1. The when, why, and how of using glycopyrronium to diminish drooling in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities: Implications for clinical practice.
- Author
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Orriëns, Lynn B., van der Burg, Jan J.W., van den Hoogen, Frank J.A., Willemsen, Michèl A.A.P., van Hulst, Karen, and Erasmus, Corrie E.
- Subjects
DROOLING ,GLYCOPYRROLATE ,BURDEN of care ,TELEPHONE interviewing ,PEOPLE with disabilities ,SOCIAL interaction ,CHILDREN with disabilities - Abstract
Despite the established efficacy of glycopyrronium bromide in reducing drooling among children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, evidence on its impact on the daily lives of children and parents and effectiveness in a real-world setting are scarce, especially among long-term users. This study explored timing and duration of glycopyrronium treatment, effect and impact on daily life, and occurrence of side effects to inform clinical practice. This was a retrospective cohort study at a national referral centre for drooling, including 61 children with nonprogressive neurodevelopmental disabilities, treated with glycopyrronium for anterior and/or posterior drooling between 2011 and 2021. Data were obtained from medical records and supplemented by structured telephone interviews with parents. Anterior drooling severity decreased in 82% of the included children. Changes in the impact of drooling on burden of care, social interaction, and self-esteem were reported in 55%, 31%, and 36%, respectively. Side effects were noted for 71% of cases, yet only 36% of parents deemed these as outweighing the positive impact of treatment. A substantial majority (77%) of the included children were long-term users (≥6 months). Among these, 38% of parents reported decreasing effectiveness and 27% noticed more prominent side effects over time. Glycopyrronium demonstrated potential in mitigating the impact of drooling on daily life, although variations were observed in the specific aspects and extent of improvement. The real-world context of our study provides important insights for refining clinical practices, emphasizing the need for balanced consideration of treatment benefits and potential side effects to facilitate shared decision-making. • Long-term glycopyrronium use, beyond 24 weeks, is prevalent among included children. • Glycopyrronium showed potential to mitigate the impact of drooling in daily life. • Changes in impact were contingent on drooling severity and varied across individuals. • Side effects were common yet expectable, emphasizing the need for close monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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