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Ruiz Ramos J, Alquézar-Arbé A, Juanes Borrego A, Burillo Putze G, Aguiló S, Jacob J, Fernández C, Llorens P, Quero Espinosa FDB, Gordo Remartinez S, Hernando González R, Moreno Martín M, Sánchez Aroca S, Sara Knabe A, González González R, Carrión Fernández M, Artieda Larrañaga A, Adroher Muñoz M, Hong Cho JU, Escolar Martínez Berganza MT, Gayoso Martín S, Sánchez Sindín G, Silva Penas M, Gómez y Gómez B, Arenos Sambro R, González del Castillo J, Miró Ò. Short-term prognosis of polypharmacy in elderly patients treated in emergency departments: results from the EDEN project. Ther Adv Drug Saf 2024; 15:20420986241228129. [PMID: 38323189 PMCID: PMC10846059 DOI: 10.1177/20420986241228129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Polypharmacy is a growing phenomenon among elderly individuals. However, there is little information about the frequency of polypharmacy among the elderly population treated in emergency departments (EDs) and its prognostic effect. This study aims to determine the prevalence and short-term prognostic effect of polypharmacy in elderly patients treated in EDs. Methods A retrospective analysis of the Emergency Department Elderly in Needs (EDEN) project's cohort was performed. This registry included all elderly patients who attended 52 Spanish EDs for any condition. Mild and severe polypharmacy was defined as the use of 5-9 drugs and ⩾10 drugs, respectively. The assessed outcomes were ED revisits, hospital readmissions, and mortality 30 days after discharge. Crude and adjusted logistic regression analyses, including the patient's comorbidities, were performed. Results A total of 25,557 patients were evaluated [mean age: 78 (IQR: 71-84) years]; 10,534 (41.2%) and 5678 (22.2%) patients presented with mild and severe polypharmacy, respectively. In the adjusted analysis, mild polypharmacy and severe polypharmacy were associated with an increase in ED revisits [odds ratio (OR) 1.13 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04-1.23) and 1.38 (95% CI: 1.24-1.51)] and hospital readmissions [OR 1.18 (95% CI: 1.04-1.35) and 1.36 (95% CI: 1.16-1.60)], respectively, compared to non-polypharmacy. Mild and severe polypharmacy were not associated with increased 30-day mortality [OR 1.05 (95% CI: 0.89-2.26) and OR 0.89 (95% CI: 0.72-1.12)], respectively. Conclusion Polypharmacy was common among the elderly treated in EDs and associated with increased risks of ED revisits and hospital readmissions ⩽30 days but not with an increased risk of 30-day mortality. Patients with polypharmacy had a higher risk of ED revisits and hospital readmissions ⩽30 days after discharge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesus Ruiz Ramos
- Pharmacy Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), C/San Quintin 56-58, Barcelona 08025, Spain
| | - Aitor Alquézar-Arbé
- Emergency Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Juanes Borrego
- Pharmacy Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Guillermo Burillo Putze
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Europea de Canarias, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Sira Aguiló
- Emergency Department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Jacob
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Cesáreo Fernández
- Emergency Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, IDISSC, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pere Llorens
- Emergency Department, Hospital Doctor Balmis, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biómedica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Sara Sánchez Aroca
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitario Morales Meseguer, Murcia, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sara Gayoso Martín
- Emergency Department, Hospital Comarcal El Escorial, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Òscar Miró
- Emergency Department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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