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Page AT, Potter K, Lee G, Almutairi H, Lee K, Wang K, Ailabouni N, Etherton-Beer C. Medicines Regimens Charted for Older People Living in Residential Aged Care: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study Describing the Number of Medicines, Regimen Complexity, High-Risk Prescribing, and Potential Underprescribing. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2024; 25:104944. [PMID: 38428832 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2024.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to explore medicines regimens charted for older people living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). DESIGN Repeated cross-sectional study using routinely collected data sampled in a cross-sectional manner at 11 time points (day of admission, then at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 30 days, and 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post admission). SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS The cohort is set in 34 RACFs managed by a single Australasian provider. People aged ≥65 years admitted to permanent care between January 1, 2017, and October 1, 2021, with medicines charted on the date of admission. METHODS Medicines charted were evaluated for potentially suboptimal prescribing including number of medicines, high-risk prescribing (eg, potentially inappropriate medicines, anticholinergic burden), and potential underprescribing. RESULTS The 3802 residents in the final cohort had a mean age of 84.9 ± 7.2 years at admission. At least 1 example of suboptimal prescribing was identified in 3479 (92%) residents at admission increasing to 1410 (97%) at 24 months. The number of medicines charted for each resident increased over time from 6.0 ± 3.8 regular and 2.8 ± 2.7 as required medicines at admission to 8.9 ± 4.1 regular and 8.1 ± 3.7 as required medicines at 24 months. Anticholinergic drug burden increased from 1.6 ± 2.4 at admission to 3.0 ± 2.8 at 24 months. Half the residents (2173; 57%) used at least 1 potentially inappropriate medicine at admission, which rose to nearly three-quarters (1060; 73%) at 24 months admission. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS The total number of medicines charted for older adults living in RACFs increases with length of stay, with charted as required medicines nearly tripling. Effective interventions to optimize medicines use in this vulnerable population are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Theresa Page
- School of Allied Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
| | | | - Georgie Lee
- School of Allied Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Hend Almutairi
- School of Allied Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Kenneth Lee
- School of Allied Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Kate Wang
- School of Allied Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nagham Ailabouni
- PACE, School of Pharmacy, Health and Behavioural Sciences Faculty, University of Queensland
| | - Christopher Etherton-Beer
- WA Centre for Health and Ageing, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Department of Geriatric Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia
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Wang KN, Etherton-Beer CD, Sanfilippo F, Page AT. Development of a list of Australian potentially inappropriate medicines using the Delphi technique. Intern Med J 2024; 54:980-1002. [PMID: 38303674 DOI: 10.1111/imj.16322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older people are at high risk of medicines-related harms. otentially inappropriate medicines (PIMs) list has been developed to assist clinicians and researchers to identify medicines with risks that may potentially outweigh their benefits in order to improve medication management and safety. AIM To develop a list of PIMs for older people specific to Australia. METHODS The study obtained expert consensus through the utilisation of the Delphi technique in Australia. A total of 33 experts partook in the initial round, while 32 experts engaged in the subsequent round. The primary outcomes encompass medicines assessed as potentially inappropriate, the specific contexts in which their inappropriateness arises and potentially safer alternatives. RESULTS A total of 16 medicines or medicine classes had one or more medicines deemed as potentially inappropriate in older people. Up to 19 medicines or medicine classes had specific conditions that make them more potentially inappropriate, while alternatives were suggested for 16 medicines or classes. CONCLUSION An explicit PIMs list for older people living in Australia has been developed containing 19 drugs/drug classes. The PIMs list is intended to be used as a guide for clinicians when assessing medication appropriateness in older people in Australian clinical settings and does not substitute individualised treatment advice from clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate N Wang
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Christopher D Etherton-Beer
- School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Western Australian Centre for Health and Ageing, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Frank Sanfilippo
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Centre, School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Amy T Page
- School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Western Australian Centre for Health and Ageing, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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Tsang JY, Sperrin M, Blakeman T, Payne RA, Ashcroft D. Defining, identifying and addressing problematic polypharmacy within multimorbidity in primary care: a scoping review. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e081698. [PMID: 38803265 PMCID: PMC11129052 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Polypharmacy and multimorbidity pose escalating challenges. Despite numerous attempts, interventions have yet to show consistent improvements in health outcomes. A key factor may be varied approaches to targeting patients for intervention. OBJECTIVES To explore how patients are targeted for intervention by examining the literature with respect to: understanding how polypharmacy is defined; identifying problematic polypharmacy in practice; and addressing problematic polypharmacy through interventions. DESIGN We performed a scoping review as defined by the Joanna Briggs Institute. SETTING The focus was on primary care settings. DATA SOURCES Medline, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and Cochrane along with ClinicalTrials.gov, Science.gov and WorldCat.org were searched from January 2004 to February 2024. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA We included all articles that had a focus on problematic polypharmacy in multimorbidity and primary care, incorporating multiple types of evidence, such as reviews, quantitative trials, qualitative studies and policy documents. Articles focussing on a single index disease or not written in English were excluded. EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS We performed a narrative synthesis, comparing themes and findings across the collective evidence to draw contextualised insights and conclusions. RESULTS In total, 157 articles were included. Case-finding methods often rely on basic medication counts (often five or more) without considering medical history or whether individual medications are clinically appropriate. Other approaches highlight specific drug indicators and interactions as potentially inappropriate prescribing, failing to capture a proportion of patients not fitting criteria. Different potentially inappropriate prescribing criteria also show significant inconsistencies in determining the appropriateness of medications, often neglecting to consider multimorbidity and underprescribing. This may hinder the identification of the precise population requiring intervention. CONCLUSIONS Improved strategies are needed to target patients with polypharmacy, which should consider patient perspectives, individual factors and clinical appropriateness. The development of a cross-cutting measure of problematic polypharmacy that consistently incorporates adjustment for multimorbidity may be a valuable next step to address frequent confounding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Yin Tsang
- Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester Division of Population Health Health Services Research and Primary Care, Manchester, UK
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GMPSRC), Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre (MAHSC), The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Matthew Sperrin
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GMPSRC), Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre (MAHSC), The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Thomas Blakeman
- Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester Division of Population Health Health Services Research and Primary Care, Manchester, UK
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GMPSRC), Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre (MAHSC), The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Rupert A Payne
- Department of Health and Community Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
| | - Darren Ashcroft
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GMPSRC), Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre (MAHSC), The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Anlay DZ, Paque K, Van Leeuwen E, Cohen J, Dilles T. Tools and guidelines to assess the appropriateness of medication and aid deprescribing: An umbrella review. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2024; 90:12-106. [PMID: 37697479 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.15906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS The aim of this umbrella review was to identify tools and guidelines to aid the deprescribing process of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), evaluate development and validation methods, and describe evidence levels for medication inclusion. METHODS Searches were conducted on MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase.com, Cochrane CDSR, CINAHL (EBSCO), Web of Science Core Collection and guideline databases from the date of inception to 7 July 2022. Following the initial search, an additional search was conducted to identify an updated versions of tools on 17 July 2023. We analysed the contents of tools and guidelines. RESULTS From 23 systematic reviews and guidelines, we identified 95 tools (72 explicit, 12 mixed and 11 implicit) and nine guidelines. Most tools (83.2%) were developed to use for older persons, including 14 for those with limited life expectancy. Seven tools were for children <18 years (7.37%). Most explicit/mixed tools (78.57%) and all guidelines were validated. We found 484 PIMs and 202 medications with different appropriateness independent of disease for older persons with normal and limited life expectancy, respectively. Only two tools and eight guidelines reported the evidence level, and a quarter of medications had high-quality evidence. CONCLUSIONS Tools are available for a diversity of populations. There were discrepancies, with the same medication being classified as inappropriate in some tools and appropriate in others, possibly due to low-quality evidence. In particular, tools for patients with limited life expectancy were developed based on very limited evidence, and research to generate this evidence is urgently needed. Our medication lists, along with the level of evidence, could facilitate efforts to strengthen the evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Degefaye Zelalem Anlay
- End-of-life Care Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
- Centre for Research and Innovation in Care, Nurse and Pharmaceutical Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Kristel Paque
- Centre for Research and Innovation in Care, Nurse and Pharmaceutical Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- HAST, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Ellen Van Leeuwen
- Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences & Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joachim Cohen
- End-of-life Care Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tinne Dilles
- Centre for Research and Innovation in Care, Nurse and Pharmaceutical Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Hui JH, Parikh S, Kouladjian O'Donnell L, Mcinerney B, Dillon L, Poojary S, Crabtree A. Pharmacist-led medication review in a residential in-reach service leads to deprescribing. Australas J Ageing 2023; 42:675-682. [PMID: 37198738 DOI: 10.1111/ajag.13215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of a pharmacist-led medication review on deprescribing medications in a Residential In-Reach (RIR) service which provides acute care substitution to residential aged care residents. METHODS A pre-post observational study was conducted. Patient characteristics and admission and discharge medications were collected over two 3-month phases before (prephase) and after (postphase) the introduction of a pharmacist who performed a comprehensive medication review and provided deprescribing recommendations. The Screening Tool of Older Persons' Prescriptions (STOPP) version 2 was used to identify potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). The Drug Burden Index (DBI) was used to measure cumulative anticholinergic and sedative medication burden. Outcome of deprescribing was measured by the reduction in the number of PIMs, DBI scores and proportion of polypharmacy from admission to discharge. RESULTS The prephase included 59 patients (mean age 87.3 years, 63% female), and the postphase included 88 patients (mean age 87.3 years, 63% female). There was a significant reduction in the mean number of PIMs (pre +0.05 ± 2.59 vs. post -0.78 ± 2.32, p = 0.04) and median DBI (pre -0.004 ± 0.17 vs. post -0.07 ± 0.2, p = 0.03) in postphase compared to prephase. The proportion of polypharmacy at discharge was reduced in the postphase (pre-100% vs. post-90%, p = 0.01). The most deprescribed PIMs as measured by STOPP in postphase were drugs without indication, cardiovascular system drugs and gastrointestinal system drugs. CONCLUSIONS The introduction of a pharmacist-led medication review in RIR service was associated with a significant reduction in the mean number of PIMs, median DBI and polypharmacy. Future studies are needed to determine whether deprescription is sustained to examine correlations to long-term patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Hao Hui
- Department of Home, Acute and Community, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Seema Parikh
- Department of Home, Acute and Community, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lisa Kouladjian O'Donnell
- Departments of Clinical Pharmacology and Ageing, Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Brigid Mcinerney
- Department of Pharmacy, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Louise Dillon
- Department of Home, Acute and Community, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Suma Poojary
- Department of Home, Acute and Community, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Amelia Crabtree
- Department of Home, Acute and Community, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Hilmer SN. STOPP/START version 3: looks great, fits well, but itches. Eur Geriatr Med 2023; 14:639-641. [PMID: 37421573 DOI: 10.1007/s41999-023-00828-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N Hilmer
- Kolling Institute, Northern Sydney Local Health District and The University of Sydney, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.
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Quek HW, Etherton-Beer C, Page A, McLachlan AJ, Lo SY, Naganathan V, Kearney L, Hilmer SN, Comans T, Mangin D, Lindley RI, Potter K. Deprescribing for older people living in residential aged care facilities: Pharmacist recommendations, doctor acceptance and implementation. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2023; 107:104910. [PMID: 36565605 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2022.104910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deprescribing is an intervention to address the high prevalence of inappropriate polypharmacy in older people living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Many deprescribing interventions are complex and involve several stages including initial pharmacist recommendation, subsequent acceptance of the recommendations by a prescriber and the patient, and then actual implementation. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate pharmacist deprescribing recommendations for residents within RACFs, general practitioner (GP) acceptance, and the actual implementation of the accepted recommendations at 12-month. METHODS The intervention occurred as part of a randomised controlled trial and comprised a pharmacist-led medication review using an evidence-based algorithm, with the focus on identifying medications to potentially deprescribe. Consent to participate was obtained from residents (or surrogate decision-makers), RACF nursing staff and the resident's GP. Deprescribing recommendations were reviewed by GPs before implementation as part of the intervention and control arms of the trial, although control group participants continued to receive their usual medications in a blinded manner. RESULTS There were 303 participants enrolled in the study, and 77% (941/1222) of deprescribing recommendations suggested by the pharmacists were accepted by GPs. Of the recommendations accepted by GPs, 74% (692/ 941) were successfully implemented at the end of the follow-up visit at 12 months. The most common reason for deprescribing was because medications were no longer needed (42%, 513/ 1231). CONCLUSION Pharmacist-led deprescribing recommendations arising from an algorithm-based medication review are acceptable to doctors and can have a significant impact on reducing the number of inappropriate medications consumed by older people in RACFs. TRIAL REGISTRATION Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12613001204730.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wen Quek
- Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
| | - Christopher Etherton-Beer
- Western Australia Centre for Health and Aging, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Amy Page
- School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Western Australia Centre for Health and Aging, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Andrew J McLachlan
- Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sarita Y Lo
- Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, New South Wales, Australia; Concord Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Northern Clinical School, The University of Sydney and Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Vasi Naganathan
- Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, New South Wales, Australia; Concord Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Leanne Kearney
- Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sarah N Hilmer
- Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Northern Clinical School, The University of Sydney and Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Tracy Comans
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, University Drive Meadowbrook, Brisbane, Queensland Australia
| | - Derelie Mangin
- Primary Care Research Unit, Department of Public Health and General Practice, Christchurch School of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Richard I Lindley
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales; Australia and The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kathleen Potter
- Western Australia Centre for Health and Aging, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Ryman Healthcare, Christchurch, New Zealand
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Lee K, Kouladjian O'Donnell L, Cross AJ, Hawthorne D, Page AT. Clinical pharmacists' reported approaches and processes for undertaking Home Medicines Review services: A national survey. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2023; 109:104965. [PMID: 36821873 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2023.104965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Comprehensive medicines reviews are a strategy to reduce medicines-related harm. In Australia, Home Medicines Review services (HMRs) are provided by consultant pharmacists to community-dwelling consumers, on referral from the consumer's medical practitioner. Limited research exists on the processes undertaken by consultant pharmacists when delivering HMRs, particularly as it relates to the information types received, collected, and reported. OBJECTIVE Describe the types of information consultant pharmacists report receiving in HMR referrals, collect before and during consumer consultations, and include in their written reports. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a national online survey of Australian consultant pharmacists who deliver HMRs. Participants were recruited using a broad advertising strategy, including social and traditional media platforms, and snowballing. Data were analysed descriptively. RESULTS Of the 248 eligible participants, 179 (72%) completed the survey. The most commonly included information in the referral was medication list (97%), the least were details of hospitalisations (8%) and specialist letters (5%). Information pertaining to hospitalisation and specialist letters were collected by 20% of participants prior to the consultation. Details of, and history from, community pharmacy was the most sought information prior to consultations. Less than a quarter of participants 'most of the time' or 'always' formally assess adherence using a validated instrument during the consultation. Participants commonly (80%) report consumer concerns in the written report. CONCLUSIONS Consultant pharmacists collect a broad variety of information, beyond medicines-related content. Written HMR reports by consultant pharmacists were often reported to be consumer-centric.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Lee
- Centre for Optimisation of Medicines, Discipline of Pharmacy, School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
| | - Lisa Kouladjian O'Donnell
- Departments of Clinical Pharmacology and Aged Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Kolling Institute, Sydney, Australia
| | - Amanda J Cross
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
| | - Deborah Hawthorne
- Centre for Optimisation of Medicines, Discipline of Pharmacy, School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; Western Australian Centre for Health & Ageing, School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Amy Theresa Page
- Centre for Optimisation of Medicines, Discipline of Pharmacy, School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; Western Australian Centre for Health & Ageing, School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
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Page AT, Potter K, Naganathan V, Hilmer S, McLachlan AJ, Lindley RI, Coman T, Mangin D, Etherton-Beer C. Polypharmacy and medicine regimens in older adults in residential aged care. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2023; 105:104849. [PMID: 36399891 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2022.104849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe medicines regimens used by older people living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study presents baseline data from a randomised controlled trial in seventeen Australian RACFs that recruited residents aged 65 years and older at the participating facilities. The main outcome measures were to evaluation of medicines utilisation, including the number of medicines, medicine regimen complexity, potential under-prescribing and high-risk prescribing (prescribing cascades, anticholinergic or sedative medicines or other potentially inappropriate medicines) with data analysed descriptively. RESULTS Medicines regimens were analysed for 303 residents (76% female) with a mean age of 85.0 ± 7.5 years, of whom the majority were living with dementia (72%). Residents were prescribed an average of 10.3 ± 4.5 regular medicines daily. Most participants (85%) had highly complex regimens. Most residents (92%) were exposed to polypharmacy (five or more medicines). Nearly all, 302 (98%) residents had at least one marker of potentially suboptimal prescribing. At least one instance of potential under-prescribing was identified in 86% of residents. At least one instance of high-risk prescribing was identified in 81% of residents including 16% of participants with at least one potential prescribing cascade. CONCLUSION(S) Potentially suboptimal prescribing affected almost all residents in this study, and most had highly complex medicines regimens. If generalisable, these findings indicate most older people in RACFs may be at risk of medicines-related harm from suboptimal prescribing, in addition to the burden of administration of complex medicines regimens for facility staff and residents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Theresa Page
- Centre for Optimisation of Medicines, School of Allied Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia; WA Centre for Health and Ageing, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
| | | | - Vasi Naganathan
- Centre for Education and Research on Ageing (CERA), Department of Geriatric Medicine, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, New South Wales, Australia; Concord Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sarah Hilmer
- Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Andrew J McLachlan
- ydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Richard I Lindley
- University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia and the George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tracy Coman
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, University Drive Meadowbrook, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Christopher Etherton-Beer
- WA Centre for Health and Ageing, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Department of Geriatric Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia
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Lee GB, Etherton-Beer C, Hosking SM, Pasco JA, Page AT. The patterns and implications of potentially suboptimal medicine regimens among older adults: a narrative review. Ther Adv Drug Saf 2022; 13:20420986221100117. [PMID: 35814333 PMCID: PMC9260603 DOI: 10.1177/20420986221100117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In the context of an ageing population, the burden of disease and medicine use is
also expected to increase. As such, medicine safety and preventing avoidable
medicine-related harm are major public health concerns, requiring further
research. Potentially suboptimal medicine regimens is an umbrella term that
captures a range of indicators that may increase the risk of medicine-related
harm, including polypharmacy, underprescribing and high-risk prescribing, such
as prescribing potentially inappropriate medicines. This narrative review aims
to provide a background and broad overview of the patterns and implications of
potentially suboptimal medicine regimens among older adults. Original research
published between 1990 and 2021 was searched for in MEDLINE, using key search
terms including polypharmacy, inappropriate prescribing, potentially
inappropriate medication lists, medication errors, drug interactions and drug
prescriptions, along with manual checking of reference lists. The review
summarizes the prevalence, risk factors and clinical outcomes of polypharmacy,
underprescribing and potentially inappropriate medicines. A synthesis of the
evidence regarding the longitudinal patterns of polypharmacy is also provided.
With an overview of the existing literature, we highlight a number of key gaps
in the literature. Directions for future research may include a longitudinal
investigation into the risk factors and outcomes of extended polypharmacy,
research focusing on the patterns and implications of underprescribing and
studies that evaluate the applicability of tools measuring potentially
inappropriate medicines to study settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgie B Lee
- Epi-Centre for Healthy Ageing, Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Deakin University, HERB-Building Level 3, C/- University Hospital Geelong, 285 Ryrie Street, P.O. Box 281, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | | | - Sarah M Hosking
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Julie A Pasco
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Amy T Page
- WA Centre for Health and Ageing, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
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