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Effects of medication reviews on use of potentially inappropriate medications in elderly patients; a cross-sectional study in Swedish primary care

Lenander, Cecilia LU ; Bondesson, Åsa LU ; Viberg, Nina LU ; Beckman, Anders LU orcid and Midlöv, Patrik LU orcid (2018) In BMC Health Services Research 18.
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Drug use among the elderly population is generally extensive and the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) is common, which increases the risk for drug-related problems (DRP). Medication reviews are one method to improve drug therapy by identifying, preventing and solving DRPs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of medication reviews on total drug use and potentially inappropriate drug use in elderly patients, as well as describe the occurrence and types of drug-related problems.

METHOD: This was a cross-sectional analysis to study medication reviews conducted by trained clinical pharmacists followed by team-based discussions with general practitioners (GPs) and nurses, for elderly primary... (More)

BACKGROUND: Drug use among the elderly population is generally extensive and the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) is common, which increases the risk for drug-related problems (DRP). Medication reviews are one method to improve drug therapy by identifying, preventing and solving DRPs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of medication reviews on total drug use and potentially inappropriate drug use in elderly patients, as well as describe the occurrence and types of drug-related problems.

METHOD: This was a cross-sectional analysis to study medication reviews conducted by trained clinical pharmacists followed by team-based discussions with general practitioners (GPs) and nurses, for elderly primary care patients in Skåne, Sweden. Included in the analysis were patients ≥75 years living in nursing homes or in their own homes with home care, who received a medication review during 2011-2012. Documented DRPs were described as both the type of DRPs and as pharmacists' recommendations to the GP. The usage of ≥3 psychotropics and PIMs (antipsychotics, anticholinergics, long-acting benzodiazepines, tramadol and propiomazine) at baseline and after medication review were also studied.

RESULTS: The analysis included a total of 1720 patients. They were on average aged 87.5 years, used typically 11.3 drugs (range 1-35) and 61% of them used 10 drugs or more. Of the patients, 84% had at least one DRP with a mean of 2.2 DRPs/patient. Of the DRPs, 12% were attributable to PIMs. The proportion of patients with ≥ one PIM was reduced significantly (p < 0.001) as was the use of ≥3 psychotropics (p < 0.001). The most common DRP was unnecessary drug therapy (39%), followed by dose too high (21%) and wrong drug (20%). Drug withdrawal was the most common result.

CONCLUSION: This study shows that medication reviews performed in everyday care are one way of improving drug use among elderly patients. The use of potentially inappropriate medications and use of three or more psychotropic drugs decreased after the medication review. Our study also shows that drug use is extensive in nursing home residents and elderly patients with homecare, and that unnecessary drug therapy is a common problem.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
BMC Health Services Research
volume
18
article number
616
pages
9 pages
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • pmid:30086742
  • scopus:85051165625
ISSN
1472-6963
DOI
10.1186/s12913-018-3425-y
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3f2eddeb-ceab-4a61-986a-72406d7e8926
date added to LUP
2018-08-11 14:44:41
date last changed
2024-06-24 17:51:07
@article{3f2eddeb-ceab-4a61-986a-72406d7e8926,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: Drug use among the elderly population is generally extensive and the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) is common, which increases the risk for drug-related problems (DRP). Medication reviews are one method to improve drug therapy by identifying, preventing and solving DRPs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of medication reviews on total drug use and potentially inappropriate drug use in elderly patients, as well as describe the occurrence and types of drug-related problems.</p><p>METHOD: This was a cross-sectional analysis to study medication reviews conducted by trained clinical pharmacists followed by team-based discussions with general practitioners (GPs) and nurses, for elderly primary care patients in Skåne, Sweden. Included in the analysis were patients ≥75 years living in nursing homes or in their own homes with home care, who received a medication review during 2011-2012. Documented DRPs were described as both the type of DRPs and as pharmacists' recommendations to the GP. The usage of ≥3 psychotropics and PIMs (antipsychotics, anticholinergics, long-acting benzodiazepines, tramadol and propiomazine) at baseline and after medication review were also studied.</p><p>RESULTS: The analysis included a total of 1720 patients. They were on average aged 87.5 years, used typically 11.3 drugs (range 1-35) and 61% of them used 10 drugs or more. Of the patients, 84% had at least one DRP with a mean of 2.2 DRPs/patient. Of the DRPs, 12% were attributable to PIMs. The proportion of patients with ≥ one PIM was reduced significantly (p &lt; 0.001) as was the use of ≥3 psychotropics (p &lt; 0.001). The most common DRP was unnecessary drug therapy (39%), followed by dose too high (21%) and wrong drug (20%). Drug withdrawal was the most common result.</p><p>CONCLUSION: This study shows that medication reviews performed in everyday care are one way of improving drug use among elderly patients. The use of potentially inappropriate medications and use of three or more psychotropic drugs decreased after the medication review. Our study also shows that drug use is extensive in nursing home residents and elderly patients with homecare, and that unnecessary drug therapy is a common problem.</p>}},
  author       = {{Lenander, Cecilia and Bondesson, Åsa and Viberg, Nina and Beckman, Anders and Midlöv, Patrik}},
  issn         = {{1472-6963}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Health Services Research}},
  title        = {{Effects of medication reviews on use of potentially inappropriate medications in elderly patients; a cross-sectional study in Swedish primary care}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3425-y}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s12913-018-3425-y}},
  volume       = {{18}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}