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The article presents a study which examined diabetes prevalence in Australian long-term care (LTC) facilities using a linked national health and aged care data platform and the level of agreement of prevalence estimates between datasets that capture diabetes cases. Topics include diabetes case ascertainment using linked aged care and health administrative data sets, prevalence of diabetes in National Death Index (NDI) data, and the high burden of diabetes in Australian LTC facilities.

Background: Allergy to opioids is the second most common drug allergy label in electronic health records (EHR). Adverse drug reactions (ADR) to opioids cause significant morbidity and contribute to healthcare costs, while incorrect opioid allergy labels may unnecessarily complicate patient management. Aims: To examine the documentation of opioid ADR in a large‐scale hospital‐based EHR. Methods: A cross‐sectional retrospective review of EHR documentation of opioid ADR at four public hospitals in South Australia was conducted. Data were extracted from all ADR entries including the reported allergen, ADR category (allergy or intolerance) and reaction details. Expert criteria were used to determine consistency of ADR categorisation as allergy or intolerance. Results: Of 86 727 unique ADR reports, there were 13 781 ADR to opioids with most being entered as allergy (n = 8913, 64.7%) rather than intolerance (n = 4868, 35.3%). The most commonly documented reactions were nausea/vomiting (n = 3912, 28%), rash (n = 647, 5%), itch (n = 642, 5%) and hallucinations (n = 527, 4%). There were 362 (3%) ADR labels of anaphylaxis. Of those ADR containing a reaction description (n = 11 868), 89% of reports entered as allergy had a reaction description that was consistent with intolerance and 8% of the entered intolerances had descriptions consistent with allergy when assessed using predefined criteria. Conclusions: This large EHR‐based study demonstrates the high rate of opioid ADR labels in EHR. The majority of these labels were for symptoms suggestive of pharmacological intolerance. Reactions consistent with true allergy were uncommon. Systematic review of ADR by a dedicated clinical service would improve the accuracy of documentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Mental health disorders are a major health concern in older people and are associated with a higher risk of disability, frailty and early mortality. This study aimed to conduct a contemporary population-based assessment of the prevalence, trends and factors associated with mental health disorders in individuals who are living in permanent residential aged care (PRAC) in Australia. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using national data from the Registry of Senior Australians, a national cohort of older Australians who had aged care eligibility assessment and entered PRAC between 2008 and 2016. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression modeling was applied to identify factors associated with mental health disorders. Results: Of 430,862 individuals included in this study, 57.8% had at least one mental health disorder. The prevalence of depression, phobia/anxiety and psychosis were as follows: 46.2% (95% confidence interval = [46.0%, 46.3%]), 14.9% (95% confidence interval = [14.8%, 15.0%]) and 9.7% (95% confidence interval = [9.6%, 9.8%]), respectively. The likelihood of having a mental health disorder was higher for those who were (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]) relatively younger, specifically for every 10-year increment in age, the odds of having mental health disorders was 44.0% lower (0.56, [0.55, 0.56]); female (1.33 [1.32, 1.35]); having increasing numbers of physical health comorbidities, 6–10 (1.26 [1.24, 1.29]) or 11–15 (1.48 [1.45, 1.51]) or more than 15 (1.64 [1.58, 1.71]) compared to people having less than five comorbidities; having limitations related to health care tasks (1.05 [1.04, 1.07]), meals (1.04 [1.02, 1.05]) or social and community participation (1.10 [1.08, 1.12]). Conclusion: The burden of mental health disorders in older Australians living in PRAC was high and individuals with these conditions tend to be younger, with several physical comorbidities and/or functional limitations. Understanding the profile of individuals with mental health disorders at entry into PRAC can be used as evidence for baseline resource allocation for this population and evaluation of future needs of mental health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Co-morbidity of both cardiac and non-cardiac conditions is common in the elderly with heart failure (HF) and can be associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Objectives: The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence of comorbidity and potential treatment conflicts that may result in adverse clinical outcomes in a large cohort of elderly HF patients. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using administrative claims data (1 April to 31 July 2007) from the Department of Veterans' Affairs, Australia, on all veterans aged ≥65 years with HF. Co-morbidities were defined using the pharmaceutical based co-morbidity index Rx-Risk-V. Potential treatment conflicts for patients with HF and co-morbid diseases were identified from Australian clinical guidelines or reference compendia and their prevalence in the data were determined. Results: A total of 6730 patients were included in the study, with a median of 6 co-morbid conditions (interquartile range [IQR] 4-7) and 11 (IQR 8-15) unique medicines. Almost the entire HF cohort (97.8%) were identified as having at least one co-morbid condition that may cause a potential treatment conflict, with 55% having three or more. The conditions identified as being of greatest concern, based on their prevalence and potential for treatment conflict, were chronic airways disease, depression, chronic pain/inflammatory disease, glaucoma, diabetes mellitus and diseases treatable with corticosteroids. Conclusions: Potential treatment conflicts are common in the highly comorbid population of elderly patients with HF, and may influence the therapeutic management of not only HF but all conditions present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aims: To investigate the prevalence of comorbid conditions in the elderly with diabetes and the prescribing of potentially inappropriate medicines or treatment conflicts. Methods: A cross-sectional study of diabetics aged ≥65 years, using prescription dispensing data from the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Comorbidities were determined using the comorbidity index Rx-Risk-V. Potentially inappropriate prescribing or treatment conflicts specific for the elderly were determined from guidelines or reference compendia, in addition to the 2003 updated Beers criteria. Results: Of 18,968 diabetics, the median number of comorbidities was 5 (IQR 3–8). Diabetes and associated cardiovascular medicines accounted for 41.9% of all medicine use. Associated cardiovascular diseases were highly prevalent comorbidities. 46% had gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, 25% depression, 20% chronic airways disease or chronic pain and 15% also had heart failure or inflammation-pain. At least 16% were dispensed a medicine associated with adverse effects in patients with diabetes and 22.7% were dispensed at least one potentially inappropriate medicine. Conclusion: Significant comorbid conditions in elderly diabetic patients with potential for inappropriate prescribing or treatment conflicts include arthritis, heart failure, chronic airways diseases and diseases treatable with systemic corticosteroids. Appropriate management of comorbidity should be included in guidelines for the elderly with diabetes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To examine the historical trends and predict the future rates and total volumes of permanent residential aged care (PRAC) service utilization in Australia. A population-based repeated cross-sectional and projection study of non-indigenous older people (≥65 years) accessing PRAC in Australia was conducted. Publicly available aged care admissions from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and population estimates from the Australian Bureau of Statistics were used. Historical incidence rates (per 1000 people), incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% CIs of PRAC admission from 2008–2009 to 2020–2021 were estimated using negative binomial regression models. The future incidence and prediction intervals (PIs) of PRAC admission between 2021–2022 and 2051–2052 were projected using a generalized additive model-negative binomial regression. All estimates were adjusted or standardized by sex and age. Between 2008–2009 and 2020–2021, the adjusted admission to PRAC decreased (from 23.6/1000 people to 15.7/1000 people with an IRR = 0.97/year, 95% CI 0.97–0.98). The projected PRAC admission rate will decrease to 12.1/1000 (95%PI 10.8–13.3) by 2037–2038 and 9.0/1000 (95%PI 7.6–10.4) by 2051–2052. The projected volume of PRAC admission will be 73,988 (95%PI 65,960–81,425) at its highest point in 2037–2038 and 64,579 (95%PI 54,258–74,543) in 2051–2052. The utilization of PRAC has decreased in the past decade, and a predicted decrease in PRAC use in future years is estimated. However, the volume of PRAC utilization will still increase for the next 15 years (until 2037–2038) due to our increasingly older population. These findings can inform service planning of PRAC access in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the (1) cohort of individuals living at home with Home Care Packages (HCPs) in 2016, (2) their access to other aged care services after HCP commencement, and (3) their hospital and ambulance service utilization. A cross-sectional study was conducted using integrated aged care and health care data contained within the National Historical Cohort of the Registry of Senior Australians. This study included people who accessed HCP between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016. The access to permanent residential aged care, transition care, respite care, hospital and ambulance services among Australian HCP recipients ≥65 years old in 2016 was evaluated. Descriptive statistics were employed. In 2016, 84,681 individuals received HCPs, of which 68.4% (n = 57,942) accessed HCP levels 1‒2, 26.0% (n = 22,057) accessed HCP levels 3‒4, and 5.5% (n = 4682) accessed both care levels within the year. Of the individuals receiving HCP, 34.0% (n = 27,787) started services that year and 16.7% (n = 14,117) moved to permanent residential aged care, 18.4% (n = 15,592) used respite care and 5.8% (n = 4937) used transition care that year. Emergency department (ED) presentations [43.6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 43.3‒44.0] were the most common hospital encounters, followed by inpatient hospitalizations for any reason (43.3%, 95% CI 42.9‒43.7), and unplanned hospitalizations (38%, 95% CI 37.6‒38.3). Forty-four percent (44.5%, 95% CI 43.9‒45.0) of individuals utilized ambulance services. ED presentations, hospitalization for any reason, and unplanned hospitalizations were more common in individuals receiving HCP levels 3‒4 compared with those accessing HCP levels 1‒2. HCP recipients in Australia have frequent hospitalizations, including ED presentations. In addition, almost 1 in 5 access respite care and 16.7% transition to permanent residential care each year. As the population accessing HCP is increasing, adequate support for these individuals to live well at home and avoid health events that lead to hospitalizations are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Drug Allergy Reports on Medicalalert ® Devices," by Caroline Foreman and colleagues is presented.