The Burden of Potentially Inappropriate Medications in Chronic Polypharmacy

Contribution of Potentially Inappropriate Medications to Polypharmacy-Associated Risk of Mortality in Middle-Aged Patients: A National Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

The role of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in mortality has been studied among those 65 years or older. While middle-aged individuals are believed to be less susceptible to the harms of polypharmacy, PIMs have not been as carefully studied in this group.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate PIM-associated risk of mortality and evaluate the extent PIMs explain associations between polypharmacy and mortality in middle-aged patients, overall and by sex and race/ethnicity.

DESIGN

Observational cohort study.

SETTING

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the largest integrated healthcare system in the US.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients aged 41 to 64 who received a chronic medication (continuous use of ≥ 90 days) between October 1, 2008, and September 30, 2017.

MEASUREMENT

Patients were followed for 5 years until death or end of study period (September 30, 2019). Time-updated polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy were defined as 5-9 and ≥ 10 chronic medications, respectively. PIMs were identified using the Beers criteria (2015) and were time-updated. Cox models were adjusted for demographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics.

RESULTS

Of 733,728 patients, 676,935 (92.3%) were men, 479,377 (65.3%) were White, and 156,092 (21.3%) were Black. By the end of follow-up, 104,361 (14.2%) patients had polypharmacy, 15,485 (2.1%) had hyperpolypharmacy, and 129,992 (17.7%) were dispensed ≥ 1 PIM. PIMs were independently associated with mortality (HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.04-1.18). PIMs also modestly attenuated risk of mortality associated with polypharmacy (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.11 before versus HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.09 after) and hyperpolypharmacy (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.09-1.28 before versus HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.03-1.22 after). Patterns varied when stratified by sex and race/ethnicity.

LIMITATIONS

The predominantly male VA patient population may not represent the general population.

CONCLUSION

PIMs were independently associated with increased mortality, and partially explained polypharmacy-associated mortality in middle-aged people. Other mechanisms of injury from polypharmacy should also be studied.

Prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications among newly treated patients with type 2 diabetes in UK primary care

AIMS

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIPs) in patients starting their first noninsulin antidiabetic treatment (NIAD) using two explicit process measures of the appropriateness of prescribing in UK primary care, stratified by age and polypharmacy status.

METHODS

A descriptive cohort study between 2016 and 2019 was conducted to assess PIPs in patients aged ≥45 years at the start of their first NIAD, stratified by age and polypharmacy status. The American Geriatrics Society Beers criteria 2015 was used for older (≥65 years) patients and the Prescribing Optimally in Middle-age People's Treatments criteria was used for middle-aged (45-64 years) patients. Prevalence of overall PIPs and individual PIPs criteria was reported using the IQVIA Medical Research Data incorporating THIN, a Cegedim Database of anonymized electronic health records in the UK.

RESULTS

Among 28 604 patients initiating NIADs, 18 494 (64.7%) received polypharmacy. In older and middle-aged patients with polypharmacy, 39.6% and 22.7%, respectively, received ≥1 PIP. At the individual PIP level, long-term proton pump inhibitors (PPI) use was the most frequent PIP among older adults, and strong opioid without laxatives was the most frequent PIP in middle-aged patients with polypharmacy (11.1% and 4.1%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that patients starting NIAD treatment receiving polypharmacy have the potential for pharmacotherapy optimization.

Reducing potentially inappropriate polypharmacy at a national and international level: the impact of deprescribing networks

INTRODUCTION

Over the past decade, polypharmacy has increased dramatically. Measurable harms include falls, fractures, cognitive impairment, and death. The associated costs are massive and contribute substantially to low-value health care. Deprescribing is a promising solution, but there are barriers. Establishing a network to address polypharmacy can help overcome barriers by connecting individuals with an interest and expertise in deprescribing and can act as an important source of motivation and resources.

AREAS COVERED

Over the past decade, several deprescribing networks were launched to help tackle polypharmacy, with evidence of individual and collective impact. A network approach has several advantages; it can spark interest, ideas and enthusiasm through information sharing, meetings and conversations with the public, providers, and other key stakeholders. In this special report, the details of how four deprescribing networks were established across the globe are detailed.

EXPERT OPINION

Networks create links between people who lead existing and/or budding deprescribing practices and policy initiatives, can influence people with a shared passion for deprescribing, and facilitate sharing of intellectual capital and tools to take initiatives further and strengthen impact.This report should inspire others to establish their own deprescribing networks, a critical step in accelerating a global deprescribing movement.

Trajectories of Benzodiazepine Use among Older Adults from a Concordance-with-Guidelines Perspective: A Nationwide Cohort Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Benzodiazepines (including zolpidem and zopiclone) are often associated with higher-than-recommended intake and durations of use, especially in older adults. The objective of this study was to characterize trajectories of benzodiazepine use according to recommended patterns in older adults, and to assess predictors of the risk of developing each of these trajectories.

METHODS

Using the French Health Insurance database, we constituted a cohort of adults aged ≥ 65 years who initiated benzodiazepines in 2007 and were followed for up to 8 years. Concordance with benzodiazepine use guidelines was assessed on a quarterly basis according to a "concordance-with-guideline score" with values 1-5. Group-based trajectory modeling was then applied as implemented in the Proc Traj procedure in SAS to define guideline-concordant trajectories based on seven baseline patient-centered characteristics: sex, complementary health insurance coverage, treated alcohol and tobacco use disorder, polypharmacy, hospital stay, and registered chronic diseases.

RESULTS

Among 5080 new users (64.1% women, median age 74 years), six trajectories of benzodiazepine use were identified. Three, representing 70% of users, were concordant with guidelines, whereas three implied non-concordant benzodiazepine use for part or all of the benzodiazepine use follow-up. Polymedicated patients were more prone to develop chronic non-guideline-concordant initially guideline-concordant use, whereas those with a history of long-term disease and hospitalization were more likely to develop chronic non-guideline-concordant use. The number of prescribers during the first quarter, number of daily defined doses, use of loperamide, and use of psychostimulants were associated with a higher risk of developing an initial and persistent non-guideline-concordant use. Treatment initiation by a psychiatrist, initial use of World Health Organization (WHO) step-2 opioids and non-benzodiazepine anxiolytics or sedatives were associated with a higher risk of late non-guideline-concordant use.

CONCLUSIONS

Concordance with guidelines varied over time during benzodiazepine use in older adults. A third of these adults will hypothetically follow one of the identified non-guideline-concordant trajectories, consisting of initial and/or late non-guideline concordance. This was associated with modifiable and nonmodifiable factors that clinicians should be aware of for tailoring the monitoring of patients.

Drugs and the elderly: A complex interaction

Although it can be difficult to define who should be considered an elderly person, the population aged 65 and over is experiencing the fastest demographic expansion and will represent almost one billion inhabitants of the 2030 World. Drug use increases dramatically with age and the elderly population is, by far, the highest consumer of medicines, up to 10 times more than younger adults. This consumption is in many aspects inappropriate, unjustified or sub-optimal and associated with a huge number of adverse reactions, admissions in emergency units and attributable deaths. A good part of which could be prevented if basic rules of good prescription and ad-hoc guidelines were systematically used. Even if older adults are more likely to present an adverse drug reaction, available data tend to support that the main risk factor of iatrogenesis in the elderly is the number of drugs used. Moreover, it is often irrelevant to transpose to this population the conclusions concerning the benefit-risk balance of drugs assessed in younger adults; similarly, approaches and programs classically used in pharmacovigilance and pharmacoepidemiology should be tailored to this specific population.

Proton pump inhibitor use: systematic review of global trends and practices

PURPOSE

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) reduce acid secretion in the stomach and rank as one of the most widely used acid-suppressing medicines globally. While PPIs are safe in the short-term, emerging evidence shows risks associated with long-term use. Current evidence on global PPI use is scarce. This systematic review aims to evaluate global PPI use in the general population.

METHODS

Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts were systematically searched from inception to 31 March 2023 to identify observational studies on oral PPI use among individuals aged ≥ 18 years. PPI use was classified by demographics and medication factors (dose, duration, and PPI types). The absolute numbers of PPI users for each subcategory were summed and expressed as a percentage.

RESULTS

The search identified data from 28 million PPI users in 23 countries from 65 articles. This review indicated that nearly one-quarter of adults use a PPI. Of those using PPIs, 63% were less than 65 years. 56% of PPI users were female, and "White" ethnicities accounted for 75% of users. Nearly two-thirds of users were on high doses (≥ defined daily dose (DDD)), 25% of users continued PPIs for > 1 year, and 28% of these continued for > 3 years.

CONCLUSION

Given the widespread use PPIs and increasing concern regarding long-term use, this review provides a catalyst to support more rational use, particularly with unnecessary prolonged continuation. Clinicians should review PPI prescriptions regularly and deprescribe when there is no appropriate ongoing indication or evidence of benefit to reduce health harm and treatment cost.

Potentially inappropriate medications and polypharmacy in the older population: A nationwide cross-sectional study in France in 2019

AIM OF THE STUDY

To assess the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and polypharmacy in adults aged 75 years and over in France in 2019 based on data from the French health insurance claims database, at the national level and by region.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study in French adults aged 75 years or over in 2019. We assessed the prevalence of seventeen PIM criteria adapted from the 2015 Beers and STOPP lists, as well as cumulative polypharmacy. Polypharmacy (5 to 9 drugs) and hyper-polypharmacy (≥10 drugs) were defined as the average number of drugs dispensed per quarter. The regional analysis used the age- and sex-standardized prevalence.

RESULTS

Of 6,707,897 older adults, 39.6% were exposed to at least one PIM in 2019, 46.7% were exposed to polypharmacy (5 to 9 drugs), and 25.2% to hyper-polypharmacy (≥10 drugs). Benzodiazepine PIMs were the most frequent (26.9%), followed by atropinic PIMs (8.3%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory PIMs (7.8%), concomitant use of three or more central nervous system-active drugs (7.3%), and antihypertensive PIMs (6.0%). There was a gradient in the level of exposure to PIMs according to the level of polypharmacy for every PIM category. We observed regional variations in PIM prevalence, from 36.5% in Pays-de-la-Loire to 44.8% in Hauts-de-France in mainland France.

CONCLUSION

These results show that PIMs concerned more than one in three older adults after age 75 years in France in 2019 and support the need to secure medication use in this population. The reasons for geographic variations in PIM prevalence should be investigated in further studies.

Use of psychotropic drugs in the elderly in France: Are we condemned to remain at high tide?

Psychotropics are widely used drugs, especially in the elderly, especially in France. This, and the risks associated to their use, logically led to concerns that resulted in numerous studies, reports, and regulatory actions intending to limit this use. This review objective was to provide an overview of psychotropic use in elderly subjects in France for antipsychotics, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines and related drugs. The narrative review performed is structured in two parts. The first reminds the initial steps of psychotropic use monitoring in the general French population. The second provides information on psychotropic use in elderly in France using the latest open data released by the French Health Insurance system and processed using the dedicated DrugSurv tool developed within the DRUGS-SAFE® and DRUGS-SAFE® programs. This was completed examining the most recent studies regarding psychotropic use in elderly in France, whether they consisted in publications or reports. At least before the COVID-19 epidemic, decreases in psychotropic prevalence of use among the elderly in France could be observed, mostly for antipsychotics or benzodiazepines (e.g. antipsychotics, 2006-2013: 10.3% decrease and benzodiazepines 2012-2020: decrease from 30.6% to 24.7% in subjects aged ≥65). Psychotropic prevalence of use remained however very high overall (e.g. antidepressants, 2013: 13% in subjects aged 65-74 and 18% in aged ≥65), exceeding that of most other countries, with a significant proportion of inappropriate use (e.g. in 30% of benzodiazepine users, all ages) carrying a clearly identified risks for uncertain benefit. Initiatives have been multiplied at the national level to reduce psychotropic overuse in the elderly. The reported prevalences demonstrate their effectiveness is obviously insufficient. This limited effectiveness is not specific to psychotropics and might reside in a failure to create strong adherence to messages and recommendations. Other levels should be considered, especially regional, for interventions coupled with pharmacoepidemiologic monitoring allowing impact assessment.

Prevalence of Polypharmacy of Older People in a Large Brazilian Urban Center and its Associated Factors

BACKGROUND

With the aging population comes greater risks associated with polypharmacy, a significant public health problem.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of polypharmacy and its associated factors through Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) among older adults treated in primary health care (PHC) in a large Brazilian urban center.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study with a random sampling of 400 older adults using primary health care. Polypharmacy was defined as the cumulative use of five or more daily medications. An assessment of a sociodemographic and health survey, fear of falling, and physical disabilities affecting activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living was conducted.

RESULTS

The mean age was 75.23 (SD: 8.53) years. The prevalence of polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy was 37% (n = 148) and 1% (n = 4), respectively. The adjusted logistic regression showed that participants with chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) (OR = 9.24; p = 0.003), diabetes (OR = 1.93; p = 0.003), and obesity (OR = 2.15; p = 0.005) were associated with a greater propensity to use polypharmacy.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that older adults with CNCDs, diabetes, and obesity were more likely to use polypharmacy. The results reinforce the importance of using CGA in clinical practice in PHC.

Drug-Drug Interactions and the Risk of Emergency Hospitalizations: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND

Several studies suggest a significant risk of hospitalization because of drug-drug interactions in the general population. However, to our knowledge, this risk has never been measured precisely in a large population.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to estimate the risk of emergency hospitalization associated with exposure to the contraindicated concomitant use of interacting drugs in the general population.

METHODS

A self-controlled case-series analysis was carried out on a cohort of 150,000 subjects randomly selected from the French national health insurance database, between 01/01/2016 and 31/12/2016. Exposure to the contraindicated concomitant use of interacting drugs was defined as the overlapping period of dispensings of drugs contraindicated because of clinically meaningful drug-drug interactions. The main outcome, incidence rate ratios, comparing the incidence rate of emergency hospitalizations during each category of exposure time periods with that during the reference period, was estimated using the conditional Poisson regression model.

RESULTS

Over the study period, 967 subjects were exposed to at least one contraindicated concomitant use of interacting drug and 177 had been exposed and presented at least one emergency hospitalization. Compared to the unexposed follow-up time, the risk of emergency hospitalization increased during exposure to contraindicated concomitant use of interacting drug periods (incidence rate ratio: 2.41; 95% confidence interval 1.55-3.76). This could translate into 7200 (4500-8900) potentially preventable emergency hospitalizations yearly in France.

CONCLUSIONS

We evidenced an almost 2.5-fold increase in the risk of emergency hospitalizations during periods of exposure to contraindicated concomitant use of interacting drugs, with a potential public health impact exceeding 7000 preventable hospitalizations yearly in France. These results confirm the need to reinforce training in prescription practices and tools for prevention concerning contraindicated concomitant use of interacting drugs. These would especially concern drugs involved in an increase in long QT syndrome when associated such as citalopram, and highly prescribed drugs with a risk of overdose if co-prescribed with cytochrome P450 inhibitors, such as antigout and lipid-lowering drugs.

Potentially inappropriate medication among older patients with diabetic kidney disease

Objective: Potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) contribute to poor outcomes in older patients, making it a widespread health problem. The study explored the occurrence and risk factors of PIM in older diabetic kidney disease (DKD) patients during hospitalization and investigated whether polypharmacy was associated with it. Methods: Retrospective analysis of the patients ≥ 65 years old diagnosed with DKD from July to December 2020; the PIM was evaluated according to the American Beers Criteria (2019). Factors with statistical significance in univariate analysis were included in Logistic multivariate analysis to explore the potential risk factors related to PIM. Results: Included 186 patients, 65.6% of patients had PIM, and 300 items were confirmed. The highest incidence of PIM was 41.7% for drugs that should be carefully used by the older, followed by 35.3% that should be avoided during hospitalization. The incidence of PIM related to diseases or symptoms, drug interactions to avoid, and drugs to avoid or reduce dose for renal insufficiency patients were 6.3%, 4.0% and 12.7%, respectively. The medications with a high incidence of PIM were diuretics (35.0%), benzodiazepines (10.7%) and peripheral ɑ1 blockers (8.7%). Compared with hospitalization, there were 26% of patients had increased PIM at discharge. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that polypharmacy during hospitalization was an independent risk factor for PIM, OR = 4.471 (95% CI: 2.378, 8.406). Conclusion: The incidence of PIM in hospitalized older DKD patients is high; we should pay more attention to the problem of polypharmacy in these patients. Pharmacists identifying the subtypes and risk factors for PIM may facilitate risk reduction for older DKD patients.

Evaluation of potentially inappropriate medication in older patients with cardiovascular diseases-STOPP/START-based study

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the use of STOPP/START criteria in the identification of Potentially inappropriate medication and potential prescribing omissions in older patients with cardiovascular diseases in Bulgaria. Excessive morbidity and mortality has been linked to drug-related problems and increased use of healthcare services and is an understudied problem for Bulgaria.

Materials and methods

A prospective, questionnaire-based study was conducted among 543 older patients across 25 pharmacies in Bulgaria. Socio-demographic characteristic, disease profile, symptoms, and medication data were collected. The questionnaire was developed for the purposes of the EUROAGEISM project. Out of all 543 patients, only those with documented cardio-vascular diseases were extracted and the medication profile per patient was evaluated for Potentially inappropriate medication (PIMs) and potentially prescribing omissions (PPOs) using STOPP/START criteria version 2. In addition, several risks for potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIPs), PPOs and PIMs were calculated with the focus being on the Odds and Risks to develop a PIP.

Results

Four hundred and twenty eight from 531 patients with known therapy for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) were included in the analysis of PIP (40.52% aged 65-69 years, 61.88% female, 64% had up to 6 comorbidities, and 21.72% presenting with polypharmacy). A total of 71 PIMs in 64 patients with polypharmacy were identified during applying STOPP criteria. 56% of patients taking above five medicines daily had PIMs. The majority of PIMs (31%) were related to CVDs treatment, followed by PIMs in the treatment of endocrine diseases (22.54%), duplication of medicines (8.46%) and prolonged treatment with benzodiazepines (8.46%). Forty four PPOs were identified with START criteria. 22.72% were related to lack of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) in the presence of gastroesophageal disorders, and the same percentage was for lack of Calcium-vitamin D supplementation in osteoporosis. Applying the methodology of risks calculation the sample risk for PPO was 2.1% and for PIM 3.4%. At sample level the relative risk for PPO was 62% out of the risk for PIM and at population level varied between 42.8 and 89.8% and it is statistically significant. The number needed to treat for the event to happen is 77.5, meaning that at every 78 prescriptions there is a chance to appear PIP.

Conclusion

Application of methodologies for detection of potentially inappropriate prescribing is not part of routine clinical practice in Bulgaria. Our study demonstrates a high percentage of potentially inappropriate medication among older patients with polypharmacy. Along with the aging population in Bulgaria, economic burden of polypharmacy and the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, it is especially important to address potentially inappropriate medication use in cardiovascular patients. There is a considerable necessity for implementation of measures for early detection of potentially inappropriate medication and potentially prescribing omission as a part of de-prescribing strategies in older patients.

Pharmacotherapy Problems in Best Possible Medication History of Hospital Admission in the Elderly

Transfer of care is a sensitive process, especially for the elderly. Polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), drug-drug interactions (DDIs), and renal risk drugs (RRDs) are important issues in the elderly. The aim of the study was to expand the use of the Best Possible Medication History (BPMH) and to evaluate polypharmacy, PIMs, DDIs, and inappropriately prescribed RRDs on hospital admission, as well as to determine their mutual relationship and association with patients’ characteristics. An observational prospective study was conducted at the Internal Medicine Clinic of Clinical Hospital Dubrava. The study included 383 elderly patients. Overall, 49.9% of patients used 5−9 prescription medications and 31.8% used 10 or more medications. EU(7)-PIMs occurred in 80.7% (n = 309) of the participants. In total, 90.6% of participants had ≥1 potential DDI. In total, 43.6% of patients were found to have estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, of which 64.7% of patients had one or more inappropriately prescribed RRDs. The clinical pharmacist detected a high incidence of polypharmacy, PIMs, DDIs, and inappropriately prescribed RRDs on hospital admission. This study highlights the importance of early detection of pharmacotherapy problems by using the BPMH in order to prevent their circulation during a hospital stay. The positive correlations between polypharmacy, PIMs, DDIs, and inappropriately prescribed RRDs indicate that they are not independent, but rather occur simultaneously.

Potentially inappropriate medication use by level of polypharmacy among US Veterans 49-64 and 65-70 years old

BACKGROUND

Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are medications contra-indicated in particular circumstances. We sought to characterize PIMs by level of polypharmacy by age, sex, and race/ethnicity.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional drug dispensing study using electronic health records available through the US Department of Veterans Affairs. We extracted pharmacy fill and refill records during fiscal year 2016 (i.e., October 1, 2015-September 30, 2016) for all patients aged 49-70 who accessed care in the preceding fiscal year. PIMs were defined by the combined Beers and Laroche (henceforth Beers Laroche) criteria used for older patients and the PROMPT criteria used for middle-aged.

RESULTS

In the 1 499 586 patients aged 49-64, PIMs prevalence by PROMPT in patients with 0-4, 5-9, and ≥10 medications was 14.0%, 62.2%, and 86.1%, respectively, and by Beers Laroche was 14.3%, 63.4%, and 85.7%, respectively. In the 1 249 119 patients aged 65-70, PIMs prevalence by Beers Laroche was 14.8%, 59.9%, and 83.3%, and by PROMPT was 13.9%, 57.4%, and 82.0%, respectively. Meaningful differences in prevalence were shown by sex and race/ethnicity according to both set of criteria (e.g. PROMPT in patients with 5-9 medications: 66.1% women vs. 59.3% men; standardized-mean-differences [SMD] = 0.14; 61.7% of White vs. 54.5% of non-White; SMD = 0.15). The most common PIMs were digestive, analgesic, antidiabetic, and psychotropic medications.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of PIMs was high and increased with polypharmacy. Beers Laroche and PROMPT provided similar estimations inside and outside their target age, suggesting that PIMs are common among those with polypharmacy regardless of age.

Which Potentially Inappropriate Medications List Can Detect Patients At Risk of Readmissions in the Older Adult Population Admitted for Falls? An Observational Multicentre Study Using a Clinical Data Warehouse

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Hospital readmissions are common in the older adult population and potentially inappropriate medications are known to be involved in these readmissions. Several lists of potentially inappropriate medications have been published in diverse countries in order to adapt the lists to local specificities. Among them, the Beers Criteria^® were first published in 1991 in the USA, followed by the French Laroche list, the Norwegian NORGEP criteria, the German PRISCUS list, the Austrian consensus panel list and the European list, EU-7. The main objective was to detect which potentially inappropriate medications list can better detect hospital readmissions within 30 days in the older adult population hospitalised for fall-related injuries.

METHODS

We conducted a multicentre, observational, retrospective cohort study. Data from older patients initially hospitalised for falls in 2019 and discharged home were retrieved from the Clinical Data Warehouse. Exposure to potentially inappropriate medications was classified according to the six lists mentioned above. The local ethics committee approved the study protocol (number CER-2020-79).

RESULTS

After adjustments using propensity score matching, taking a potentially inappropriate medication as per the Laroche and PRISCUS lists was associated with a 30-day hospital readmission with an odds ratio of 1.58 (95% confidence interval 1.06-2.37) and 1.68 (95% confidence interval 1.13-2.50), respectively, while the other four studied lists showed no associations with readmissions.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study evidenced that not all lists published allow the accurate prediction of hospital readmissions to the same extent. We found that the Laroche and PRISCUS lists were associated with increased 30-day all-cause hospital readmissions after an index admission with a fall-related injury.

Prevalence and direct costs of potentially inappropriate prescriptions in France: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIPs) in the older population remain a growing public health concern due to the many associated adverse events increasing healthcare service use and health costs. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and direct costs of PIPs in older adults aged ≥65 years in France.

METHODS

A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 using a representative sample of the French national healthcare reimbursement system database. PIPs were defined using the French REMEDI[e]S tool. Overall reimbursed direct costs and by PIP category were extrapolated to the French older population.

RESULTS

The overall PIP prevalence was estimated at 56.7% (95% CI: 56.4-57.0). Medications with an unfavorable benefit/risk ratio had the highest prevalence (34.0%, 95% CI: 33.7-34.3). Direct costs associated with PIPs represented 6.3% of the total reimbursed medication costs in 2017 (€507 million). Drug duplications were the main contributors to these costs (39.2% of the total reimbursed PIP costs, €199 million) and among all PIPs, proton pump inhibitors (>8 weeks) were the most expensive PIPs (€152 million).

CONCLUSIONS

PIP prevalence is still high among French older adults, with substantial direct costs. Large-scale interventions targeting the most prevalent and/or costly PIPs are needed to reduce their clinical and economic impacts.

Potentially Inappropriate Medication and Associated Factors Among Older Patients with Chronic Coronary Syndrome at Hospital Discharge in Beijing, China

Purpose

Medication therapy is crucial in the management of chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). The use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) contributes to poor outcomes in older patients, making it a major public health concern. However, few studies are available on PIMs use in older Chinese CCS patients. To investigate the frequency of prescribed PIMs at discharge and explore risk factors in older adults with CCS.

Patients and Methods

The cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in China over three months, from 1st October to 31st December, 2019. CCS patients aged over 60 years who were discharged alive were recruited. Information on demographics and medications at discharge was collected. Clinical data including diagnoses, frailty status, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (ACCI) were evaluated in each patient. PIMs were identified using the 2019 Beers criteria. Binary logistic regression was performed to recognize variables related to PIMs.

Results

A total of 447 eligible patients with 2947 medications were included. The prevalence of PIMs use was 38%. Medications to be avoided, to be used with caution, and with drug–drug interactions were 38.4%, 48.9% and 12.7% of the PIMs, respectively. Medications with drug–disease/syndrome interactions and those adjusted for kidney function were not identified. The common PIMs were diuretics (37.1%), benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine receptor agonist hypnotics (15.2%), glimepiride (13.1%), and co-prescription of potassium-sparing diuretics and renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors (9.7%). Individuals with frailty syndrome, polypharmacy, multiple comorbidities, atrial fibrillation, psychiatric disorders and greater NYHA class severity were more likely to receive PIMs.

Conclusion

Prescription of PIMs was a common burden in older adults. A CCS multidisciplinary team is needed to control PIMs, especially in vulnerable older patients.

Patient- and Prescriber-Related Factors Associated with Potentially Inappropriate Medications and Drug-Drug Interactions in Older Adults

We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use and drug–drug interactions (DDIs) in older adults and their associated factors. This cross-sectional study used National Health Insurance data of older adults in South Korea. The 2015 AGS Beers Criteria were used to classify PIM use and DDIs. The associations of PIM use and DDIs with patient- and prescriber-related factors were evaluated using multiple logistic regression. Of the older adults who received at least one outpatient prescription (N = 1,277,289), 73.0% and 13.3% received one or more prescriptions associated with PIM use or DDIs, respectively. Chlorphenamine was most commonly associated with PIM, followed by diazepam. Co-prescriptions of corticosteroids and NSAIDs accounted for 82.8% of DDIs. Polypharmacy and mainly visiting surgeons or neurologists/psychiatrists were associated with a higher likelihood of prescriptions associated with PIM use or DDIs. Older age, high continuity of care (COC), and mainly visiting a hospital were associated with a lower likelihood of PIM use or DDIs. Prescriptions associated with PIM use and DDIS were more frequent for low COC patients or those who mainly visited clinics; therefore, patients with these characteristics are preferred intervention targets for reducing prescriptions associated with PIM use and DDIs.

Risk of Hospital Readmission among Older Patients Discharged from the Rehabilitation Unit in a Rural Community Hospital: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Rehabilitation for hospitalized older people can improve their independence for performing activities of daily living (ADL), but determining its appropriateness can be challenging because of inherent limitations in their ADL and short life expectancy. Thus, we aimed to clarify the benefit of rehabilitation among older Japanese patients. We retrospectively evaluated consecutive older patients (age > 65 years) admitted to the rehabilitation unit of a rural community hospital between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2020. The primary outcome measure was readmission for acute conditions. Of the 732 patients evaluated, 311 patients (42.5%) were readmitted. Readmission was significantly associated with body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.001), dependent condition (p < 0.001), higher cognitive domain scores in the functional independence measure (FIM) (p = 0.019), and polypharmacy (p = 0.026). The most frequent cause of readmission was pyelonephritis (11.9%), followed by pneumonia (10.9%), compression fracture (10.6%), heat stroke (8.4%), and cerebral stroke (8.0%). In conclusion, older Japanese patients discharged from rehabilitation units have lower readmission rates than those previously reported. Thus, better nutritional control, a multidisciplinary approach to the management of cognitive dysfunction, and a decrease in polypharmacy could be associated with improved outcomes among discharged older patients.