors Following Anticholinergic Medications in Older Adults With Dementia

Introduction: Prescribing cascade refers to use of a medication to treat a drug-related adverse event. Prescribing cascades increase medication use, cost, and risk of adverse events.

Objective: Our objective was to use administrative health data to identify whether use of medications from the anticholinergic cognitive burden scale was associated with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescribing consistent with a prescribing cascade in older adults with dementia.

Method: The cohort was comprised of Nova Scotia Seniors’ Pharmacare beneficiaries identified to have dementia and medication dispensation data recorded between 1 April 2010, or cohort entry and 31 March 2015. Anticholinergic medications from the anticholinergic cognitive burden scale (ACB) were abstracted. A look back period of 365 days identified if a PPI had been dispensed preceding anticholinergic dispensation. PPI initiation within 30, 60, 90, or 180 days of the anticholinergic medication was assessed. Demographic description of those dispensed anticholinergic medications or PPIs were reported. Risk factors for the prescribing cascade were investigated with logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards modelling including a sex-stratified analysis.

Results: We identified 28,952 Nova Scotia Seniors’ Pharmacare beneficiaries with dementia and prescription dispensation data. Anticholinergic medications were frequently dispensed with 63.4% of the cohort dispensed at least one prescription for an anticholinergic medication. The prescribing cascade defined as up to 180-days between anticholinergic medication inititation and PPI dispensation, occurred in 1,845 Nova Scotia Seniors’ Pharmacare beneficiaries with dementia (incidence 6.4%). Multivariate regression showed those experiencing the prescribing cascade after initiating any anticholinergic were younger (OR 0.98, 95%CI [0.97–0.98]), less likely to live in an urban location (OR 0.82, 95%CI [0.74–0.91]), or to be men (OR 0.74, 95%CI [0.67–0.82]). Cox regression demonstrated an increased risk of starting a PPI within 180 days when initiating any medication from the ACB (HR 1.38, 95%CI [1.29–1.58]).

Discussion: Regression modelling suggested that anticholinergic medications increased the risk of PPI dispensation consistent with a prescribing cascade in the cohort. The identification of the prescribing cascade in this population of older Nova Scotia Seniors’ Pharmacare Program beneficiaries with dementia using administrative health data highlights how routinely collected health data can be used to identify prescribing cascades.

Drug-Related Hospital Admissions via the Department of Emergency Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Study From the Czech Republic

Background: Drug-related hospital admissions (DRAs) represent a significant problem affecting all countries worldwide. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and preventability of DRAs, identify the most common medications involved in DRAs, the most common clinical manifestations of DRAs and describe the preventability aspects of DRAs.

Methods: This cross-sectional study examined unplanned hospital admissions to the University Hospital Hradec Králové via the department of emergency medicine in August–November 2018. Data were obtained from electronic medical records. The methodology of DRA identification was adapted from the OPERAM DRA adjudication guide.

Results: Out of 1252 hospital admissions, 195 DRAs have been identified (145 related to treatment safety, 50 related to treatment effectiveness). The prevalence of DRAs was 15.6% (95% CI 13.6–17.6). The most common medication classes involved in DRAs related to treatment safety were Antithrombotic agents, Antineoplastic agents, Diuretics, Corticosteroids for systemic use, and Beta blocking agents. The most common medication classes involved in DRAs related to treatment effectiveness included Diuretics, Antithrombotic agents, Drugs used in diabetes, Agents acting on the renin-angiotensin system, and Lipid modifying agents. Gastrointestinal disorders were the leading causes of DRAs related to treatment safety, while Cardiac disorders were the leading causes of DRAs related to treatment effectiveness. The potential preventability of DRAs was 51%. The highest share of potential preventability in medication classes repeatedly involved in DRAs related to treatment safety was observed for Anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic products, Psycholeptics, and Drugs used in diabetes. Potentially preventable DRAs related to treatment safety were most commonly associated with inappropriate drug selection, inappropriate monitoring, inappropriate dose selection, and inappropriate lifestyle measures. On the contrary, DRAs related to treatment effectiveness were more commonly associated with medication nonadherence.

Conclusion: It should be emphasized that in most DRAs, medications were only a contributory reason of hospital admissions and that benefits and risks have to be carefully balanced. It is highlighted by the finding that the same medication classes (Antithrombotic agents and Diuretics) were among the most common medication classes involved in DRAs related to treatment safety and simultaneously in DRAs related to treatment effectiveness. The study highlighted that apart from problems related to prescribing, problems related to monitoring and patient-related problems represent significant preventability aspects.

Comparative Safety Signal Assessment of Hospitalization Associated With the Use of Atypical Antipsychotics

Background

Persons with symptoms of psychosis receiving treatment with atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) can experience serious adverse events (AEs) requiring admission to the hospital. The comparative likelihood of AE-related hospitalization following the use of all AAPs has not been fully characterized. Therefore, we evaluated the safety signals of hospitalizations associated with the use of AAPs.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database (from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2021) to examine disproportionality in reporting hospitalizations suspected to be associated with 12 AAPs (aripiprazole, asenapine, brexpiprazole, clozapine, iloperidone, lurasidone, olanzapine, paliperidone, and pimavanserin, quetiapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone). Hospitalization in the FAERs database is an outcome that is recorded as a result of an AE occurring at any drug dose. We estimated reporting odds ratios (RORs) by comparing the odds of hospitalization occurring with a particular AAP to the odds of its occurrence with other drugs. In addition, we considered the presence of a significant safety signal when the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the ROR is >1.

Results

A total of 204,287 cases of hospitalizations were reported to the FDA for individuals treated with AAPs. There were significant safety signals of hospitalization associated with using clozapine (ROR, 2.88; 95% CI, 2.84-2.92), olanzapine (ROR, 2.61; 95% CI, 2.57-2.64), quetiapine (ROR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.85-1.89), risperidone (ROR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.39-1.43), aripiprazole (ROR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.32-1.35), and ziprasidone (ROR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.10-1.18). However, no hospitalization-related safety signals were observed with the use of paliperidone, pimavanserin, iloperidone, asenapine, lurasidone, and brexpiprazole. The ROR estimates were numerically higher among older adults than younger adults.

Conclusions

This cross-sectional assessment of data from FAERs (2004-2021) suggested that users of clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, aripiprazole, and ziprasidone were more likely to report being hospitalized than users of other AAPs. Given that the FAERs database only contains spontaneous reports of AEs experienced by persons exposed to a drug but without information on exposed persons who did not have an event, a cohort study comparing hospitalizations among new users of individual AAPs against each other is needed to delineate these safety signals further.

What Is the Medication Iatrogenic Risk in Elderly Outpatients for Chronic Pain?

PURPOSE

Medication iatrogeny is a major public health problem that increases as the population ages. Therapeutic escalation to control pain and associated disorders could increase polypharmacy and iatrogeny. This study aimed to characterize the medication iatrogenic risk of elderly outpatients with chronic pain.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study recruiting patients 65 years or older with chronic pain. A medication iatrogenic assessment was performed based on the best possible medication history to record risk of adverse drug events (Trivalle score), STOPP (Screening Tool of Older Person's Prescriptions)/START (Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment) criteria, and potentially inappropriate medications.

RESULTS

We recruited 100 patients with an average age of 71 years. The median number of medications before pain consultation was 8 (interquartile range = [7;11]). Trivalle score showed that 43% of patients were at moderate or high medication iatrogenic risk. Before consultation, 79% and 75% of patients had at least 1 STOPP or START criterion on their orders, respectively. One-third of orders mentioned benzodiazepine prescribed for more than 4 weeks. At least 1 potentially inappropriate medication was prescribed for 54% of the patients, with a median of 1 per patient (interquartile range = [0;1]). A combination of several anticholinergics was prescribed in 23% of patients.

CONCLUSION

Elderly patients with chronic pain are at risk of medication iatrogeny. Preventive measures as multidisciplinary medication review could reduce the iatrogenic risk in these outpatients.This study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04006444 on July 3, 2019.

Assessing frailty using comprehensive geriatric assessment in older patients with hematologic malignancy

The incidence of hematologic malignancy increases with age; thus, the number of older patients who require intensive chemotherapy is expected to increase with the aging population. In Korea, 61.8%, 59.3%, 47.0%, and 46.7% of newly diagnosed cases of multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome, myeloproliferative disorder, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, respectively, occurred in patients aged >65 years in 2018. Health status among older patients, defined by frailty, age-related syndrome of physiological decline and increased vulnerability, is associated with adverse health outcomes. Health status is highly heterogeneous among older patients, and treatment outcomes vary according to frailty and physiologic age rather than chronologic age. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is a multidimensional and multidisciplinary diagnostic and treatment process that identifies multiple domains, including functional status, cognition, comorbidities, medications, socioeconomic status, and nutritional status, to develop a coordinated plan to improve treatment-related outcomes and quality of life. Frailty can be assessed with CGA findings, and CGA is considered the "gold standard of care" for frail, older patients. Through CGA, unidentified problems can be assessed, and pre-emptive and non-oncologic interventions can be delivered. CGA is an objective and reliable tool for predicting further treatment-related complications and identifying patients for whom intensive chemotherapy with curative intent is appropriate. CGA should be considered a routine practice before starting treatment planning in older patients diagnosed with hematologic malignancies who require intensive chemotherapy. Further study is needed to allocate individualized treatment plans or multidisciplinary geriatric interventions according to CGA results.

Evaluating the Impact of Medication Risk Mitigation Services in Medically Complex Older Adults

Adverse drug events (ADEs) represent an expensive societal burden that disproportionally affects older adults. Therefore, value-based organizations that provide care to older adults—such as the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)—should be highly motivated to identify actual or potential ADEs to mitigate risks and avoid downstream costs. We sought to determine whether PACE participants receiving medication risk mitigation (MRM) services exhibit improvements in total healthcare costs and other outcomes compared to participants not receiving structured MRM. Data from 2545 PACE participants from 19 centers were obtained for the years 2018 and 2019. We compared the year-over-year changes in outcomes between patients not receiving (control) or receiving structured MRM services. Data were adjusted based on participant multimorbidity and geographic location. Our analyses demonstrate that costs in the MRM cohort exhibited a significantly smaller year-to-year increase compared to the control (MRM: USD 4386/participant/year [95% CI, USD 3040−5732] vs. no MRM: USD 9410/participant/year [95% CI, USD 7737−11,084]). Therefore, receipt of structured MRM services reduced total healthcare costs (p < 0.001) by USD 5024 per participant from 2018 to 2019. The large majority (75.8%) of the reduction involved facility-related expenditures (e.g., hospital admission, emergency department visits, skilled nursing). In sum, our findings suggest that structured MRM services can curb growing year-over-year healthcare costs for PACE participants.

Ten-year trends in adverse drug reaction–related hospitalizations among people with dementia

Aim:

Trends in the incidence of adverse drug reaction (ADR)–related hospitalizations have been studied in the general population, but not specifically in people with dementia. This study aimed to investigate trends in the incidence of ADR-related hospitalizations among people with dementia, and identify the most commonly implicated drugs and diagnoses in these admissions.

Methods:

This study utilized the administrative data of all adults admitted to the four major public hospitals of Tasmania, Australia, with a primary or secondary diagnosis of dementia from July 2010 to December 2019. ADR-related hospitalizations were identified by using diagnosis-based and external cause codes. The Cochran–Armitage test was used to examine trends in the incidence of ADR-related hospitalizations.

Results:

Of the 7552 people with dementia admitted to the hospital at least once within the study period, 1775 (23.5%) experienced at least one ADR-related hospitalization. The estimated annual incidence of ADR-related hospitalizations increased 18% (1484–1760 per 100,000 population with dementia, p for trend <0.05) from 2010 to 2019. For those ADR-related admissions with a drug code recorded, 19.3% were due to antithrombotics and 11.5% to antihypertensives. The most frequent ADR-related admission diagnoses were renal diseases (72.9%). Length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality were both significantly greater for ADR-related, relative to non-ADR-related, admissions (median 7 versus 5 days and 11% versus 6.7%, respectively; p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

The annual incidence of ADR-related hospitalizations in people with dementia increased between 2010 and 2019. Antithrombotics were the most commonly implicated drug class. The ADR-related hospitalizations were associated with increased length of stay and greater mortality.

Plain Language Summary

Adverse drug reaction–related hospitalizations among people with dementia

Introduction:

This study aimed to investigate trends in hospitalizations associated with medication problems among people with dementia, and identify the most commonly implicated drugs and diagnoses in these admissions.

Methods:

This study utilized the administrative data of all adults admitted to the four major public hospitals of Tasmania, Australia, with dementia from July 2010 to December 2019.

Results:

The annual incidence of hospitalizations associated with medication problems among people with dementia increased nearly 20% over 10 years. The length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality were significantly greater for hospitalizations related to medication problems.

Conclusion:

The incidence of hospitalizations associated with medication problems in people with dementia increased between 2010 and 2019.