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Current research aims at improving early detection and treatment of cognitive impairment (CI), particularly in patients at high risk for progression to dementia. It is important to treat signs and symptoms as early as possible to normalize quality of life. In older cognitively impaired patients, dentists and physicians should consider polypharmacy, uncontrolled cardiovascular risk factors, depression, metabolic or endocrine derangements, delirium due to intercurrent illness, and dementia, all of which may increase risk for CI and other negative outcomes. An interdisciplinary team approach is a necessity for a responsible and safe treatment sequence.

Objective This study is designed to assess the polypharmacy use by elderly patients having multimorbidity in Kirkuk, Iraq Methodology. This descriptive cross sectional study conducted over one year period (1 January - 31 December, 2017) with 105 adults (75 females and 30 males) aged ≥65 years, who attended outpatient clinic of the Geriatric Medicine Department in Azadi Teaching Hospital in Kirkuk Province in Iraq. Patients with ≥2 considered as multimorbidity subjects and patients taking >5 medications considered as polypharmacy subjects. Data were collected directly from the patients by face-to-face interview technique Results The mean age was 70.49±3.88 years. The most common diseases were Hypertension and diabetes mellitus (n: 105, 100%). It was determined that (n: 95, 90.5%) of patients aged 65 to 74 years and (n: 10, 9.5%) of patients aged 75 to 82 years had multimorbidity, the difference between the two age groups was statistically significant. The mean number of drugs used by participants was 7.3±1.1 drug/ day, the highest polypharmacy was 6,7 and 8 drugs per day (n: 31, 29.52%), (n: 30, 28.57%) and (n: 30, 28.57%) respectively. There was a statistical significant increase in polypharmacy with the increase in the multimorbidity. Conclusion The prevalence of polypharmacyin multimorbid elderly patients was very high.

To assess the prevalence and potential risk factors for polypharmacy and prescribing of the potentially inappropriate medications, opioids and benzodiazepines/Z-drugs, in older adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).The study population comprised adults age ≥50 years meeting American College of Rheumatology or Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics classification criteria followed at a tertiary care rheumatology clinic. Information on prescriptions filled in the 4 months preceding chart review was obtained from the Manitoba Drug Program Information Network. Clinical data, including age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 score, prednisone use, SLE duration, and rural residence were abstracted from electronic medical records. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess any association between polypharmacy (using 2 definitions: ≥5 and ≥10 medications), potentially inappropriate medication use, and clinical features.A total of 206 patients (mean age 62 years, 91% female, 36% rural) were included: 148 (72%) filled ≥5 medications, 71 (35%) filled ≥10 medications, 63 (31%) used benzodiazepines/Z-drugs, and 50 (24%) used opioids. Among the 77 patients age ≥65 years, 57 (74%) filled ≥5 medications, and 26 (34%) filled ≥10 medications, compared to 30% and 4%, respectively, of Manitobans age ≥65 years (National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System, 2016). The odds of polypharmacy were greater with prednisone use (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.70 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.40-9.79] for ≥5 medications), CCI score (adjusted OR 1.62 [95% CI 1.20-2.17]), and rural residence (adjusted OR 2.05 [95% CI 1.01-4.18]). Odds of benzodiazepine/Z-drug use were increased with polypharmacy (adjusted OR 4.35 [95% CI 1.69-11.22]), and odds of opioid use were increased with polypharmacy (adjusted OR 6.75 [95% CI 1.93-23.69]) and CCI score (adjusted OR 1.29 [95% CI 1.08-1.54]).The prevalence of polypharmacy in this SLE cohort was higher than in the general Manitoban population. Polypharmacy is a strong marker for use of prescription benzodiazepines/Z-drugs and opioids.

Retroperitoneal haemorrhage (RH) is not uncommon in patients with provoking events like trauma. However, spontaneous RH (SRH) is a rare and life-threatening complication described as the development of bleeding into the retroperitoneal cavity, appearing spontaneously and without a preceding history of trauma or other predisposing illness. We are reporting a case of an elderly patient with recurrent deep vein thrombosis who had developed SRH secondary to concurrent use of multiple anticoagulation agents, resulting from poor healthcare follow-up and lack of sufficient medication reconciliation. This article highlights the significance of recognising risk factors for SRH, as well as management strategies through literature review.

Objective: There is a lack of studies on the natural history of the initial stages of schizophrenia in Colombia. This study aims to assess functionality in the first five years after the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Methods: Naturalistic longitudinal study of 50 patients with early schizophrenia evaluated between 2011 and 2014. Data about demographic background, symptoms, introspection, treatment and adverse reactions were collected in all patients every 3 months for at least 3-5 years. Functionality was measured with the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scales. Results: Patients were followed up for a mean of 174 ± 62.5 weeks and showed moderate difficulties in overall functioning. This functioning was modified by polypharmacy, degree of introspection, changes in antipsychotic regimens, and the number of episodes, relapses and hospitalisations. Conclusions: The results suggest that functional outcomes seem to be related to the use of polypharmacy, degree of insight, changes in antipsychotic regimens, and number of episodes, relapses and hospitalisations during the first years of schizophrenia. RESUMEN Objetivo: Existe una falta de estudios en la historia natural de los estadios iniciales de la esquizofrenia en Colombia. Este estudio apunta a evaluar la funcionalidad en los primeros cinco años después del diagnóstico de esquizofrenia. Método: Estudio longitudinal naturalístico de 50 pacientes con esquizofrenia temprana evaluados entre los anos 2011 y 2014. Loa datos demográficos, síntomas, introspección, tratamiento, y reacciones adversas fueron recolectados en todos los pacientes cada 3 meses por lo menos3a5anos. La funcionalidad se midió mediante la escala global de funcionamiento (GAF), y la escala de funcionamiento personal y social (PSP). Resultados: Los pacientes fueron seguidos por una media de 174 semanas (SD: 62.5) y mostraron dificultades moderadas en su funcionamiento global. Este funcionamiento fue modificado por la presencia de polifarmacia, grado de introspección, cambios en los esquemas antipsicóticos, y el número de episodios, recaídas, y hospitalizaciones. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que los desenlaces en funcionalidad parecen estar relacionados con uso de polifarmacia, grado de introspección, cambios en esquemas antipsicóticos, y numero de episodios, recaídas, y hospitalizaciones durante los primeros años de esquizofrenia.

Background The imperative to identify patients at risk of medication-related harm has never been greater. Hospital clinicians cannot easily predict risk of readmission or harm. Candidate variables associated with medication-related harm derived from the literature or significantly represented in a complex patient cohort have been previously described by PHarmacie-4. With a focus on polypharmacy and high-risk medicines in vulnerable patient cohorts, PHarmacie-4 was easy to use and highlighted risks. However it over-estimated risk, reducing its usefulness in stratifying risk of readmission. Objective Develop a risk prediction tool built into a smart phone app, enabling clinicians to identify and refer high-risk patients for an early post-discharge medicines review. Demonstrate usability, real world application and validity in an independent dataset. Methods A retrospective, observational study was conducted with 1201 randomly selected patients admitted to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital between June 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016. Patient characteristics and outcomes of interest were reported, including unplanned hospital utilisation at 30, 60 and 90 days post-discharge. Using multivariable logistic regression modelling, an algorithm was developed, built into a smart phone app and used and validated in an independent dataset. Results 738 patients (61%) were included in the derivation sample. The best predictive performance was achieved by PHarmacie-R (C-statistic 0.72, 95% CI 0.68–0.75) which included PHarmacie-4 risk variables, a non-linear effect of age, unplanned hospital utilisation in the preceding six months and gender. The independent validation dataset had a C-statistic of 0.64 (95% CI 0.56–0.72). Conclusion PHarmacie-R is the first readmission risk prediction tool, built into a smart phone app, focussing on polypharmacy and high-risk medicines in vulnerable patients. It can assist clinical pharmacists to identify medical inpatients who may benefit from early post-discharge medication management services. External validation is needed to enable application in other clinical settings.

Objectives To better understand patterns of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) from the Beers criteria among older adults hospitalized with heart failure (HF). Design/Setting Observational study of hospitalizations derived from the geographically-diverse REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort. Participants We examined participants aged ≥65 years with an expert-adjudicated hospitalization for HF. Measurements Beers criteria medications were abstracted from medical records. Results The prevalence of PIMs was 61.1% at admission and 64.0% at discharge. Participants were taking a median of 1 (IQR: 0-1) PIM at hospital admission and a median of 1 (IQR: 0-2) PIM at hospital discharge. Between admission and discharge, 19.1% of patients experienced an increase in the number of PIMs, 15.1% experienced a decrease, and 37% remained on the same number between hospital admission and discharge. The medications with the greatest increase from admission to discharge were proton pump inhibitors (32.6% to 38.6%) and amiodarone (6.2% to 12.2%). The strongest determinant of potentially harmful prescribing patterns was polypharmacy (RR: 1.34, 95% CI: [1.16-1.55], p Conclusions PIMs are common among older adults hospitalized for HF and may be an important target to improve outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Objective The ketogenic diet therapy is a time-tested and potent non-pharmacologic treatment for epilepsy. However, the study of the ketogenic diet in patients with genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) is not widely established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the modified Atkins diet, a variation of the ketogenic diets, as a treatment for drug-resistant GGE. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed in patients with epilepsy treated with the modified Atkins diet at the University of Chicago from 2017 to 2020. For three months following diet initiation, participants were monitored for diet tolerability and effect on seizures. Response to the treatment was recorded by self-reporting patients and guardians. Results Thirteen patients with a diagnosis of drug-resistant GGE were identified. An average of 3.8 anti-seizure medications (ASMs) had been tried and 3.4 years had elapsed from seizure onset before dietary therapy was attempted. Patients were receiving a mean of 2.2 ASMs at the time of diet initiation. After undergoing dietary treatment for three months, 12/13 (92%) patients experienced a greater than 50% reduction in seizure frequency, 6/13 (46%) patients became seizure-free, and 7/13 (54%) were able to discontinue at least one ASM. All patients completed at least three months of dietary therapy with an average duration of 9.3 months at the time of report. One patient reported side effects of fatigue which may be attributed to the diet. Significance The modified Atkins diet has shown to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for children with drug-resistant GGE. The diet provides the additional benefit of aiding to discontinue ASMs and, therefore, minimize the side effects from polypharmacy. Given these results, it seems reasonable to consider the modified Atkins diet as an alternative and possibly earlier treatment option for patients with drug-resistant GGE.

Introduction: Transitional care programs (i.e. interventions delivered both in hospital and in primary care), could increase continuity and consequently quality of care. However, limited studies on the effect of these programs on Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) post-discharge are available. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a transitional pharmaceutical care program on the occurrence of ADEs 4 weeks post-discharge.Methods: A multicentre prospective before-after study was performed in a general teaching hospital, a university hospital and 49 community pharmacies. The transitional pharmaceutical care program consisted of: teach-back to the patient at discharge, a pharmaceutical discharge letter, a home visit by a community pharmacist and a clinical medication review by both the community and the clinical pharmacist, on top of usual care. Usual care consisted of medication reconciliation at admission and discharge by pharmacy teams. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who reported at least 1 ADE 4 weeks post-discharge. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for potential confounders.Results: In total, 369 patients were included (control: n = 195, intervention: n = 174). The proportion of patients with at least 1 ADE did not statistically significant differ between the intervention and control group (general teaching hospital: 59% vs. 67%, ORadj 0.70 [95% CI 0.38–1.31], university hospital: 63% vs 50%, OR adj 1.76 [95% CI 0.75–4.13]).Conclusion: The transitional pharmaceutical care program did not decrease the proportion of patients with ADEs after discharge. ADEs after discharge were common and more than 50% of patients reported at least 1 ADE. A process evaluation is needed to gain insight into how a transitional pharmaceutical care program could diminish those ADEs.

INTRODUCTION Proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) are frequently prescribed for wide gastrointestinal disorders. The indications are well established, although a high rate of misuse has been reported. METHODS Observation cross-sectional study conducted a tertiary hospital. Adult patients who attended the emergency department were eligible. The appropriate indication was evaluated. Also, the prescription period, dosage and the prescribing clinician were reviewed. RESULTS 300 patients were included. The indication was adequate in 142 patients (47.3%). The main indication was the primary prophylaxis for NSAIDs/ASA-induced enteropathy (n=95 patients, 31.7%). Polypharmacy was the main misuse indication (n=82 patients, 27.3%). The median prescription duration was 31 months (IQR 9-72), ranging from one month to 360 months. The duration was lower in those with correct indication (42.3 vs 59.6 months, P=.02). The primary care physician was the main responsible for prescription (n=165 patients, 55%), followed by gastroenterologist (n=38 patients, 12.7%) without significant differences in appropriateness by speciality. CONCLUSIONS Studies like this raise awareness about the PPI overuse and misuse. Deprescribing should be considered as essential to reduce iatrogenic risk and redundant health expenditure.

Background Polypharmacy, the use of multiple medications by one individual, may be associated with adverse health outcomes including poor cognition. However, it remains unclear whether a longitudinal relationship exists. Objectives To investigate the association between polypharmacy and 3-year cognitive ability in older adults. Methods A longitudinal cohort study of older adults 65 years and older, residing in the community, who participated in waves 12 (2012), 13 (2013) and 16 (2016) of the Household Income and Labour Dynamics (HILDA) Survey was conducted. Polypharmacy was defined as the regular use of 5 or more prescription medications. Cognitive ability was assessed using backwards digit span test (BDS), 25-item version of the National Adult Reading Test (NART-25) and symbol-digit modalities test (SDM). Linear regression was used to test the longitudinal association between polypharmacy and cognitive test scores at 3 years. All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, education, comorbidities, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors, and baseline cognitive test scores. Results A total of 2141 participants (mean age 72.9 years, 54.4% female) were included in the study sample. Polypharmacy was present in 27.3%. After adjusting for potential confounders, polypharmacy was negatively associated with cognitive ability at 3 years: BDS: −0.067 (95% CI = −0.353 to −0.051), NART-25: −0.071 (95% CI = −1.428 to −0.294), SDM: −0.073 (95% CI = −2.960 to −0.696). Conclusion Polypharmacy was associated with poorer cognitive ability at 3 years, even after adjusting for comorbidities and other confounders. Future research should consider the long-term impact of polypharmacy on cognitive ability, and identify strategies to optimise medication use and cognition in older adults.

Background Medication self-management is complicated for older people. Little is known about older persons’ considerations and decisions concerning medication therapy at home. Objective (s): To explore how older people living at home self-manage their medication and what considerations and decisions underpin their medication self-management behavior. Methods Semi-structured interviews with consenting participants (living at home, aged ≥65, ≥5 different prescription medications daily) were recorded and transcribed with supporting photographs. Content was analyzed with a directed approach and presented according to three phases of medication self-management (initiation, execution, and discontinuation). Results Sixty people were interviewed. In the initiation phase, participants used different techniques to inform healthcare professionals and to fill and check prescriptions. Over-the-counter medication was seldom discussed, and potential interactions were unknown to the participants. Some participants decided to not start treatment after reading the patient information leaflets for fear of side effects. In the execution phase, participants had various methods for integrating the use of new and chronic medication in daily life. Usage problems were discussed with healthcare professionals, but side effects were not discussed, since the participants were not aware that the signs and symptoms of side effects could be medication-related. Furthermore, participants stored medication in various (sometimes incorrect) ways and devised their own systems for ordering and filling repeat prescriptions. In the discontinuation phase, some participants decided to stop or change doses by themselves (because of side effects, therapeutic effects, or a lack of effect). They also mentioned different considerations regarding medication disposal and disposed their medication (in)correctly, stored it for future use, or distributed it to others. Conclusions Participants’ considerations and decisions led to the following: problems in organizing medication intake, inadequate discussion of medication-related information with healthcare professionals, and incorrect and undesirable medication storage and disposal. There is a need for medication self-management observation, monitoring, and assistance by healthcare professionals.

Introduction The Veterans Health Administration (VA) Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PC-MHI) initiative targets depression (MDD), anxiety/posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol misuse (AM) for care improvement. In primary care, case finding often relies on depression screening. Whereas clinical practice guidelines solely inform management of depression, minimal information exists to guide treatment when psychiatric symptom clusters coexist. We provide descriptive clinical information for care planners about VA PC patients with depression alone, depression plus alcohol misuse, and depression with complex psychiatric comorbidities (PTSD and/or probable bipolar disorder). Method We examined data from a VA study that used a visit-based sampling procedure to screen 10,929 VA PC patients for depression; 761 patients with probable major depression completed baseline measures of health and care engagement. Follow-up assessments were completed at 7 months. Results At baseline, 53% of patients evidenced mental health conditions in addition to depression; 10% had concurrent AM, and 43% had psychiatrically complex depression (either with or without AM). Compared with patients with depression alone or depression with AM, those with psychiatrically complex depression evinced longer standing and more severe mood disturbance, higher likelihood of suicidal ideation, higher unemployment, and higher levels of polypharmacy. Baseline depression complexity predicted worse mental health status and functioning at follow-up. Discussion A substantial proportion of VA primary care patients with depression presented with high medical multimorbidity and elevated safety concerns. Psychiatrically complex depression predicted lower treatment effectiveness, suggesting that PC-MHI interventions should co-ordinate and individualize care for these patients. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Objectives Geriatric depression is difficult to treat and frequently accompanied by treatment resistance, suicidal ideations and polypharmacy. New adjunctive mind-body treatment strategies can improve clinical outcomes in geriatric depression and reduce risk for side-effects of pharmacological treatments. Methods We conducted a 3-month randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy and tolerability of combining Tai Chi Chih (TCC) or Health Education and Wellness training (HEW) with the stable standard antidepressant treatment on mood and cognitive functioning in depressed older adults (NCT02460666). Primary outcome was change in depression as assessed by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) post-treatment. Remission was defined as HAM-D ≤ 6; naturalistic follow-up continued for 6 months. We also assessed psychological resilience, health-related quality of life and cognition. Results Of the 178 randomized participants, 125 completed the 3-month assessment and 117 completed the 6-month assessment. Dropout and tolerability did not differ between groups. Remission rate within TCC was 35.5% and 33.3%, compared to 27.0% and 45.8% in HEW, at 3 and 6 months respectively (χ2(1) = 1.0, p = 0.3; χ2(1) = 1.9, p =0.2). Both groups improved significantly on the HAM-D at 3 and 6 months. TCC demonstrated a greater improvement in general health compared to HEW. Conclusions Both TCC and HEW combined with a standard antidepressant treatment improved symptoms of depression in older adults. While TCC was superior to HEW in improving general health, we did not find group differences in improvement in mood and cognition.

This seminar in epileptology addresses Learning Objective 6.1.4 of the International League against Epilepsy Curriculum: Demonstrate the ability to recognize and manage the special needs of persons with epilepsy (and Neurodevelopmental Disorders [NDDs]). The review identifies the essential competencies for neurologists working with people with epilepsy and NDDs, and these competencies are discussed alongside clinical examples. Furthermore, the seminar explores the opportunities offered by integrated service provision between neurology and services for NDD. The epileptic encephalopathies are not a subject of this seminar paper as they are circumscribed by other ILAE learning objectives. This seminar frames the complexity of seizures in association with NDD with a focus on major NDDs; intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The evidence presented considers epidemiology, co-morbidities, risk factors, mortality, and the diagnostic and treatment challenges. People with NDDs and epilepsy have higher rates of physical and psychiatric co-morbidity, polypharmacy, neuropsychiatric side effects of drugs, and premature mortality including sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. There is a limited Level 1 evidence base to guide assessment and treatment for seizures in adults with NDDs. Therefore, throughout this seminar, the evidence presented for associations and treatment should be observed in context along with its limitations. The evidence for pharmacological treatment of seizures in association with NDDs is presented alongside expert commentary and guidance. There is Level 2 evidence to support treatment with some of the newer anti-seizure medications including brivaracetam, lacosamide, eslicarbazepine acetate, and perampanel as second-line choices. Seizures with a co-morbid NDD should be considered as a collective complex clinical presentation and not discrete conditions. This seminar was co-designed, co-produced and co-authored by an expert by experience and includes case studies and a video to highlight what can go wrong and how it can be avoided.

Aims: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including ketoprofen, induce adverse effects within the gastrointestinal (GI)-tract. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an antioxidative gaseous mediator contribu...

Over-the-counter (OTC) products such as pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, vitamins, and herbal remedies are widely available and copiously used by older adults for health maintenance and symptom management. Owing to physiology, multimorbidity, and polypharmacy, this population is particularly vulnerable to inappropriate use of OTC products, adverse effects, and drug interactions. While OTC pharmaceuticals are bound by FDA-approved standards, dietary supplements are regulated differently, resulting in variable quality and increased possibility for adulteration. Internationally, standards for OTC products vary widely. Accessible educational information, improved provider-patient communication, and revision of regulatory policy could improve safety for older adult users of OTC products.

Older adults continue to drink as they age. Aging changes alcohol kinetics just as with any other drug. Older adults have increased sensitivity to acute alcohol intake that accounts for the increased risk of falls, traffic accidents, and other injury. The Annual Medicare Wellness Exam is an excellent opportunity to introduce screening for unsafe drinking along with accumulated risks and deficits of aging. Older adults have responded well to brief interventions for unhealthy drinking. In the presence of alcohol use disorder or serious comorbidity including psychiatric illness, referral to specialized multidisciplinary care can be lifesaving.

Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common cause of disability in the UK. They are associated with significant morbidity and polypharmacy, particularly in an ageing population with multiple co-morbidities. Two programmes of examination that have been developed include a screening assessment (Gait, Arms, Legs, Spine (GALS)) and a more in-depth Regional Examination of the Musculoskeletal System (REMS). These programmes provide a structured assessment, which enables competent and confident examination skills, ensuring an accurate diagnosis.

У статті наведені сучасні методи діагностики та інтенсивної терапії функціональної кишкової непрохідності. Акцент зроблено на застосуванні мультимодального підходу до консервативного лікування парезу й атонії кишечника. Він передбачає передусім зменшення застосування медикаментів, що пригнічують перистальтику (наркотичних анальгетиків, надмірної інфузійної терапії), корекцію водно-електролітних порушень, а також раннє ентеральне харчування. На фоні такого підходу застосування прокінетиків, що детально описані в нашій роботі, стає значно ефективнішим. Під час вибору препаратів для стимуляції перистальтики кишечника слід уникати поліпрагмазії, і в цій публікації наведено найбільш авторитетні дані літератури щодо застосування прокінетиків та зроблено їх узагальнення. У роботі також наведені результати власних досліджень препаратів з низькою афінністю до мю-опіоїдних рецепторів. Крім того, ми описуємо досвід своїх клінічних спостережень як щодо короткочасного, так і щодо тривалого застосування таких препаратів у пацієнтів з різними формами функціональної кишкової непрохідності у м. Києві починаючи з 2011 р.

Проведено пошук у базах даних Scopus, Web of Science, MedLine, The Cochrane Library. Термін «поліфармація» на відміну від терміна «поліпрагмазія» не завжди має негативний відтінок, і його часто застосовують для позначення одночасного використання пацієнтом п’яти та більше лікарських засобів, а інтенсивною вважають поліфармацію у випадках, коли пацієнт одночасно вживає 10 і більше лікарських засобів. Однією з основних причин поліфармації є поліморбідність. Поліфармацію також можуть спричиняти тяжкий стан пацієнта, самолікування і невідповідні рекомендації, деякі демографічні фактори (вік, стать, рівень освіти), рівень розвитку системи охорони здоров’я. Поліфармація може бути відповідною (обґрунтованою), коли призначення великої кількості лікарських засобів виправдано, та невідповідною (проблемною), коли кількість призначених лікарських засобів неправильна та незбалансована. Проблемна поліфармація є проявом поліпрагмазії, при цьому кілька лікарських засобів призначають неналежним чином, що не дозволяє реалізувати передбачувану перевагу даних лікарських засобів, і ризик заподіяння шкоди від лікування перевищує користь внаслідок взаємодії лікарських засобів, виникнення побічних реакцій, збільшення економічного тягаря лікування. Особливо небезпечною є проблемна поліфармація для пацієнтів у тяжкому стані. Менеджмент проблемної поліфармації повинен базуватися на переведенні її у збалансовану форму. Обґрунтовується комбінація лікарських засобів, що дозволяє лікувати пацієнта ефективно, безпечно й економічно доцільно через попередження їх взаємодії та побічних ефектів. Як терапевтичне втручання може використовуватися відміна певних лікарських засобів, яку в кожного конкретного пацієнта потрібно здійснювати через оцінку переваг і ризиків. Для профілактики та корекції проблемної поліфармації в осіб похилого віку запропоновані критерії Beers, інструменти ARMOR, STOPP-START.

Background World Health Organization has prescribed drug use indicators for evaluating rational prescribing. Very few studies have been conducted on rational prescriptions for psychotropic drugs; hence, this study was undertaken at a tertiary care center of North India. Methods After obtaining approval of the Institutional Ethics Committee, all prescriptions deposited with the dispensary of the psychiatry department of the hospital between 01 October 2017 and 31 December 2017 were included in the study. The prescriptions were analyzed for drug use indicators, namely the average number of drugs per encounter, percentage of prescriptions with generic name, percentage of prescriptions from the essential drug list, percentage of prescriptions with antibiotics, and percentage of prescriptions with an injection. In addition, the prescriptions were analyzed for patterns of psychotropics prescribed. Results A total of 3770 prescriptions were analyzed. On an average, 2.35 medicines were prescribed per prescription. Injectable comprised 2.39% of prescriptions and fixed drug combinations were 0.16% of the total. Of all prescriptions, 91.3% were by generic name, while 55.02% of prescriptions were from the essential drug list. Polypharmacy constituted 4.53% of prescriptions. Risperidone, escitalopram, sodium valproate, and clonazepam were the most commonly prescribed drugs. Conclusion While we fared well with respect to the percentage of prescriptions with injections and those with an antibiotic, we have not been able to achieve the prescribed standards in prescription with generic names, number of drugs per prescription, and prescriptions from the essential drug list. The study emphasizes that there is scope for improvement.

Introduction Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) has been shown to reduce frailty in older patients in general. In older patients with cancer, frailty affects quality of life (QoL), physical function, and survival. However, few studies have examined the effect of CGA as an additional intervention to antineoplastic treatment. This protocol presents a randomized controlled trial, which aims to evaluate the effects of CGA-based interventions in older patients with cancer and Geriatric 8 (G8) identified frailty. Materials and Methods This randomized controlled trial will include patients, age 70+ years, with solid malignancies and G8 frailty (G8 ≤ 14). Patients will be separated into two groups, with different primary endpoints, depending on palliative or curative antineoplastic treatment initiation, and subsequently randomized 1:1 to either CGA with corresponding interventions or standard of care, along with standardized antineoplastic treatment. A geriatrician led CGA with corresponding interventions and clinical follow-up will be conducted within one month of antineoplastic treatment initiation. The interdisciplinary CGA will cover multiple geriatric domains and employ a standard set of validated assessment tools. Primary endpoints will be physical decline measured with the 30-s Chair-Stand-Test at three months (palliative setting) and unplanned hospital admissions at six months (curative setting). Additional outcomes include QoL, treatment toxicity and adherence, occurrence of polypharmacy, potential drug interactions, potential inappropriate medications, and survival. The primary outcomes will be analyzed using a mixed model regression analysis (30-s chair stand test) and linear regression models (unplanned hospitalizations), with an intention to treat approach. Power calculations reveal the need to enroll 134 (palliative) and 188 (curative) patients. Discussion The present study will examine whether CGA, as an additional intervention to antineoplastic treatment, can improve endpoints valued by older patients with cancer. Inclusion began November 2020 and is ongoing, with 37 and 29 patients recruited April 15th, 2021. Registration: NCT04686851

Background Potential drug–drug interactions (PDDIs) commonly occur because of aging and comorbidities in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH). Protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors have been reported to cause PDDIs in these patients. However, there are few reports of PDDIs in the era of treatment using integrase strand transfer inhibitors. Therefore, we investigated PDDIs in Japanese PLWH receiving antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). Methods This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted in Japanese outpatients. All eligible patients who had received ARV therapy for at least 48 weeks were enrolled. The primary endpoint was the incidence of PDDIs detected using the Lexicomp® interface. Results Of the 71 eligible patients, 51 (71.8%) were prescribed concomitant non-ARV medications. In 21 patients (29.6%), PDDIs with the potential to reduce the effects of ARVs occurred, although the HIV load was suppressed in all cases. Polypharmacy (the use of ≥5 non-ARVs) was observed in 25 patients (35.2%). There was a significantly higher median number of non-ARV medications in the PDDI group than in the non-PDDI group (6 vs. 3, P P Conclusions The incidence of PDDIs is relatively high in Japanese PLWH, even in the era of treatment using integrase strand transfer inhibitors. Therefore, it is important for patients and health care providers to be constantly aware of PDDIs associated with ARV treatment.

Aim: To compare anticholinergic burden (ACB) in older patients with and without cancer and evaluate the effects of ACB on geriatric syndromes. Methods: A total of 291 patients from the geriatric clinic and 301 patients from the oncology clinic were evaluated. ACB

Background This study aims to examine polypharmacy (PP) prevalence in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stage G4/G5 and patients with kidney replacement therapy (KRT) compared with matched controls from the general population. Furthermore, we examine risk factors for PP and describe the most commonly dispensed medications. Methods Dutch health claims data were used to identify three patient groups: CKD Stage G4/G5, dialysis and kidney transplant patients. Each patient was matched to two controls based on age, sex and socio-economic status (SES) score. We differentiated between ‘all medication use’ and ‘chronic medication use’. PP was defined at three levels: use of ≥5 medications (PP), ≥10 medications [excessive PP (EPP)] and ≥15 medications [hyper PP (HPP)]. Results The PP prevalence for all medication use was 87, 93 and 95% in CKD Stage G4/G5, dialysis and kidney transplant patients, respectively. For chronic medication use, this was 66, 70 and 75%, respectively. PP and comorbidity prevalence were higher in patients than in controls. EPP was 42 times more common in young CKD Stage G4/G5 patients (ages 20–44 years) than in controls, while this ratio was 3.8 in patients ≥75 years. Older age (64–75 and ≥75 years) was a risk factor for PP in CKD Stage G4/G5 and kidney transplant patients. Dialysis patients ≥75 years of age had a lower risk of PP compared with their younger counterparts. Additional risk factors in all patients were low SES, diabetes mellitus, vascular disease, hospitalization and an emergency room visit. The most commonly dispensed medications were proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and statins. Conclusions CKD Stage G4/G5 patients and patients on KRT have a high medication burden, far beyond that of individuals from the general population, as a result of their kidney disease and a large burden of comorbidities. A critical approach to medication prescription in general, and of specific medications like PPIs and statins (in the dialysis population), could be a first step towards more appropriate medication use., Graphical Abstract Graphical Abstract

Background Older age increases the likelihood of chronic diseases and polypharmacy with the likelihood of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in secondary and tertiary care levels, but in the primary care settings of Thailand there still is a need for more evidence. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of PIM in primary care settings, and to identify factors that influence the use of PIM. Methods A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted in 2017. Eight primary care units from four regions of Thailand were randomly selected. People aged ≥ 60 years in the eight units were studied as participants. The List of Risk Drugs for Thai Elderly (LRDTE) was used as the reference. Multivariate logistic regression was carried out to identify factors that influence. Results A total of 4,848 patients aged ≥60 years with 20,671 prescriptions were studied. The mean age was 70.7±8.3 years for males, and 61.2% for females. A little more than 5% (5.1%) had ≥ 3 chronic diseases and 15.0% received polypharmacy ( ≥5 medications). The prevalence of prescriptions with PIMs was 65.9%. The most frequent PIMs were antidepressants: amitriptyline (28.1%), antihistamines: dimenhydrinate (22.4%) and chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM) (11.2%); and Benzodiazepines: lorazepam (6.5%). Three factors that significantly influenced prescribing of PIMs were polypharmacy (adjusted OR 3.51; 95% CI 2.81-4.32), having ≥3 chronic diseases (adjusted OR 1.44; 95% CI 1.04-2.01), and age ≥75 years (adjusted OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.01-1.38). Conclusion More than two-thirds of elderly Thai patients in the primary care settings were prescribed PIMs. Multidisciplinary prescription review and PIM screening in patients aged ≥75 years who have ≥3 chronic diseases or polypharmacy should be implemented in primary care and supportive computerized PIMs alert system is needed.

Background: Adherence is an important matter in the succession of hypertension medication. Despite the fact, it was found that many with hypertension had not used antihypertension medications as prescribed. Objective: To acknowledge the factors correlated to antihypertension medication adherence. Method: We used an observational, cross-sectional study model with a quantitative analytical approach. Some 131 qualified hypertensive patients of Ngluwar Public Health Center were recruited in February and March of 2021. A sampling method of purposive sampling was used. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using the chi-square test. Results: Eighty-two respondents (62.6%) had high medication adherence and 49 respondents (37.4%) were low at medication adherence. The statistical analysis results are as follows. Level of education (p = 0.374, PR = 1.264, CI 95% = 0.765-2.090), job status (p = 0.025, PR = 0.591, CI 95% = 0.367-0.953), comorbidity (p = 0.366, PR = 1.239, CI 95% = 0.772-1.988), duration of hypertension (p = 0.604, PR = 1.124, CI 95% = 0.722-1.751), family support (p = 0.142, PR = 1.396, CI 95% = 0.890-2.190), health worker support (p = 0.002, PR = 1.994, CI 95% = 1.313-3.028), affordability (p = 0.329, PR = 1.246, CI 95% = 0.802-1.937) and accessibility (p = 0.564, PR = 1.240, CI 95% = 0.623-2.468), and polypharmacy (p = 0.573, PR = 0.848, CI 95% = 0.488-1.474). Conclusion: Job status and health worker support were significantly correlated to antihypertensive medication adherence.

BACKGROUND The Geriatric Assessment and Medical Preoperative Screening (GrAMPS) program was an initial attempt to understand and to define the prevalence of age-related risk factors in older patients undergoing elective ventral hernia repair (VHR) or inguinal hernia repair (IHR). Preliminary analysis found significant rates of previously unrecognized objective cognitive dysfunction, multimorbidity and polypharmacy. We now examine whether chronological age as a sole risk factor can predict a patient's perioperative outcomes, and if traditional risk calculators that rely heavily on chronological age can accurately capture a patient's true risk. METHODS This was a retrospective secondary analysis of the previously reported GrAMPS trial enrolling patients 60 years and older with a planned elective repair of a ventral or inguinal hernia. The rates of key postoperative outcomes were compared between various cohorts stratified by chronological age. Previously validated risk screening calculators [Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP)] were compared between cohorts. RESULTS In total, 55 (78.6%) of the 70 patients enrolled in GrAMPS underwent operative intervention by May 2021, including 26 VHR and 29 IHRs. Cohorts stratified by chronological age had similar rates of key perioperative wound and age-related outcomes including readmissions, postoperative complications, non-home discharges, and length of stay. Additionally, while the commonly used risk calculators, CCI and NSQIP, consistently predicted worse outcomes for older hernia patients (stratified by both median age and age-tertiles), screening positive on these risk assessments were not actually predictive of a greater incidence of postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS Chronological age does not accurately predict worse adverse postoperative complications in older hernia patients. Additionally, traditional risk screening calculators that rely heavily on age to risk stratify may not accurately capture a patient's true surgical risk. Surgeons should continue to explore nuanced patient risk assessments that more accurately capture age-related risk factors to better individualize perioperative risk.

Purpose We investigated the drug use before and after transition to automated multi-dose dispensing (MDD) service among persons with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and compared whether the changes were similar in persons without AD. Methods The register-based Finnish nationwide MEDALZ cohort includes 70,718 community-dwelling persons diagnosed with AD during 2005–2011. Each person who initiated MDD was matched in both groups with a comparison person without MDD by age, gender and for persons with AD, also time since AD diagnosis at the start of MDD. The study cohort included 15,604 persons with AD in MDD and 15,604 no-MDD, and 5224 persons without AD in MDD and 5224 no-MDD. Point prevalence of drug use was assessed every 3 months, from 1 year before to 2 years after the start of MDD and compared between persons in MDD to those who did not have MDD. Results MDD was started on average 2.9 (SD 2.1) years after AD diagnosis. At the start of MDD, the prevalence of drug use increased especially for antipsychotics, antidepressants, opioids, paracetamol and use of ≥ 10 drugs among persons with and without AD. Prevalence of benzodiazepine use (from 12% 12 months before to 17% at start of MDD), memantine (from 29 to 46%) and ≥ 3 psychotropics (from 3.2 to 6.0%) increased among persons with AD. Decreasing trend was observed for benzodiazepine-related drugs, urinary antispasmodics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Conclusion MDD seems to be initiated when use of psychotropics is initiated and the number of drugs increases.

Current treatment standards in psychiatry are oriented towards polypharmacy, that is, patients receive combinations of several antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics, hypnotics, antihistamines, and anticholinergics, along with other somatic treatments. In tandem with the beneficial effects of psychopharmacological drug treatment, patients experience significant adverse reactions which appear to have become more frequent and more severe with the rise of ubiquitous polypharmacy. In this study, we aimed to assess today’s acute inpatient treatment of depressive and schizophrenic disorders with focus on therapeutic strategies, medications, adverse side effects, time course of recovery, and efficacy of treatments. Of particular interest was the weighing of the benefits and drawbacks of polypharmacy regimens. We recruited a total of 320 patients hospitalized at three residential mental health treatment centers with a diagnosis of either schizophrenic (ICD-10: “F2x.x”; n = 94; “F2 patients”) or depressive disorders (ICD-10: “F3x.x”; n = 226; “F3 patients”). The study protocol included (1) assessment of previous history by means of the SADS Syndrome Check List SSCL-16 (lifetime version); (2) repeated measurements over 5 weeks assessing the time course of improvement by the Hamilton Depression Scale HAM-D and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale PANSS, along with medications and adverse side effects through the Medication and Side Effects Inventory MEDIS; and (3) the collection of blood samples from which DNA and serum were extracted. Polypharmacy was by far the most common treatment regimen (85%) in this study. On average, patients received 4.50 ± 2.68 medications, consisting of 3.30 ± 1.84 psychotropic drugs, plus 0.79 ± 1.13 medications that alleviate adverse side effects, plus 0.41 ± 0.89 other somatic medications. The treating psychiatrists appeared to be the main determining factor in this context, while «previous history» and «severity at baseline» played a minor role, if at all. Adverse drug reactions were found to be an inherent component of polypharmacy and tended to have a 2–3 times higher incidence compared to monotherapy. Severe adverse reactions could not be attributed to a particular drug or drug combination. Rather, the empirical data suggested that severe side effects can be triggered by virtually all combinations of drugs, provided patients have a respective vulnerability. In terms of efficacy, there were no advantages of polypharmacy over monotherapy. The results of this study underlined the fact that polypharmacy regimens are not equally suited for every patient. Specifically, such regimens appeared to have a negative impact on treatment outcome and to obfuscate the “natural” time course of recovery through a multitude of interfering factors. Evidence clearly speaks against starting just every therapeutic intervention in psychiatry with a combination of psychopharmaceuticals. We think that it is time for psychiatry to reconsider its treatment strategies, which are far too one-sidedly fixated on psychopharmacology and pay far too little attention to alternative approaches, especially in mild cases where psychotherapy without concurrent medication should still be an option. Also, regular exercises and sports can definitely be an effective therapeutic means in a considerable number of cases. General practitioners (GPs) are particularly in demand here.

As the population ages, more people will have comorbid disorders and polypharmacy. Medication should be reviewed regularly in order to avoid adverse drug reactions and medication-related hospital visits, but this is often not done. As part of our student-run clinic project, we investigated whether an interprofessional student-run medication review program (ISP) added to standard care at a geriatric outpatient clinic leads to better prescribing. In this controlled clinical trial, patients visiting a memory outpatient clinic were allocated to standard care (control group) or standard care plus the ISP team (intervention group). The medications of all patients were reviewed by a review panel (“gold standard”), resident, and in the intervention arm also by an ISP team consisting of a group of students from the medicine and pharmacy faculties and students from the higher education school of nursing for advanced nursing practice. For both groups, the number of STOPP/START-based medication changes mentioned in general practitioner (GP) correspondence and the implementation of these changes about 6 weeks after the outpatient visit were investigated. The data of 216 patients were analyzed (control group = 100, intervention group = 116). More recommendations for STOPP/START-based medication changes were made in the GP correspondence in the intervention group than in the control group (43% vs. 24%, P =

Objective. Delirium is a temporary neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by fluctuations in cognition and attention. Delirium is one of the most common complications seen in old individuals after orthopaedic surgery. With a high incidence, the clinical picture of delirium increases the length of hospital stay and increases healthcare-related costs. This study has aimed to systematically review the national and international studies that investigated the risk factors leading to delirium in geriatric patients after orthopaedic surgery and to perform a meta-analysis using the data reported by those studies. Materials and Methods. A preliminary literature review was performed on six databases. The following English keyword combinations were used including 'Orthopaedic Surgery', 'Geriatrics', 'Elderly', and 'Delirium'. The results of trials were evaluated with random or fixed effect model according to the heterogeneity. Statistical evaluation was performed by using Comprehensive Meta Analysis version 3 programme. Results. The total sample size of the studies included in the analysis was 892. In geriatric patients; who had undergone orthopaedic surgery and developed delirium, the random-effects model revealed a high-level, in the positive direction, and statistically significant (p

Patients with chronic migraine are characterized by frequent severe headache attacks, polypharmacy (painkillers), insufficient effect of preventive therapy, and a decrease in the quality of life. The aim of a prospective open-label study was the evaluation of the efficacy and tolerance of Erenumab (Irinex) in the treatment of patients with chronic migraine in real clinical practice.Material and methods. 48 patients with chronic migraine were clinically and neurologically examined (35.5 [19; 56]; diagnosis was established according to the criteria of ICHD classification and diagnosis of migraine. Medical monitoring period was 3 months. Clinical and neurological testing and subcutaneous administration of Erenumab (Irinex) 70 mg were performed once a month during the whole period.Results. Safety, good tolerance and an obvious significant clinical effect were noted when using Erenumab (Irinex) 70 mg. It led to a significant improvement in clinical score and the course of chronic migraine, the effectiveness of rapid relief of symptoms and significant reduction in the need for painkillers in most patients. The best results were found after 3 months of therapy.

Background: Elderly patients with multiple chronic conditions are closely linked to polymedication, a condition that is also highly associated with the presence of adverse effects, such as those observed by anticholinergic activity. Anticholinergic burden is defined in a very variable way and is described inconsistently using different scores and providing different interpretations of the risk of suffering from anticholinergic adverse effects. Objective: The objective is to analyse the anticholinergic risk exposure in elderly complex chronic patients. Methods: A observational multicentre study was performed for a cohort of complex chronic patients over 65 years who received treatment with at least one drug with anticholinergic activity. Anticholinergic exposure was assessed using ten scales included in the Anticholinergic Burden Calculator. Results: 473 patients were recruited, being 67.7% with excessive polypharmacy. 80 was the total number of anticholinergic drugs with any scale, with a median of 2 drugs with anticholinergic activity per patient (IQR=2). Three scales evaluated more than 70% of the patients (Chew: 79.1%; Drug Burden Index (DBI): 77.8%; Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB): 75.9%). The percentage of different drugs with anticholinergic properties evaluated ranged from 13.8% (Anticholinergic Burden Classification (ABC)) to 57.5% (DBI) and anticholinergic drugs prescriptions oscillated from 14% (Anticholinergic Risk Scale (ARS)) to 53.3% (DBI). 71.1% of patients were at risk (moderate and high risk) according to DBI vs. 9.7% by ARS at the opposite side. Important differences of anticholinergic risk in patients with excessive polypharmacy were in ACB, ABC and DBI scales. Conclusions: This study has highlighted clear differences between the scales used. DBI seems to be the scale that identifies a higher number of elderly chronic complex patients at risk of developing anticholinergic adverse effects.

Most prostate cancer patients who undergo androgen-deprivation therapy or orchiectomy will eventually develop castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), often preceded by a nonmetastatic CRPC state known as M0CRPC. The recent development of second-generation antiandrogens provides clinicians with efficacious and safe treatments for M0CRPC. However, the complexity of these patients, who typically have to deal with underlying comorbidities and polypharmacy, often challenges therapeutic decisions in this setting. The recent development of novel imaging techniques also provides clinicians with tools for detecting metastases with high sensitivity and specificity. However, the lack of evidence on the early detection of metastases and the corresponding impact on therapeutic decisions makes these techniques a double-edged sword that must be managed appropriately. Here, we present the expert view of the rapidly evolving concept of M0CRPC and provide recommendations for the identification of these patients, the appropriate use of the emerging imaging modalities, and patients’ management, particularly considering their clinical complexity and the recent development of next-generation antiandrogens.

OBJECTIVE To project the future age distribution of people with HIV using antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the US, under expected trends in HIV diagnosis and survival (baseline scenario) and achieving the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) goals of a 75% reduction in HIV diagnoses from 2020-25 and sustaining levels to 2030 (EHE75% scenario). DESIGN An agent-based simulation model with mathematical functions estimated from North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design data and parameters from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's annual HIV surveillance reports. METHODS The PEARL (ProjEcting Age, multimoRbidity, and poLypharmacy in adults with HIV) model simulated individuals in 15 subgroups of sex-and-HIV acquisition risk and race/ethnicity. Simulation outcomes from the baseline scenario are compared with outcomes from the EHE75% scenario. RESULTS Under the baseline scenario, PEARL projects a substantial increase in number of ART-users over time, reaching a population of 909,638 [95%uncertaintyrange(UR):878,449-946,513] by 2030. The overall median age increased from 50 years (y) in 2020 to 52y in 2030, with 23% of ART-users age ≥65y in 2030. Under the EHE75% scenario, the projected number of ART-users was 718,348 [703,044-737,817] (median age=56y) in 2030, with a 70% relative reduction in ART-users

Background and Objective Antimuscarinics, drugs with anticholinergic properties, are frequently prescribed for overactive bladder, and anticholinergic burden is associated with adverse events. The “Polypharmacy: Use of Multiple Anticholinergic Medications in Older Adults” (Poly-ACH) measure was developed by the Pharmacy Quality Alliance and is used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Using the Poly-ACH measure, we assessed the prevalence of anticholinergic polypharmacy among Medicare patients in the USA with overactive bladder and determined associations between polypharmacy and medical conditions, care, and spending. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries with overactive bladder (coverage period: 2006–2017). Anticholinergic polypharmacy, measured by the Poly-ACH, was defined as concurrent use of two or more anticholinergics, each with two or more prescription claims on different dates of service for ≥ 30 cumulative days. Change in annual frequency of anticholinergic polypharmacy was assessed using logistic regression. Associations between anticholinergic polypharmacy over 3 years and falls, fractures, mental status, and medical care spending were assessed with longitudinal regression models. Results In total, 226,712 patients contributed 940,201 person-years of follow-up after overactive bladder diagnosis. The share of patients meeting the Poly-ACH definition was 3.3% in 2006 and 1.7% in 2017. Women and nursing home residents had higher risks of anticholinergic polypharmacy. Having 1 year or more of positive Poly-ACH status in the 3 years prior was associated with higher rates of all outcomes. Conclusions Anticholinergic polypharmacy was uncommon among older adults with overactive bladder. Prevalence was higher among women and nursing home residents, and it was associated with negative outcomes, highlighting potential longitudinal implications of anticholinergic burden. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40266-021-00901-2.

Background An overactive bladder and cognitive impairment are two medical and social problems, which have an outmost importance, affecting the quality of life. Both disorders are common in the practice of a urologist, neurologist, internist, and other physicians. Parkinsons disease and multiple sclerosis are the most common neurological diseases, which often manifest by pelvic dysfunction and cognitive dysfunction. The clinician needs to understand the pathogenesis of the underlying disease and the pharmacologic properties of drugs, which can be used both in neurology and urology, as well as in other related specialties. Aim To evaluate cognitive functions in patients with neurogenic overactive bladder treated with trospium chloride. Materials and methods A total of 45 patients with neurological disease (28 with Parkinsons disease [group 1] and 17 with multiple sclerosis [group 2]) were included in the study. All patients had symptoms of an overactive bladder. Trospium chloride was administered in an individually adjusted dose for 12 weeks. Cognitive functions were assessed using the international Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) before and after the therapy. A change of total scores over time was assessed using the paired Wilcoxon test. The level of significance of Results A significant decrease in all studied parameters of an overactive bladder in both groups was seen. The baseline evaluation of the total score on the MoCA scale prior to the start of taking trospium chloride revealed the presence of moderate cognitive impairment (21.3+/-2.9 points) in patients of the group 1. After 12 weeks of therapy, no significant change in cognitive functions was observed (21.7+/-3.1 points; p>0.05). In group 2, moderate cognitive impairment (MoCA 22.5+/-3.7 points) was found at baseline. After taking trospium chloride, no significant changes were noted (MoCA 22.9+/-4.1 points) (p>0.05). No central nervous system side effects were reported in any group. Conclusion Trospium chloride is an effective drug, which does not affect cognitive functions in patients with neurogenic overactive bladder. This drug is safe to use in both Parkinsons disease and multiple sclerosis, considering the low risk of cognitive impairment in polypharmacy.

The aim of this study was to describe the social care provided for different age groups of people with intellectual disability, 55 years or above, and to investigate the association between such care and frailty factors for those with diagnosed level of intellectual disabilities. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were used. Commonest forms of social care among the 7936 people were Residential care, Daily activities and Contact person. Home help and Security alarm increased with age. The frailty factors significantly associated with increased social care were age, polypharmacy and severe levels of intellectual disabilities. Persons most likely to be in residential care were in the age group 65–79 with polypharmacy and severe disability. The results indicate a need for further research of how frailty factors are considered in social care and longstanding medication, especially then severe intellectual disability hinders communication. A national strategic plan for preventive interventions should be developed to ensure the best possible healthy ageing.

Background Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the prominent cause of mortality worldwide. Nowadays, the level of medication adherence in COPD patients is very low, which reduces the clinical therapeutic effects. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship between medication adherence and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in COPD patients referred to the pulmonologist’s office. Methods This observational study was performed on 100 COPD outpatient cases. Each patient was interviewed to answer questionnaires regarding demographic and clinical information. To assess quality of life, health status, and severity of dyspnea, the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire - COPD-Specific Version (SGRQ-C), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and Modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC) questionnaires were used, respectively. Persian version of the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8-Item) was used to measure medication adherence. To determine the adherence predictors, an ordinal logistic regression analysis was performed. Results Out of 100 patients with mean (±SD) age of 61.35 (±10.79) years, 74% had medium and high medication adherence. In the final ordinal logistic model, quality of life, health status, and education level found to have positive effect on medication adherence while polypharmacy had negative effect. We did not find any significant association between age, gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), and other variables with medication adherence. Conclusions Patients with high quality of life are more adherent to their medications. Furthermore, patients who have polypharmacy, tend to have less adherence to their medications.

The mainstay of schizophrenia treatment is pharmacological therapy using various antipsychotics including first- and second-generation antipsychotics which have different pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic property leading to differential presentation of adverse events (AEs) and treatment effects such as negative symptoms, cognitive symptoms and cormorbid symptoms. Major treatment guidelines suggest the use of antipsychotic monotherapy (APM) as a gold standard in the treatment of schizophrenia. However, the effects of APM is inadequate and less potent to achieve symptom remission as well as functional recovery in real practice which has been consistently reported in numerous controlled clinical trials, large practical trials, independent small studies and systematic reviews till today. Therefore anti-psychotic polypharmacy (APP) regardless of the class of antipsychotics has been also commonly utilized for many reasons in real world practice. However, APP has also crucial pitfalls including increase of total psychotics including antipsychotics, high-doses of antipsychotics used, poor compliance, drug-drug interaction and risks for developing AEs, all of which are paradoxically related to poor clinical outcomes, whereas APP has also substantial advantages in reduction of re-hospitalization, severe psychopathology and targeted control of concurrent symptoms. Given currently limited therapeutic options, it is also important to properly utilize APP in order to maximize its clinical utility and minimize its risk for better treatment outcomes for patients with schizophrenia, based on risk/benefit with full understanding of pharmacological and clinical issues on APP. The present paper intends to address intriguing and important issues in the use of APP in real world practice.

Background Patients taking medication with high anticholinergic and sedative properties are at increased risk of experiencing poor cognitive and physical outcomes. Therefore, precise quantification of the cumulative burden of their drug regimen is advisable. There is no agreement regarding which scale to use to simultaneously quantify the burden associated with medications. Objectives The objective of this review was to assess the strengths and limitations of available tools to quantify medication-related anticholinergic burden and sedative load in older adults. We discuss specific limitations and agreements between currently available scales and models and propose a comprehensive table combining drugs categorized as high, moderate, low, or no anticholinergic or sedative activity as excerpted from the selected studies. Methods A targeted search was carried out using the National Library of Medicine through PubMed using medical subject heading terms and text words around the following search terms: (anticholinergic OR sedative) AND (load OR burden OR scale) for studies published between 1 January 1945 and 5 June 2021. In addition, the following databases were searched using the same terms: MEDLINE-EBSCO, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Library, Scopus, OAIster, OVID-MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Screening by titles was followed by an abstract and full-text review. After blind evaluation, agreement between reviewers was reached to establish drug characteristics and categories. Results After 3163 articles were identified, 13 were included: 11 assigned risk scores to anticholinergic drugs and two to sedative drugs. Considerable variability between anticholinergic scales was observed; scales included between 27 and 548 drugs. We generated a comprehensive table combining the anticholinergic and sedative activities of drugs evaluated and proposed a categorization of these drugs based on available scientific and clinical evidence. Our table combines information about 642 drugs and categorizes 44, 25, 99, and 474 drugs as high, moderate, low, or no anticholinergic and sedative activity, respectively. Conclusions Variability and inconsistency exists among scales used to categorize drugs with anticholinergic or sedative burden. In this review, we provide a comprehensive table that proposes a new categorization of these drugs. A longitudinal study will be required to validate the new proposed anticholinergic and sedative burden catalog in an evidence-based manner. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40266-021-00895-x.