Prevalence of Central Nervous System-Active Polypharmacy Among Older Adults With Dementia in the US

Brain-Hazardous Medications and Potential Subadequate Antidepressant Dosing in Older Surgical Patients Receiving Home Antidepressants: An Observational Study of a Large US Health System

BACKGROUND

Older surgical patients with depression often experience poor postoperative outcomes. Poor outcomes may stem from brain-hazardous medications and subadequate antidepressant dosing.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, observational cohort study covering the period between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021. Patients ≥60 years of age who underwent inpatient surgery and had an overnight stay at an integrated academic health care system comprising 14 hospitals were eligible. We analyzed the prevalence of home central nervous system (CNS)-active potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) and potential subadequate antidepressant dosing in older surgical patients receiving home antidepressants. Univariable and multivariable regression models were used to identify factors associated with home CNS-active PIM prescribing and potential subadequate antidepressant dosing. Additionally, outcomes were compared among patients receiving and not receiving CNS-active PIMs and patients receiving and not receiving subadequate antidepressant dosing.

RESULTS

A total of 8031 patients were included in this study (47% female, mean age = 70 years) of whom 2087 (26%) were prescribed antidepressants. Roughly one-half (49%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 46.5-50.1) of patients receiving home antidepressants were also receiving ≥1 CNS-active PIM and 29% (95% CI, 27.0-29.3) were receiving a potential subadequate dose. Factors associated with an increased likelihood of receiving a home CNS-active PIM included female sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.46), anxiety (aOR, 2.43), asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (aOR, 1.39), and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor use (aOR, 1.54). Patients aged ≥75 years (aOR, 1.57), black race (aOR, 1.48) and those with congestive heart failure (aOR, 1.33) were more likely to be prescribed a potential subadequate antidepressant dose. Patients receiving potential subadequate antidepressant doses were discharged home less often (64% vs 73%), had a longer hospital length of stay (9 days vs 7 days), and a higher mortality rate (18% vs 10%) compared to patients receiving adequate home antidepressant doses (P-value for all <0.01). No differences in these outcomes were found among patients receiving home antidepressants with or without CNS-active PIMs.

CONCLUSIONS

Older surgical patients receiving antidepressants are frequently prescribed brain-hazardous medications and potentially subadequate antidepressant doses. Those receiving subadequate antidepressant doses may be at risk for worse postoperative outcomes compared to patients receiving adequate doses. The role of preoperative medication optimization to improve outcomes for older surgical patients should be evaluated.

Prevalence and Correlates of Antipsychotic Medication Use in Oregon Assisted Living

OBJECTIVE

Investigate how assisted living and residential care (AL/RC) and memory care (MC) contexts are associated with the 90-day prevalence of antipsychotic medication use (APU), considered a quality measure in long-term care.

DESIGN

All licensed AL/RC settings in Oregon received an annual mailed questionnaire to provide aggregate resident demographics, health acuity, health service use, payment type, and organizational policies. Organizational measures were collected from state websites.

METHODS

Random intercepts regression models were estimated to assess organizational and resident population characteristics associated with 90-day APU prevalence over 3 study waves (2017-2019).

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

We examine 932 observations in 463 AL/RC settings from 2017 to 2019 (137 settings participated in all 3 waves, 195 in 2 waves, and 131 in 1 wave).

RESULTS

The average 90-day APU prevalence in 464 Oregon AL/RC settings is 30.7%, although rates differ by MC endorsement (23.9% in AL/RC and 42.7% in MC). Nonprofit settings were associated with lower rates of APU in both AL/RC [β = -4.4 (percentage points), 95% CI -8.4, -0.4] and MC (β = -12.4, 95% CI -21.2, -3.6). Compared with low-Medicaid settings, settings with very high proportions of Medicaid residents were associated with higher APU prevalence, +8.9 in AL/RC (95% CI 1.7, 16.1) and +11.0 percentage points in MC (95% CI 2.3, 19.8).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

APU prevalence in MC settings and with high-Medicaid populations is considerably higher than non-MC and lower-Medicaid settings. Federal policies guide APU in nursing homes but not AL/RC. No national database of AL/RC exists; thus, state-based studies can inform the discussion of state policy and practice development. Additional study is needed to contextualize the relationships between AL/RC population-level practices and characteristics and the APU prevalence to inform policy and practice development related to this measure as a quality indicator.

Cost-effectiveness of medication therapy management among Medicare population and across racial/ethnic groups

BACKGROUND

Inappropriate medication utilization among older adults is a pressing concern in the United States, owing to its high prevalence and the consequential detrimental impact it engenders. The adverse effects stemming from the inappropriate use of medication may be unequally borne by racial/ethnic minority populations, calling for greater efforts towards promoting equity in healthcare. The study objective was to assess the cost-effectiveness of Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services among Medicare beneficiaries and across racial/ethnic groups.

METHODS

Medicare administrative data from 2016 to 2017 linked to Area Health Resources Files were used to analyze Medicare fee-for-service patients aged 65 or above with continuous Parts A/B/D coverage. The intervention group included new MTM enrollees in 2017; the control group referred to patients who met the general MTM eligible criteria but did not enroll in 2016 or 2017. The 2 groups were matched using a propensity score method. Effectiveness was evaluated as the proportion of appropriate medication utilization based on performance measures developed by the Pharmacy Quality Alliance. Costs were computed as total healthcare costs from Medicare perspective. A multivariable net benefit regressions with a classic linear model and Bayesian analysis were utilized. Net benefit was calculated based on willingness-to-pay thresholds at various multiples of the gross domestic product in 2017. Three-way interaction terms among dummy variables for MTM enrollment, 2017, and racial/ethnic minority groups were incorporated in a difference-in-differences study design.

RESULTS

After adjusting for patient characteristics, the findings indicate that MTM receipt was associated with incremental net benefit among each race and ethnicity. For instance, the net benefit of MTM among the non-Hispanic White patients was $2498 (95% confidence interval = $1609, $3386) at a willingness-to-pay value of $59,908. The study found no significant difference in net benefits for MTM services between minority and White patients.

CONCLUSION

The study provides evidence that MTM is a cost-effective tool for managing medication utilization among the Medicare population. However, MTM may not be cost-effective in reducing racial/ethnic disparities in medication utilization in the short term. Further research is needed to understand the long-term cost-effectiveness of MTM on racial/ethnic disparities.

Observational evidence linking psychotropic medicines to the dispensing of opioid agents in later life

BACKGROUND

The use of opioid medicines is common in developed countries, particularly among older adults and those with mental health disorders. It is unclear if the association between mental disorders and opioid medicines is causal, or is due to reverse causality or confounding.

METHODS

We used a 10% random sample of the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (years 2012-2022) to examine the cross-sectional, case-control and longitudinal association between the dispensing of antidepressants, anxiolytics, hypnotics, antipsychotics and lithium, and opioid medicines. We used logistic regression, structural equation models (SEM), and Cox regression to analyze the data. Analyses were adjusted for age (years), sex, and number of non-psychotropic medicines dispensed during the year.

RESULTS

The 2022 file contained 804 334 individuals aged 50 years or over (53.1% women), of whom 181 690 (22.6%) received an opioid medicine. The adjusted odds ratio of being dispensed opioid medicines was 1.44 (99% CI = 1.42-1.46) for antidepressants, 1.97 (99% CI = 1.92-2.03) for anxiolytics, 1.55 (99% CI = 1.51-1.60) for hypnotics, 1.32 (99% CI = 1.27-1.38) for antipsychotics, and 0.60 (99% CI = 0.53-0.69) for lithium. Similar associations were noticed when we compared participants who were or not dispensed opioid medicines in 2022 for exposure to psychotropic agents between 2012 and 2021. SEM confirmed that this association was not due to reverse causality. The dispensing of antidepressants was associated with increased adjusted hazard (HR) of subsequent dispensing of opioid medicines (HR = 1.29, 99% CI = 1.27-1.30). Similar associations were observed for anxiolytics, hypnotics and antipsychotics, but not lithium.

CONCLUSIONS

The dispensing of opioid medicines is higher among older individuals exposed to antidepressants, anxiolytics, hypnotics and antipsychotics than those who are not. These associations are not due to reverse causality or study design. Preventive strategies seeking to minimise the risk of inappropriate use of opioid medicines in later life should consider targeting this high-risk population.

Dementia Prevention and Treatment: A Narrative Review

Importance

Dementia affects 10% of those 65 years or older and 35% of those 90 years or older, often with profound cognitive, behavioral, and functional consequences. As the baby boomers and subsequent generations age, effective preventive and treatment strategies will assume increasing importance.

Observations

Preventive measures are aimed at modifiable risk factors, many of which have been identified. To date, no randomized clinical trial data conclusively confirm that interventions of any kind can prevent dementia. Nevertheless, addressing risk factors may have other health benefits and should be considered. Alzheimer disease can be treated with cholinesterase inhibitors, memantine, and antiamyloid immunomodulators, with the last modestly slowing cognitive and functional decline in people with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer disease. Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine may benefit persons with other types of dementia, including dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson disease dementia, vascular dementia, and dementia due to traumatic brain injury. Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia are best treated with nonpharmacologic management, including identifying and mitigating the underlying causes and individually tailored behavioral approaches. Psychotropic medications have minimal evidence of efficacy for treating these symptoms and are associated with increased mortality and clinically meaningful risks of falls and cognitive decline. Several emerging prevention and treatment strategies hold promise to improve dementia care in the future.

Conclusions and Relevance

Although current prevention and treatment approaches to dementia have been less than optimally successful, substantial investments in dementia research will undoubtedly provide new answers to reducing the burden of dementia worldwide.

Insights into designing educational materials for persons living with dementia: a focus group study

BACKGROUND

Persons living with dementia (PLWD) may experience communication difficulties that impact their ability to process written and pictorial information. Patient-facing education may help promote discontinuation of potentially inappropriate medications for older adults without dementia, but it is unclear how to adapt this approach for PLWD. Our objective was to solicit feedback from PLWD and their care partners to gain insights into the design of PLWD-facing deprescribing intervention materials and PLWD-facing education material more broadly.

METHODS

We conducted 3 successive focus groups with PLWD aged ≥ 50 (n = 12) and their care partners (n = 10) between December 2022 and February 2023. Focus groups were recorded and transcripts were analyzed for overarching themes.

RESULTS

We identified 5 key themes: [1] Use images and language consistent with how PLWD perceive themselves; [2] Avoid content that might heighten fear or anxiety; [3] Use straightforward delivery with simple language and images; [4] Direct recipients to additional information; make the next step easy; and [5] Deliver material directly to the PLWD.

CONCLUSION

PLWD-facing educational material should be addressed directly to PLWD, using plain, non-threatening and accessible language with clean, straightforward formatting.

Potentially inappropriate prescribing for people with dementia in ambulatory care: a cross-sectional observational study

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) is highly prevalent among people with dementia (PwD) and linked to negative outcomes, such as hospitalisation and mortality. However, there are limited data on prescribing appropriateness for PwD in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of PIP and investigate associations between PIP and other patient characteristics among PwD in an ambulatory care setting.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, retrospective analysis was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia. Patients who were ≥ 65 years old, had dementia, and visited ambulatory care clinics between 01/01/2019 and 31/12/2021 were included. Prescribing appropriateness was evaluated by applying the Screening Tool of Older Persons Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP) criteria. Descriptive analyses were used to describe the study population. Prevalence of PIP and the prevalence per each STOPP criterion were calculated as a percentage of all eligible patients. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate associations between PIP, polypharmacy, age and sex; odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Analyses were conducted using SPSS v27.

RESULTS

A total of 287 PwD were identified; 56.0% (n = 161) were female. The mean number of medications prescribed was 9.0 [standard deviation (SD) ± 4.2]. The prevalence of PIP was 61.0% (n = 175). Common instances of PIP were drugs prescribed beyond the recommended duration (n = 90, 31.4%), drugs prescribed without an evidence-based clinical indication (n = 78, 27.2%), proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for > 8 weeks (n = 75, 26.0%), and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors with concurrent drugs that reduce heart rate (n = 60, 21.0%). Polypharmacy was observed in 82.6% (n = 237) of patients and was strongly associated with PIP (adjusted OR 24.1, 95% CI 9.0-64.5).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings have revealed a high prevalence of PIP among PwD in Saudi Arabia that is strongly associated with polypharmacy. Future research should aim to explore key stakeholders' experiences and perspectives of medicines management to optimise medication use for this vulnerable patient population.

Prevalence and trend of central nervous system-active medication polypharmacy among US commercially insured adults with vs without early-onset dementia: a multi-year cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Limited data exist on the prevalence and trend of central nervous system (CNS)-active medication polypharmacy among adults with early-onset dementia (EOD) and whether these estimates differ for adults without EOD but with chronic pain, depression, or epilepsy, conditions managed by CNS-active medications.

METHODS

A multi-year, cross-sectional study using 2012-2021 MarketScan Commercial Claims data was conducted among adults aged 30 to 64 years with EOD and those without EOD but having a diagnosis of chronic pain, depression, or epilepsy as comparison groups. For each disease cohort, the primary outcome was CNS-active medication polypharmacy defined as concurrent use of ≥ 3 CNS-active medications on the US Beers Criteria list that overlapped for > 30 consecutive days during 12 months following a randomly selected medical encounter with the disease diagnosis. A separate multivariate modified Poisson regression model was used to estimate time trends in CNS polypharmacy in each disease cohort. Differences in trend estimates between EOD and non-EOD disease cohorts were examined by an interaction between EOD status and yearly time.

RESULTS

From 2013 to 2020, the annual crude prevalence of CNS polypharmacy was higher among adults with EOD (21.2%-25.0%) than adults with chronic pain (5.1%-5.9%), depression (14.8%-21.7%), or epilepsy (20.0%-22.3%). The adjusted annual prevalence of CNS polypharmacy among patients with EOD did not significantly change between 2013 and 2020 (adjusted prevalence rate ratio [aPRR], 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88-1.01), whereas a significant decreasing trend was observed among non-EOD cohorts with chronic pain (aPRR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.63-0.69), depression (aPRR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.77-0.85), and epilepsy (aPRR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.83-0.89). The interaction analysis indicated that patients with epilepsy and depression (vs with EOD) had a decreasing probability of CNS-active medication polypharmacy over time (aPRR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.98-0.99]; P < .001 for interaction for both conditions).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of CNS polypharmacy among US commercially insured adults with EOD (vs without) was higher and remained unchanged from 2013 to 2021. Medication reviews of adults with EOD and CNS polypharmacy are needed to ensure that benefits outweigh risks associated with combined use of these treatments.

Antipsychotics: Past, Present, and Future (Part 2): Article 2 of 3

The history of antipsychotics in nursing facilities is one piece of a much larger, more complex puzzle. In many ways, it reflects the virtues and limitations of the entire health care system and those who provide care. None of the issues related to the use of antipsychotics are specific to these medications or to nursing facilities. After decades of effort to reduce unwarranted antipsychotics use, the current situation is still a work in progress. Many widely held assumptions and standard narratives, such as those about behavior, the place of medications in person-centered care, and the causes of inappropriate medication use are only partially correct. This second of three articles is not intended to discuss how to diagnose and manage behavior disorders or choose medications. Instead, it addresses the diverse perspectives and key players that have been involved and the results of their efforts. Ultimately, this will set the stage for specific recommendations (part 3) about learning from past efforts surrounding antipsychotics to identify more definitive and lasting improvements in the future. Part 1 of this series covered the history of attempts to influence use of medications-especially, antipsychotics-in nursing facility care of residents with behavior, mood, and cognitive issues. These improvement efforts can be described as fragmented, often ineffectual, and politically fraught. After decades of effort, and despite a significant reduction in the indiscriminate use of antipsychotics, psychotropics are still widely used in nursing facilities.1 The extent of improvement overall in managing individuals with dementia and other diverse behavior, mood, and cognitive issues is unclear.

Antipsychotics in Perspective: Past, Present, and Future (Article 2 of 3)

The history of antipsychotics in nursing homes is one piece of a much larger, more complex puzzle. In many ways, it reflects the virtues and limitations of the entire health care system and those who provide care. None of the issues related to the use of antipsychotics are specific to these medications or to nursing homes. After decades of effort to reduce unwarranted antipsychotics use, the current situation is still a work in progress. Many widely held assumptions and standard narratives, such as those about behavior, the place of medications in person-centered care, and the causes of inappropriate medication use are only partially correct. This second of 3 articles is not intended to discuss how to diagnose and manage behavior disorders or choose medications. Instead, it addresses the diverse perspectives and key players that have been involved and the results of their efforts. Ultimately, this will set the stage for specific recommendations (part 3) about learning from past efforts surrounding antipsychotics to identify more definitive and lasting improvements in the future.

[Polypharmacy in patients with dementia]

The number of patients with dementia is expected to grow in the coming years due to an aging population and an increasing life-expectancy. At the same time, in an aging society there will be an increase in multimorbidity and therefore polypharmacy. This combination presents numerous challenges particularly for people with dementia, as the correct administration of the drugs can frequently no longer be guaranteed. The drug treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia are often treated with antipsychotics with potentially severe side effects and with limited efficacy. Moreover, many drugs have an anticholinergic potential, which may worsen the cognitive function even further in patients with dementia. The use of anticholinergic drugs should be handled with care and when possible be avoided in patients with dementia.

Evaluating the Safety of an Educational Deprescribing Intervention: Lessons from the Optimize Trial

BACKGROUND

Patients, family members, and clinicians express concerns about potential adverse drug withdrawal events (ADWEs) following medication discontinuation or fears of upsetting a stable medical equilibrium as key barriers to deprescribing. Currently, there are limited methods to pragmatically assess the safety of deprescribing and ascertain ADWEs. We report the methods and results of safety monitoring for the OPTIMIZE trial of deprescribing education for patients, family members, and clinicians.

METHODS

This was a pragmatic cluster randomized trial with multivariable Poisson regression comparing outcome rates between study arms. We conducted clinical record review and adjudication of sampled records to assess potential causal relationships between medication discontinuation and outcomes. This study included adults aged 65+ with dementia or mild cognitive impairment, one or more additional chronic conditions, and prescribed 5+ chronic medications. The intervention included an educational brochure on deprescribing that was mailed to patients prior to primary care visits, a clinician notification about individual brochure mailings, and an educational tip sheets was provided monthly to primary care clinicians. The outcomes of the safety monitoring were rates of hospitalizations and mortality during the 4 months following brochure mailings and results of record review and adjudication. The adjudication process was conducted throughout the trial and included classifications: likely, possibly, and unlikely.

RESULTS

There was a total of 3012 (1433 intervention and 1579 control) participants. There were 420 total hospitalizations involving 269 (18.8%) people in the intervention versus 517 total hospitalizations involving 317 (20.1%) people in the control groups. Adjusted risk ratios comparing intervention to control groups were 0.92 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72, 1.16] for hospitalization and 1.19 (95% CI 0.67, 2.11) for mortality. Both groups had zero deaths "likely" attributed to a medication change prior to the event. A total of 3 out of 30 (10%) intervention group hospitalizations and 7 out of 35 (20%) control group hospitalizations were considered "likely" due to a medication change.

CONCLUSIONS

Population-based deprescribing education is safe in the older adult population with cognitive impairment in our study. Pragmatic methods for safety monitoring are needed to further inform deprescribing interventions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT03984396. Registered on 13 June 2019.

Diagnoses and Treatment of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia Among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Persons Living with Dementia

Background

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and prescribed central nervous system (CNS) active drugs to treat them are prevalent among persons living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (PLWD) and lead to negative outcomes for PLWD and their caregivers. Yet, little is known about racial/ethnic disparities in diagnosis and use of drugs to treat BPSD.

Objective

Quantify racial/ethnic disparities in BPSD diagnoses and CNS-active drug use among community-dwelling PLWD.

Methods

We used a retrospective cohort of community-dwelling Medicare Fee-for-Service beneficiaries with dementia, continuously enrolled in Parts A, B and D, 2017-2019. Multivariate logistic models estimated rates of BPSD diagnosis and, conditional on diagnosis, CNS-active drug use.

Results

Among PLWD, 67.1% had diagnoses of an affective, psychosis or hyperactivity symptom. White (68.3%) and Hispanic (63.9%) PLWD were most likely, Blacks (56.6%) and Asians (52.7%) least likely, to have diagnoses. Among PLWD with BPSD diagnoses, 78.6% took a CNS-active drug. Use was highest among whites (79.3%) and Hispanics (76.2%) and lowest among Blacks (70.8%) and Asians (69.3%). Racial/ethnic differences in affective disorders were pronounced, 56.8% of white PLWD diagnosed; Asians had the lowest rates (37.8%). Similar differences were found in use of antidepressants.

Conclusions

BPSD diagnoses and CNS-active drug use were common in our study. Lower rates of BPSD diagnoses in non-white compared to white populations may indicate underdiagnosis in clinical settings of treatable conditions. Clinicians' review of prescriptions in this population to reduce poor outcomes is important as is informing care partners on the risks/benefits of using CNS-active drugs.

Diagnosis of behavioral symptoms as a predictor of institutionalization among Medicaid patients with dementia

OBJECTIVES

Behavioral symptoms are commonly observed in the course of dementia. This study aimed to assess the association of the diagnosis of a cluster of behavioral symptoms (e.g., agitation, aggression, psychotic symptoms, and delirium/wandering) with the likelihood of subsequent institutionalization.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of adults aged 65 and above diagnosed with dementia identified in the IBM® MarketScan® Multistate Medicaid database between October 01, 2015, and September 30, 2019, was conducted. The index date was defined as the first diagnosis date of dementia. The presence or absence of behavioral symptoms was identified in the 6 months prior to the index date (baseline). Institutionalization was evaluated 12 months (follow-up) post the index date. The association between diagnosed behavioral symptoms during the baseline period and institutionalization in the follow-up period was assessed using a multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for baseline sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.

RESULTS

The study cohort included 40,714 patients with dementia. A diagnosis of behavioral symptoms was found among 2,067 (5.1%) patients during the baseline period. An increased likelihood of institutionalization was found during the follow-up among patients with agitation and aggression in baseline (OR = 1.51 (95% CI: 1.18-1.92)) compared to patients without these symptoms at baseline. Patients with psychotic symptoms in baseline had significantly higher odds of getting institutionalized during the follow-up compared to patients without psychotic symptoms in baseline (OR = 1.36 (95% CI: 1.20-1.54)). Similarly, patients with symptoms of delirium and wandering in baseline had a higher likelihood of institutionalization than patients without these symptoms at baseline (OR = 1.61 (95% CI: 1.30-1.99)).

CONCLUSION

Several diagnosed behavioral symptoms were associated with a higher risk of institutionalization among older adults with dementia and should be considered when planning treatment strategies for the effective management of the condition.

Central Nervous System-Active Prescriptions in Older Veterans: Trends in Prevalence, Prescribers, and High-risk Populations

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the prevalence or chronicity of prescriptions of central nervous system-active (CNS-active) medications in older Veterans.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to describe (1) the prevalence and trends in prescription of CNS-active medications in older Veterans over time; (2) variation in prescriptions across high-risk groups; and (3) where the prescription originated (VA or Medicare Part D).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study from 2015 to 2019.

PARTICIPANTS

Veterans age ≥ 65 enrolled in the Medicare and the VA residing in Veterans Integrated Service Network 4 (incorporating Pennsylvania and parts of surrounding states).

MAIN MEASURES

Drug classes included antipsychotics, gabapentinoids, muscle relaxants, opioids, sedative-hypnotics, and anticholinergics. We described prescribing patterns overall and in three subgroups: Veterans with a diagnosis of dementia, Veterans with high predicted utilization, and frail Veterans. We calculated both prevalence (any fill) and percent of days covered (chronicity) for each drug class, and CNS-active polypharmacy (≥ 2 CNS-active medications) rates in each year in these groups.

KEY RESULTS

The sample included 460,142 Veterans and 1,862,544 person-years. While opioid and sedative-hypnotic prevalence decreased, gabapentinoids exhibited the largest increase in both prevalence and percent of days covered. Each subgroup exhibited different patterns of prescribing, but all had double the rates of CNS-active polypharmacy compared to the overall study population. Opioid and sedative-hypnotic prevalence was higher in Medicare Part D prescriptions, but the percent of days covered of nearly all drug classes was higher in VA prescriptions.

CONCLUSIONS

The concurrent increase of gabapentinoid prescribing paralleling a decrease in opioid and sedative-hypnotics is a new phenomenon that merits further evaluation of patient safety outcomes. In addition, we found substantial potential opportunities for deprescribing CNS-active medications in high-risk groups. Finally, the increased chronicity of VA prescriptions versus Medicare Part D is novel and should be further evaluated in terms of its mechanism and impact on Medicare-VA dual users.

Factors Associated with Psychotropic Medication Use in People Living with Dementia in the Community: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

There has been considerable focus on the use of psychotropic agents in people living with dementia in long-term care. However, psychotropic use often commences well before transitioning to long-term care.

OBJECTIVES

To synthesize the available literature to identify factors associated with psychotropic medication use in people living with dementia in the community.

METHODS

This PROSPERO-registered review reports findings from a comprehensive search of Embase, PsycINFO, and PubMed (including MEDLINE) databases according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria (2010-2022). Inclusion criteria were original prospective or retrospective design research papers enrolling people diagnosed with dementia utilizing a psychotropic medication and living at home. Quality and risk of bias was assessed Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. The last search was conducted in November 2022. Thematic analysis was used to synthesize the emergent factors identified, and a meta-analysis was undertaken on suitable data.

RESULTS

The search identified 619 articles. After review and exclusions, 39 articles were included for synthesis, including 1,338,737 people. The majority of papers (67%) were rated as low risk of bias and corresponding good quality. Thematic analysis suggested associations between psychotropic prescribing and patient and environmental factors, with little data concerning carer and prescriber factors. Such factors included age (< 75 years, > 90 years), sex, more advanced functional decline, and living alone. Meta-analysis identified significant associations between psychotropic use and respite (temporary full-time care or hospitalization) and comorbid psychiatric illness.

CONCLUSIONS

While it is clear from this review that there remains a significant lack of clarity as to the reasons why these medications are being utilized in this population, this review provides greater insight and understanding into the context of psychotropic use. The study has highlighted an opportunity for further targeted research to be conducted and provides a much-needed context for this to occur.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42021286322.

An investigation of psychoactive polypharmacy and related gender-differences in older adults with dementia: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Older adults living with dementia may express challenging responsive behaviours. One management strategy is pharmacologic treatment though these options often have limited benefit, which may lead to multiple treatments being prescribed.

METHODS

The aim of the present study was to describe psychoactive medication polypharmacy and explore factors associated with psychoactive polypharmacy in a cohort of older adults living with dementia in Nova Scotia, Canada, including a gender-stratified analysis. This was a retrospective cohort study of those aged 65 years or older with a recorded diagnosis of dementia between 2005 and 2015. Medication dispensation data was collected from April 1, 2010, or dementia diagnosis (cohort entry) to either death or March 31, 2015 (cohort exit). Psychoactive medication claims were captured. Psychoactive medication polypharmacy was defined as presence of three or more psychoactive prescription medications dispensed to one subject and overlapping for more than 30 days. Psychoactive polypharmacy episodes were described in duration, quantity, and implicated medications. Regression analysis examined factors associated with experience and frequency of psychoactive polypharmacy. All analysis were stratified by gender.

RESULTS

The cohort included 15,819 adults living with dementia (mean age 80.7 years; 70.0% female), with 99.4% (n = 15,728) receiving at least one psychoactive medication over the period of follow-up. Psychoactive polypharmacy was present in 19.3% of the cohort. The gender specific logistic regressions demonstrated that for both men and women a younger age was associated with an increased risk of psychoactive polypharmacy (women: OR 0.97, 95%CI[0.96, 0.98], men: OR 0.96, 95%CI[0.95, 0.97]). Men were less likely to experience psychoactive polypharmacy if their location of residence was urban (OR 0.86, 95%CI[0.74, 0.99]). There was no significant association between location of residence (urban or rural) and psychoactive polypharmacy for women living with dementia. Antidepressants were the most dispensed medication class, while quetiapine was the most dispensed medication.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that of adults living with dementia those of younger ages were more likely to experience psychoactive polypharmacy and that men living with dementia in rural locations may benefit from increased access to non-pharmacological options for dementia management.

Secular Trends in Central Nervous System-Active Polypharmacy Among Serial Cross-Sections of US Adults, 2009-2020

BACKGROUND

Data comprehensively examining trends in central nervous system (CNS)-active polypharmacy are limited. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to characterize the composition of and trends in CNS-active medication use in US adults.

METHODS

We included all participants ≥ 18 years old in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES), 2009-2020. The primary outcome was the percent of adults with CNS-active polypharmacy. This was defined as ≥ 3 medications among antidepressants [tricyclic, selective and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs and SNRIs), opioids, antiepileptics, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and nonbenzodiazepine receptor agonists ("Z-drugs")]. Secondary outcomes included prevalence of any CNS-active medication and specific medications and classes over time, and their indications. Percentages were weighted according to NHANES's nationally representative sampling frame. log binomial regressions evaluated the relative risk (RR) for each outcome, comparing the last (2017-2020) versus the first (2010-2011) survey cycle.

RESULTS

We included 34,189 adults (18.8% at least 65 years old) from five serial cross-sections (survey cycles). The prevalence of CNS-active polypharmacy was 2.1% in 2009-2010 and 2.6% in 2017-2020 [RR 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94-1.47]. The prevalence of CNS-active polypharmacy did not significantly change within any specific age group (e.g., age at least 65 years: RR 1.29, CI 0.74-2.24). The prevalence of any CNS-active medication was 21.0% in 2009 and 24.6% in 2017-2020 (RR] 1.12, 95% CI 1.02-1.25). A substantial increase occurred for antiepileptics (5.1-8.3%), specifically among participants aged 65 years and older (8.3-13.7%). This was largely driven by increasing gabapentin prevalence (1.4-3.6% overall; 3.3-7.9% age 65 years and older). Anticholinergic, SSRIs/SNRIs, antiepileptics, and benzodiazepines were elevated in most cycles for participants at least 65 years old compared with participants less than 65 years, and opioid use was increased in several cycles for older participants as well. Alprazolam was the most common benzodiazepine and third most common medication for anxiety/depression. Gabapentin was the most common CNS-active medication (3.6% of all participants in 2017-2020), followed by sertraline, citalopram, and acetaminophen-hydrocodone (each ~2%). The most common categories were antidepressants (13.7% in 2017-2020), followed by opioids (5.1% in 2017-2020).

CONCLUSIONS

CNS-active medications are increasingly common, particularly gabapentin, and use of any CNS-active medication increased by 12%. Numerous CNS-active classes also increased in older adults throughout the years. Increasing suboptimal medication use highlight the need for further investigation into causes for potentially inappropriate prescribing, particularly for older adults.

A pragmatic, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial to assess the safety, clinical and cost-effectiveness of mirtazapine and carbamazepine in people with Alzheimer's disease and agitated behaviours: the HTA-SYMBAD trial

Background

Agitation is common and impacts negatively on people with dementia and carers. Non-drug patient-centred care is first-line treatment, but we need other treatment when this fails. Current evidence is sparse on safer and effective alternatives to antipsychotics.

Objectives

To assess clinical and cost-effectiveness and safety of mirtazapine and carbamazepine in treating agitation in dementia.

Design

Pragmatic, phase III, multicentre, double-blind, superiority, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of the clinical effectiveness of mirtazapine over 12 weeks (carbamazepine arm discontinued).

Setting

Twenty-six UK secondary care centres.

Participants

Eligibility: probable or possible Alzheimer's disease, agitation unresponsive to non-drug treatment, Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory score ≥ 45.

Interventions

Mirtazapine (target 45 mg), carbamazepine (target 300 mg) and placebo.

Outcome measures

Primary: Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory score 12 weeks post randomisation. Main economic outcome evaluation: incremental cost per six-point difference in Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory score at 12 weeks, from health and social care system perspective. Data from participants and informants at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks. Long-term follow-up Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory data collected by telephone from informants at 6 and 12 months.

Randomisation and blinding

Participants allocated 1 : 1 : 1 ratio (to discontinuation of the carbamazepine arm, 1 : 1 thereafter) to receive placebo or carbamazepine or mirtazapine, with treatment as usual. Random allocation was block stratified by centre and residence type with random block lengths of three or six (after discontinuation of carbamazepine, two or four). Double-blind, with drug and placebo identically encapsulated. Referring clinicians, participants, trial management team and research workers who did assessments were masked to group allocation.

Results

Two hundred and forty-four participants recruited and randomised (102 mirtazapine, 102 placebo, 40 carbamazepine). The carbamazepine arm was discontinued due to slow overall recruitment; carbamazepine/placebo analyses are therefore statistically underpowered and not detailed in the abstract. Mean difference placebo-mirtazapine (-1.74, 95% confidence interval -7.17 to 3.69; p = 0.53). Harms: The number of controls with adverse events (65/102, 64%) was similar to the mirtazapine group (67/102, 66%). However, there were more deaths in the mirtazapine group (n = 7) by week 16 than in the control group (n = 1). Post hoc analysis suggests this was of marginal statistical significance (p = 0.065); this difference did not persist at 6- and 12-month assessments. At 12 weeks, the costs of unpaid care by the dyadic carer were significantly higher in the mirtazapine than placebo group [difference: £1120 (95% confidence interval £56 to £2184)]. In the cost-effectiveness analyses, mean raw and adjusted outcome scores and costs of the complete cases samples showed no differences between groups.

Limitations

Our study has four important potential limitations: (1) we dropped the proposed carbamazepine group; (2) the trial was not powered to investigate a mortality difference between the groups; (3) recruitment beyond February 2020, was constrained by the COVID-19 pandemic; and (4) generalisability is limited by recruitment of participants from old-age psychiatry services and care homes.

Conclusions

The data suggest mirtazapine is not clinically or cost-effective (compared to placebo) for agitation in dementia. There is little reason to recommend mirtazapine for people with dementia with agitation.

Future work

Effective and cost-effective management strategies for agitation in dementia are needed where non-pharmacological approaches are unsuccessful.

Study registration

This trial is registered as ISRCTN17411897/NCT03031184.

Funding

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 27, No. 23. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Management of neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose is to review the results and clinical implications of recent studies of neuropathology in relation to neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and discuss new therapeutic approaches based on evidence from clinical trials.

RECENT FINDINGS

In a large autopsy series from a national consortium, multiple neuropathologies of dementia subtypes were common and increased severity of specific NPS during life was associated with greater severity of neuropathology across diagnoses. Based on three clinical trials, brexpiprazole, which is an antipsychotic with dopamine and serotonin receptor partial agonism properties, was recently approved for the treatment of agitation in Alzheimer's dementia by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Its therapeutic profile indicates modest efficacy with high safety. Brexpiprazole has not been compared to other antipsychotics that are commonly prescribed to treat agitation in dementia, though none of them have been approved for this indication. Other drugs that showed positive results in Phase 2 trials are being tested in Phase 3 trials. These include cannabinoids and drug combinations that inhibit dextromethorphan metabolism peripherally, thereby increasing its bioavailability in the brain. Apathy is common in several types of dementia, and there is initial evidence that treatment with methylphenidate, a psychostimulant, may be efficacious with good tolerability.

SUMMARY

Greater understanding of the associations between NPS and dementia subtypes can improve clinical management of these disorders. In addition to the approval of brexpiprazole to treat agitation in Alzheimer's dementia, there is optimism about other medications based on ongoing clinical trials. Along with short-term improvement, altering the adverse impact on NPS on long-term prognosis remains an important challenge for the field.

Medication misuse and overuse in community-dwelling persons with dementia

BACKGROUND

Persons with dementia (PWD) have high rates of polypharmacy. While previous studies have examined specific types of problematic medication use in PWD, we sought to characterize a broad spectrum of medication misuse and overuse among community-dwelling PWD.

METHODS

We included community-dwelling adults aged ≥66 in the Health and Retirement Study from 2008 to 2018 linked to Medicare and classified as having dementia using a validated algorithm. Medication usage was ascertained over the 1-year prior to an HRS interview date. Potentially problematic medications were identified by: (1) medication overuse including over-aggressive treatment of diabetes/hypertension (e.g., insulin/sulfonylurea with hemoglobin A1c < 7.5%) and medications inappropriate near end of life based on STOPPFrail and (2) medication misuse including medications that negatively affect cognition and medications from 2019 Beers and STOPP Version 2 criteria. To contextualize, we compared medication use to people without dementia through a propensity-matched cohort by age, sex, comorbidities, and interview year. We applied survey weights to make our results nationally representative.

RESULTS

Among 1441 PWD, median age was 84 (interquartile range = 78-89), 67% female, and 14% Black. Overall, 73% of PWD were prescribed ≥1 potentially problematic medication with a mean of 2.09 per individual in the prior year. This was notable across several domains, including 41% prescribed ≥1 medication that negatively affects cognition. Frequently problematic medications included proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, antihypertensives, and antidiabetic agents. Problematic medication use was higher among PWD compared to those without dementia with 73% versus 67% prescribed ≥1 problematic medication (p = 0.002) and mean of 2.09 versus 1.62 (p < 0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Community-dwelling PWD frequently receive problematic medications across multiple domains and at higher frequencies compared to those without dementia. Deprescribing efforts for PWD should focus not only on potentially harmful central nervous system-active medications but also on other classes such as PPIs and NSAIDs.

Changes in the Use of Long-Term Medications Following Incident Dementia Diagnosis

Importance

Dementia is a life-altering diagnosis that may affect medication safety and goals for chronic disease management.

Objective

To examine changes in medication use following an incident dementia diagnosis among community-dwelling older adults.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In this cohort study of adults aged 67 years or older enrolled in traditional Medicare and Medicare Part D, patients with incident dementia diagnosed between January 2012 and December 2018 were matched to control patients based on demographics, geographic location, and baseline medication count. The index date was defined as the date of first dementia diagnosis or, for controls, the date of the closest office visit. Data were analyzed from August 2021 to June 2023.

Exposure

Incident dementia diagnosis.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcomes were overall medication counts and use of cardiometabolic, central nervous system (CNS)-active, and anticholinergic medications. A comparative time-series analysis was conducted to examine quarterly changes in medication use in the year before through the year following the index date.

Results

The study included 266 675 adults with incident dementia and 266 675 control adults; in both groups, 65.1% were aged 80 years or older (mean [SD] age, 82.2 [7.1] years) and 67.8% were female. At baseline, patients with incident dementia were more likely than controls to use CNS-active medications (54.32% vs 48.39%) and anticholinergic medications (17.79% vs 15.96%) and less likely to use most cardiometabolic medications (eg, diabetes medications, 31.19% vs 36.45%). Immediately following the index date, the cohort with dementia had a greater increase in mean number of medications used (0.41 vs -0.06; difference, 0.46 [95% CI, 0.27-0.66]) and in the proportion of patients using CNS-active medications (absolute change, 3.44% vs 0.79%; difference, 2.65% [95% CI, 0.85%-4.45%]) owing to an increased use of antipsychotics, antidepressants, and antiepileptics. The cohort with dementia also had a modestly greater decline in use of anticholinergic medications (quarterly change in use, -0.53% vs -0.21%; difference, -0.32% [95% CI, -0.55% to -0.08%]) and most cardiometabolic medications (eg, quarterly change in antihypertensive use: -0.84% vs -0.40%; difference, -0.44% [95% CI, -0.64% to -0.25%]). One year after diagnosis, 75.2% of the cohort with dementia were using 5 or more medications (2.8% increase).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of Medicare Part D beneficiaries, following an incident dementia diagnosis, patients were more likely to initiate CNS-active medications and modestly more likely to discontinue cardiometabolic and anticholinergic medications compared with the control group. These findings suggest missed opportunities to reduce burdensome polypharmacy by deprescribing long-term medications with high safety risks or limited likelihood of benefit or that may be associated with impaired cognition.

Association of first anti-seizure medication choice with injuries in older adults with newly diagnosed epilepsy

BACKGROUND

Epilepsy incidence increases exponentially in older adults, who are also at higher risk of adverse drug effects. Anti-seizure medications (ASM) may be associated with sedation and injuries, but discontinuation can result in seizures. We sought to determine whether there was an association between prescribing non-guideline concordant ASM and subsequent injury as this could inform care models.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of adults 50 years or older with newly-diagnosed epilepsy in 2015-16, sampled from the MarketScan Databases. The outcome of interest was injury within 1-year of ASM prescription (e.g., burns, falls) and the exposure of interest was ASM category (recommended vs. not recommended by clinical guidelines). Descriptive statistics characterized covariates and a multivariable Cox-regression model was built to examine the association between ASM category and subsequent injury.

RESULTS

5,931 people with newly diagnosed epilepsy were prescribed an ASM within 1-year. The three most common ASMs were: levetiracetam (62.86%), gabapentin (11.73%), and phenytoin (4.45%). Multivariable Cox-regression found that medication category was not associated with injury; however, older age (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 1.01/year), history of prior injury (AHR 1.77), traumatic brain injury (AHR 1.55) and ASM polypharmacy (AHR 1.32) were associated with increased hazard of injury.

CONCLUSIONS

Most older adults appear to be getting appropriate first prescriptions for epilepsy. However, a substantial proportion still receives medication that guidelines suggest avoiding. In addition, we show that ASM polypharmacy is associated with an increased hazard of injury within 1- year. Efforts to improve prescribing in older adults with epilepsy should consider how to reduce. both polypharmacy and exposure to medications that guidelines recommend avoiding.

Analysis of Concomitant Medications Prescribed with Antipsychotics to Patients with Dementia

INTRODUCTION

Antipsychotics are still commonly prescribed to patients with dementia, despite the many issues that have been identified. This study aimed to quantify antipsychotic prescription in patients with dementia and the types of concomitant medications prescribed with antipsychotics.

METHODS

A total of 1,512 outpatients with dementia who visited our department between April 1, 2013 and March 31, 2021, were included in this study. Demographic data, dementia subtypes, and regular medication use at the time of the first outpatient visit were investigated. The association between antipsychotic prescriptions and referral sources, dementia subtypes, antidementia drug use, polypharmacy, and prescription of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) was evaluated.

RESULTS

The antipsychotic prescription rate for patients with dementia was 11.5%. In a comparison of dementia subtypes, the antipsychotic prescription rate was significantly higher for patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) than for those with all other dementia subtypes. In terms of concomitant medications, patients taking antidementia drugs, polypharmacy, and PIMs were more likely to receive antipsychotic prescriptions than those who were not taking these medications. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that referrals from psychiatric institutions, DLB, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, polypharmacy, and benzodiazepine were associated with antipsychotic prescriptions.

CONCLUSIONS

Referrals from psychiatric institutions, DLB, NMDA receptor antagonist, polypharmacy, and benzodiazepine were associated with antipsychotic prescriptions for patients with dementia. To optimise prescription of antipsychotics, it is necessary to improve cooperation between local and specialised medical institutions for accurate diagnosis, evaluate the effects of concomitant medication administration, and solve the prescribing cascade.

Ten-Year Trends in Psychotropic Prescribing and Polypharmacy in Australian General Practice Patients with and without Dementia

OBJECTIVE

Little research has evaluated trends in psychotropic prescribing and polypharmacy in primary care patients, especially those with dementia. We sought to examine this in Australia from 2011 to 2020 using the primary care dataset, MedicineInsight.

METHODS

Ten consecutive serial cross-sectional analyses were performed to evaluate the proportion of patients aged 65 years or more, with a recorded diagnosis of dementia, who were prescribed psychotropic medications within the first six months of each year from 2011 to 2020. This proportion was compared with propensity score-matched control patients without dementia.

RESULTS

Before matching, 24,701 patients (59.2% females) with, and 72,105 patients (59.2% females) without, a recorded diagnosis of dementia were included. In 2011, 42% (95% confidence interval [CI] 40.5-43.5%) of patients in the dementia group had at least one recorded prescription of a psychotropic medication, which declined to 34.2% (95% CI 33.3-35.1%; p for trend < 0.001) by 2020. However, it remained unchanged for matched controls (36% [95% CI 34.6-37.5%] in 2011 and 36.7% [95% CI 35.7-37.6%] in 2020). The greatest decline in the dementia groups by medication class was for antipsychotics (from 15.9% [95% CI 14.8-17.0%] to 8.8% [95% CI 8.2-9.4%]; p for trend < 0.001). During this period, the prevalence of psychotropic polypharmacy (use of two or more individual psychotropics) also decreased from 21.7% (95% CI 20.5-22.9%) to 18.1% (95% CI 17.4-18.9%) in the dementia groups, and slightly increased from 15.2% (95% CI 14.1-16.3%) to 16.6% (95% CI 15.9-17.3%) in the matched controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The decline in psychotropic prescribing, particularly antipsychotics, in Australian primary care patients with dementia is encouraging. However, psychotropic polypharmacy still occurred in almost one in five patients with dementia at the end of the study period. Programs focused on encouraging further reductions in the use of multiple psychotropic drugs in patients with dementia are recommended, particularly in rural and remote regions.

Potentially inappropriate medications use in a psychiatric elderly care hospital: A cross-sectional study using Beers criteria

Background and Aims

Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) carry risks that outweigh any potential benefits when compared to safer or more effective alternative treatments. Adverse drug events are more likely to occur in older adults with psychiatric diseases due to multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and age-related changes in drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of PIM use in an aged care hospital's psychogeriatric division, using the American Geriatrics Society Beers criteria 2019.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on all current inpatients, having a mental disorder and aged ≥65 years, in one elderly care hospital in Beirut, from March to May 2022. Medications, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were collected from patients' medical records. PIMs were evaluated based on Beers criteria 2019. Independent variables were described using descriptive statistics. Factors associated with PIM use were identified by bivariate analysis followed by binary logistic regression. A two-sided p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The study included 147 patients, with a mean age of 76.3 years, 46.9% of them having schizophrenia, 68.7% using 5 or more drugs and 90.5% taking at least 1 PIM. The most prescribed PIMs were antipsychotics (40.2%), anticholinergics (16%), and antidepressants (7.8%). PIM use was significantly associated with polypharmacy (AOR = 20.88, 95% CI: 1.22-357.87, p = 0.04) and anticholinergic cognitive burden (ACB) score (AOR = 7.25, 95% CI: 1.13-46.52, p = 0.04).

Conclusion

PIMs were highly prevalent among hospitalized Lebanese psychiatric elderly. Polypharmacy and ACB score were the determinants of PIM use. A multidisciplinary medication review led by a clinical pharmacist could reduce PIM use.

Effect of collaborative dementia care on potentially inappropriate medication use: Outcomes from the Care Ecosystem randomized clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) cause adverse events and death. We evaluate the Care Ecosystem (CE) collaborative dementia care program on medication use among community-dwelling persons living with dementia (PLWD).

METHODS

Secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) comparing CE to usual care (UC) on changes in PIMs, over 12 months between March 2015 and May 2020. Secondary outcomes included change in number of medications, clinically relevant PIMs, and anti-dementia medications.

RESULTS

Of 804 PLWD, N = 490 had complete medication data. The CE resulted in significantly fewer PIMs compared to UC (-0.35; 95% CI, -0.49 to -0.20; P < 0.0001). Number needed to prevent an increase in 1 PIM was 3. Total medications, PIMs for dementia or cognitive impairment, CNS-active PIMs, anticholinergics, benzodiazepines, and opioids were also fewer. Anti-dementia medication regimens were modified more frequently.

CONCLUSION

The CE medication review intervention embedded in collaborative dementia care optimized medication use among PLWD.

HIGHLIGHTS

Compared to usual care (UC), the Care Ecosystem (CE) medication review intervention prevented increases in potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). Use of anticholinergics, benzodiazepines, and opioids were significantly reduced, with a trend for antipsychotics. Anti-dementia medications were adjusted more frequently. The CE medication review intervention embedded in collaborative dementia care optimized medication use.

Cholinergic Antagonists and Behavioral Disturbances in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Cholinergic antagonists interfere with synaptic transmission in the central nervous system and are involved in pathological processes in patients with neurocognitive disorders (NCD), such as behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). In this commentary, we will briefly review the current knowledge on the impact of cholinergic burden on BPSD in persons with NCD, including the main pathophysiological mechanisms. Given the lack of clear consensus regarding symptomatic management of BPSD, special attention must be paid to this preventable, iatrogenic condition in patients with NCD, and de-prescription of cholinergic antagonists should be considered in patients with BPSD.

New psychotropic medication use among Medicare beneficiaries with dementia after hospital discharge

BACKGROUND

Hospitalizations among people with dementia (PWD) may precipitate behavioral changes, leading to the psychotropic medication use despite adverse outcomes and limited efficacy. We sought to determine the incidence of new psychotropic medication use among community-dwelling PWD after hospital discharge and, among new users, the proportion with prolonged use.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study using a 20% random sample of Medicare claims in 2017, including hospitalized PWD with traditional and Part D Medicare who were 68 years or older. The primary outcome was incident prescribing at discharge of psychotropics including antipsychotics, sedative-hypnotics, antiepileptics, and antidepressants. This was defined as new prescription fills (i.e., from classes not used in 180 days preadmission) within 7 days of hospital or skilled nursing facility discharge. Prolonged use was defined as the proportion of new users who continued to fill newly prescribed medications beyond 90 days of discharge.

RESULTS

The cohort included 117,022 hospitalized PWD with a mean age of 81 years; 63% were female. Preadmission, 63% were using at least 1 psychotropic medication; 10% were using medications from ≥3 psychotropic classes. These included antidepressants (44% preadmission), antiepileptics (29%), sedative-hypnotics (21%), and antipsychotics (11%). The proportion of PWD discharged from the hospital with new psychotropics ranged from 1.9% (antipsychotics) to 2.9% (antiepileptics); 6.6% had at least one new class started. Among new users, prolonged use ranged from 36% (sedative-hypnotics) to 63% (antidepressants); across drug classes, prolonged use occurred in 51%. Predictors of newly initiated psychotropics included length of stay (≥median vs.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospitalized PWD have a high prevalence of preadmission psychotropic medication use; against this baseline, discharge from the hospital with new psychotropics is relatively uncommon. Nevertheless, prolonged use of newly initiated psychotropics occurs in a substantial proportion of this population.

Collapse

Key Words

• dementia
• hospitalization
• prescribing
• psychotropics

Collapse

MESH Headings

• Humans
• Female
• Aged
• United States
• Aged, 80 and over
• Male
• Patient Discharge
• Retrospective Studies
• Anticonvulsants/therapeutic use
• Dementia/drug therapy
• Medicare
• Psychotropic Drugs/therapeutic use
• Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use
• Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use
• Hospitals
• Hypnotics and Sedatives/therapeutic use

Collapse

Grants

• K12 HS026383 AHRQ HHS
• L30 AG074160 NIA NIH HHS
• R24 AG064025 NIA NIH HHS
• K24 AG049057 NIA NIH HHS
• R35 AG071916 NIA NIH HHS
• R03 AG064373 NIA NIH HHS
• T32 AG000212 NIA NIH HHS
• P01 AG066605 NIA NIH HHS
• K01 AG073532 NIA NIH HHS
• P30 AG044281 NIA NIH HHS
• R03 AG078804 NIA NIH HHS

Collapse

Affiliation(s)

Matthew E Growdon Division of Geriatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA Geriatrics, Palliative, and Extended Care Service Line, San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA
Siqi Gan Division of Geriatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA Northern California Institute for Research and Education, San Francisco, California, USA
Kristine Yaffe Mental Health, San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
Alexandra K Lee Division of Geriatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA Geriatrics, Palliative, and Extended Care Service Line, San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA
Timothy S Anderson Division of General Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Ulrike Muench Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
W John Boscardin Division of Geriatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
Michael A Steinman Division of Geriatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA Geriatrics, Palliative, and Extended Care Service Line, San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA

Collapse

Common Sleep Disorders Affecting Older Adults

Sleep disorders in older adults increase with aging, likely due to increased sleep latency, decreased sleep efficiency, and total sleep time. Common sleep issues include chronic insomnia, circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, sleep-related movement disorders, and sleep-disordered breathing. Diagnostic tools, such as a comprehensive sleep history and questionnaires, or a sleep log for more specific complaints, are commonly used. Polysomnography is not recommended as a routine test; however, it can be used for abnormal behaviors during sleep or if treatment fails. Sleep disorder management is based on the etiology and may include nonpharmacological and pharmacological alternative treatments. For example, nonpharmacological management for chronic insomnia and some sleep disorders may consist of cognitive behavioral therapy, sleep hygiene education, relaxation therapy, sleep restriction, light therapy, and stimulus control therapy. Because the quality of evidence for pharmacological treatment is poor, the medication choice should be based on shared decision-making between the practitioner and the patient, with limited prescription.

External validation of a model to predict future chronic opioid use among hospitalized patients

BACKGROUND

Previous research demonstrates an association between opioid prescribing at hospital discharge and future chronic opioid use. Various opioid guidelines and policies contributed to changes in opioid prescribing practices. How this affected hospitalized patients remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

Externally validate a prediction model to identify hospitalized patients at the highest risk for future chronic opioid therapy (COT).

DESIGNS

Retrospective analysis of health record data from 2011 to 2022 using logistic regression.

PARTICIPANTS

Hospitalized adults with limited to no opioid use 1-year prior to hospitalization.

SETTINGS

A statewide healthcare system.

MAIN MEASUREMENTS

Used variables associated with progression to COT in a derivation cohort from a different healthcare system to predict expected outcomes in the validation cohort.

KEY RESULTS

The derivation cohort included 17,060 patients, of whom 9653 (56.6%) progressed to COT 1 year after discharge. Compared to the derivation cohort, in the validation cohort, patients who received indigent care (odds ratio [OR] = 0.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] =  0.27-0.59, p < .001) were least likely to progress to COT. Among variables assessed, opioid receipt at discharge was most strongly associated with progression to COT (OR = 3.74, 95% CI = 3.06-4.61, p < .001). The receiver operating characteristic curve for the validation set using coefficients from the derivation cohort performed slightly better than chance (AUC = 0.55).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results highlight the importance of externally validating a prediction model prior to use outside of the derivation population. Periodic updates to models are necessary as policy changes and clinical practice recommendations may affect model performance.

Medication Costs and Use of Older Americans in Assisted Living Settings: a Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Assisted-living (AL) settings are an important residential care option for old and disabled Americans, but there are no national data characterizing medication use in AL.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate medication costs and use of older adults living in the AL settings compared to those in the community, independent living, and nursing home settings.

DESIGN

2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study; nationally representative cross-sectional study.

PATICIPANTS

Respondents ≥ 65 years with Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage (n = 5980, representing 32.34 million older adults).

MEASURES

Total Part D medication costs; number of 30-day prescription fills; binary indicators for overall polypharmacy (≥ 5 and ≥ 10 concurrent medications), prescription fills of opioid and psychotropic medications including antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, gabapentinoids, antidepressants, and central nervous system-active (CNS-active) polypharmacy.

RESULTS

Adjusting for demographics, the annual medication costs among AL residents, at $3890, were twice as high as those of their community-dwelling counterparts ($1932; p < .01). All medication outcomes except opioids were higher for older adults in AL compared to community settings. While the adjusted number of 30-day prescription fills among AL residents was slightly lower than that of nursing home residents (89.5 vs. 106.2; p < .05), AL residents experienced equivalent rates of overall polypharmacy ≥ 10 medications (30.2% vs. 23.5%), antipsychotics (30.8% vs. 27.8%), benzodiazepines (30.7% vs. 32.6%), gabapentinoids (21.2% vs. 16.1%), and CNS-active polypharmacy (26.0% vs. 36.9%; p > .05 for all). Patterns of use across settings were consistent when limited to older adults with dementia.

CONCLUSIONS

Older Americans in AL experience a prescription medication burden similar to those in nursing homes. AL settings have an important opportunity to ensure their medication-related clinical services and supports match the needs of their residents.

Polypharmacy and multiple sclerosis: A population-based study

BACKGROUND

Little is known about polypharmacy and multiple sclerosis (MS).

OBJECTIVES

To estimate polypharmacy prevalence in a population-based MS cohort and compare persons with/without polypharmacy.

METHODS

Using administrative and pharmacy data from Canada, we estimated polypharmacy prevalence (⩾5 concurrent medications for >30 consecutive days) in MS individuals in 2017. We compared the characteristics of persons with/without polypharmacy and described the number of polypharmacy days, the most common medication classes contributing to polypharmacy and hyper-polypharmacy prevalence (⩾10 medications).

RESULTS

Of 14,227 included individuals (75% women), mean age = 55.4 (standard deviation (SD): 13.2) years; 28% (n = 3995) met criteria for polypharmacy (median polypharmacy days = 273 (interquartile range (IQR): 120-345)). Odds of polypharmacy were higher for women (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.14; 95% confidence intervals (CI):1.04-1.25), older individuals (aORs 50-64 years = 2.04; 95% CI:1.84-2.26; ⩾65 years = 3.26; 95% CI: 2.92-3.63 vs. <50 years), those with more comorbidities (e.g. ⩾3 vs. none, aOR = 6.03; 95% CI: 5.05-7.22) and lower socioeconomic status (SES) (e.g. most (SES-Q1) vs. least deprived (SES-Q5) aOR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.44-1.86). Medication classes most commonly contributing to polypharmacy were as follows: antidepressants (66% of polypharmacy days), antiepileptics (47%), and peptic ulcer drugs (41%). Antidepressants were most frequently co-prescribed with antiepileptics (34% of polypharmacy days) and peptic ulcer drugs (27%). Five percent of persons (716/14,227) experienced hyper-polypharmacy.

CONCLUSION

More than one in four MS persons met criteria for polypharmacy. The odds of polypharmacy were higher for women, older persons, and those with more comorbidities, but lower SES.

[Management of patients with insomnia and polymorbidity: expert consensus]

Sleep disorders are becoming increasingly important due to the high comorbidity with other diseases and a significant impact on the patient's quality of life. Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder both in the general population and in patients with multimorbid pathology. Its prevalence in the general population is 6-15%, while in patients with somatic diseases it increases up to 20-40% and can reach 90% in patients with comorbid mental disorders. Another problem is the development of drug-induced insomnia. Insomnia has negative impact on the prognosis of comorbid diseases, including an increased risk of death, more severe disease, and a worse quality of life. The presence of sleep disorders makes it difficult to effectively treat the underlying disease, so it is extremely important to identify and correct these disorders in the early stages, therefore recommendations for the diagnosis of insomnia in polymorbid patients are proposed. Modern methods of treating acute and chronic insomnia and features of insomnia treatment in polymorbid patients are also discussed.

Gabapentin utilization among older adults with different cognitive statuses enrolled in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (2006-2019)

This study aimed to examine gabapentin utilization trends among older adults with different cognitive statuses and investigate concurrent medication use of potentially inappropriate medications. Data were extracted from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set (2006-2019). We estimated the yearly prevalence of gabapentin use, both overall and within subgroups defined by cognitive status (normal, mild cognitive impairment and dementia) and demographics (age and sex) for participants aged 65+. Additionally, we assessed the prevalence of concurrent use of gabapentin with opioids, combined opioids and benzodiazepine, antidepressant and antipsychotic. From 35 205 eligible older adults (mean age [SD]: 75.7 [7.0]; male: 43.1%), gabapentin use increased from 2006 to 2019 in both overall and every participant subgroup. About 10%-30% of gabapentin users reported to concurrently use opioids, and the concurrent use of gabapentin, opioid and benzodiazepine was up to 7.5% throughout the study period. The frequency of concurrent use with antipsychotics or antidepressants was higher in participants with dementia than those with normal cognition or those who were mildly cognitively impaired. Given increasing use among older adults, rigorous studies are needed to examine the safety of gabapentin in this population.

High opioid doses, naloxone, and central nervous system active medications received by Medicare-enrolled adults

BACKGROUND

A limited number of studies have analyzed prescribing among Medicare-enrolled adults at risk for opioid overdoses. The objectives of this study were to evaluate prescribing for naloxone and central nervous system (CNS) active medications and to determine the relationships of patient characteristics with exposure to these medications.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of a Medicare-enrolled medication therapy management eligible cohort. Patients were stratified into two cohorts, individuals with a mean daily morphine milligram equivalent (MME) dose <50 and individuals with MME ≥50. Medications assessed included benzodiazepines, skeletal muscle relaxants (SMR), hypnotics, gabapentanoids, selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), antipsychotics, barbiturates, other antiepileptics, hydroxyzine, and naloxone. Chi-square with odds ratios and logistic regressions determined the relationships of medications and patient characteristics with mean daily MME ≥50. Relationship between medications and opioid dose was adjusted for age and sex.

RESULTS

There were 3452 patients with a daily MME <50 and 1116 with a daily MME ≥50. After adjusting for age and sex, patients with a daily MME ≥50 were more likely to be prescribed hypnotics (OR: 1.41, 95% CI 1.17-1.70), SNRIs (OR: 1.39, 95% CI 1.17-1.64), and naloxone (OR: 3.21, 95% CI 2.49-4.12) (p < 0.001). Nine percent of eligible patients received naloxone. Age groups of persons <85 years of age had 1.58-4.04 (p ≤ 0.004) times the odds of being prescribed a mean daily MME ≥50.

CONCLUSION

Nearly one-fourth of patients were prescribed a mean daily opioid therapy of MME ≥50. These patients were more likely to be prescribed hypnotics, SNRIs, and naloxone. Patients receiving chronic high-dose opioid therapy were more likely to be in age groups of persons <85 years. Naloxone may be underprescribed among eligible adults. Targeted medication services may ensure optimal prescribing among Medicare patients with chronic opioid therapies.

Psychotropic medication prescribing in assisted living and nursing home residents with dementia after the National Partnership

BACKGROUND

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services implemented the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes (the Partnership) to decrease antipsychotic use and improve care for nursing home (NH) residents with dementia. We determined whether the extent of antipsychotic and other psychotropic medication prescribing in AL residents with dementia mirrored that of long-stay NH (LSNH) residents after the Partnership.

METHODS

Using a 20% sample of fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries with Part D, we conducted a retrospective cohort study including AL and LSNH residents with dementia. The monthly prevalence of psychotropic medication prescribing (antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics/sedative-hypnotics, anticonvulsants/mood stabilizers, benzodiazepines, and antidementia medications) was examined. We used an interrupted time-series analysis to compare medication prescribing before (July 1, 2010-March 31, 2012) and after (April 1, 2012-December 31, 2017) the Partnership in both settings.

RESULTS

We identified 107,931 beneficiaries with ≥1 month as an AL resident and 323,766 beneficiaries with ≥1 month as a LSNH resident with dementia, including 1,923,867 person-months and 4,984,405 person-months, respectively. Antipsychotic prescribing declined over the study period in both settings. After the launch of the Partnership, the rate of decline in antipsychotic prescribing slowed in AL residents with dementia (slope change = 0.03 [95% CLs: 0.02, 0.04]) while the rate of decline in antipsychotic prescribing increased in LSNH residents with dementia (slope change = -0.12 [95% CLs: -0.16, -0.08]). Antidepressants were the most prevalent medication prescribed, anticonvulsant/mood stabilizer prescribing increased, and anxiolytic/sedative-hypnotic and antidementia medication prescribing declined.

CONCLUSIONS

The federal Partnership to reduce antipsychotic prescribing in NH residents did not appear to affect antipsychotic prescribing in AL residents with dementia. Given the increase in the prescribing of mood stabilizers/anticonvulsants that occurred after the launch of the Partnership, monitoring may be warranted for all psychotropic medications in AL and NH settings.

Time to dementia diagnosis by race: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Non-Hispanic Black individuals may be less likely to receive a diagnosis of dementia compared to non-Hispanic White individuals. These findings raise important questions regarding which factors may explain this observed association and any differences in the time to which disparities emerge following dementia onset.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using survey data from the 1995 to 2016 Health and Retirement Study linked with Medicare fee-for-service claims. Using the Hurd algorithm (a regression-based approach), we identified dementia onset among older adult respondents (age ≥65 years) from the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status and proxy respondents. We determined date from dementia onset to diagnosis using Medicare data up to 3 years following onset using a list of established diagnosis codes. Cox Proportional Hazards modeling was used to examine the association between an individual's reported race and likelihood of diagnosis after accounting for sociodemographic characteristics, income, education, functional status, and healthcare use.

RESULTS

We identified 3435 older adults who experienced a new onset of dementia. Among them, 30.1% received a diagnosis within 36 months of onset. In unadjusted analyses, the difference in cumulative proportion diagnosed by race continued to increase across time following onset, p-value <0.001. 23.8% of non-Hispanic Black versus 31.4% of non-Hispanic White participants were diagnosed within 36 months of dementia onset, Hazard Ratio = 0.73 (95% CI: 0.61, 0.88). The association persisted after adjustment for functional status and healthcare use; however, these factors had less of an impact on the strength of the association than income and level of education.

CONCLUSION

Lower diagnosis rates of dementia among non-Hispanic Black individuals persists after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, functional status, and healthcare use. Further understanding of barriers to diagnosis that may be related to social determinants of health is needed to improve dementia-related outcomes among non-Hispanic Black Americans.

Polypharmacy in Older Adults with Alzheimer’s Disease

The number of patients with Alzheimer’s disease is increasing annually. Most of these patients are older adults with comorbid physical illnesses, which means that they are often treated with a combination of medications for the disease they have and those for Alzheimer’s disease. Thus, older adults with Alzheimer’s disease are potentially at risk for polypharmacy. In addition, the drug interactions between Alzheimer’s disease medications and those for the treatment of physical illnesses may reduce their efficacy and increase side effects. This article reviews polypharmacy and drug interactions in elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease, with a focus on psychotropic drugs.

Impact of standardizing care for agitation in dementia using an integrated care pathway on an inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the effectiveness of an integrated care pathway (ICP), including a medication algorithm, to treat agitation associated with dementia.

DESIGN

Analyses of data (both prospective and retrospective) collected during routine clinical care.

SETTING

Geriatric Psychiatry Inpatient Unit.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with agitation associated with dementia (n = 28) who were treated as part of the implementation of the ICP and those who received treatment-as-usual (TAU) (n = 28) on the same inpatient unit before the implementation of the ICP. Two control groups of patients without dementia treated on the same unit contemporaneously to the TAU (n = 17) and ICP groups (n = 36) were included to account for any secular trends.

INTERVENTION

ICP.

MEASUREMENTS

Cohen Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI), Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPIQ), and assessment of motor symptoms were completed during the ICP implementation. Chart review was used to obtain length of inpatient stay and rates of psychotropic polypharmacy.

RESULTS

Patients in the ICP group experienced a reduction in their scores on the CMAI and NPIQ and no changes in motor symptoms. Compared to the TAU group, the ICP group had a higher chance of an earlier discharge from hospital, a lower rate of psychotropic polypharmacy, and a lower chance of having a fall during hospital stay. In contrast, these outcomes did not differ between the two control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

These preliminary results suggest that an ICP can be used effectively to treat agitation associated with dementia in inpatients. A larger randomized study is needed to confirm these results.

Balance dysfunction the most significant cause of in-hospital falls in patients taking hypnotic drugs: A retrospective study

Purpose

Preventing falls in patients is one of the most important concerns in acute hospitals. Balance disorder and hypnotic drugs lead to falls. The Standing Test for Imbalance and Disequilibrium (SIDE) is developed for the evaluation of static standing balance ability. There have been no reports of a comprehensive assessment of falls risk including hypnotic drugs and SIDE. The purpose of this study was to investigate the fall rate of each patient who took the hypnotic drug and the factor associated with falls.

Methods

Fall rates for each hypnotic drug were calculated as follows (number of patients who fell/number of patients prescribed hypnotic drug x 100). We investigated the hypnotic drugs as follows; benzodiazepine drugs, Z-drugs, melatonin receptor agonists, and orexin receptor antagonists. Hypnotic drug fall rate was analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square test. Decision tree analysis is the method we used to discover the most influential factors associated with falls.

Results

This study included 2840 patients taking hypnotic drugs. Accidents involving falls were reported for 211 of inpatients taking hypnotic drugs. Z-drug recipients had the lowest fall rate among the hypnotic drugs. We analyzed to identify independent factors for falls, a decision tree algorithm was created using two divergence variables. The SIDE levels indicating balance disorder were the initial divergence variable. The rate of falls in patients at SIDE level ≦ 2a was 14.7%. On the other hand, the rate of falls in patients at SIDE level ≧ 2b was 2.9%. Gender was the variable for the second classification. In this analysis, drugs weren’t identified as divergence variables for falls.

Conclusion

The SIDE balance assessment was the initial divergence variable by decision tree analysis. In order to prevent falls, it seems important not only to select appropriate hypnotic drugs but also to assess patients for balance and implement preventive measures.

Antipsychotic treatment in elderly patients on polypharmacy with schizophrenia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Elderly patients with schizophrenia (SCH) are treated with antipsychotics and are often on different comedications, including polypharmacy (five or more medications). Evidence-based guidelines and randomized controlled trials do not include patients on polypharmacy, something that represents a 'gap' between evidence-based recommendations and clinical prescribing patterns. In this context, narrative reviews are needed to help clinicians in daily practice.

RECENT FINDINGS

Antipsychotic treatment efficacies in meta-analyses are similar in the elderly with SCH compared with the general population (medium effect size). Long-term cohort studies show that antipsychotic treatment reduces overall mortality, hospitalizations, and cardiovascular death. These studies are limited because polypharmacy was not studied. The prevalence of antipsychotic use as potentially inappropriate medications was very high in nursing homes (25%). The prevalence of antipsychotic polypharmacy was 40%. Different strategies to manage these problems are available, including collaboration with clinical pharmacists, leading to reduced polypharmacy and better adherence to treatment guidelines.

SUMMARY

Elderly patients with SCH on polypharmacy are less frequently studied, although they represent many patients with SCH. Different potentially inappropriate medication lists and collaboration with clinical pharmacists represent effective strategies for medication optimization. More studies are needed on this topic (e.g., prospective nonrandomized studies).

Factors Associated with Potentially Harmful Medication Prescribing in Nursing Homes: A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVES

To summarize current evidence regarding facility and prescriber characteristics associated with potentially harmful medication (PHM) use by residents in nursing homes (NHs), which could inform the development of interventions to reduce this potentially harmful practice.

DESIGN

Scoping review.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Studies conducted in the United States that described facility and prescriber factors associated with PHM use in NHs.

METHODS

Electronic searches of PubMed/MEDLINE were conducted for articles published in English between April 2011 and November 2021. PHMs were defined based on the Beers List criteria. Studies testing focused interventions targeting PHM prescribing or deprescribing were excluded. Studies were characterized by the strengths and weaknesses of the analytic approach and generalizability.

RESULTS

Systematic search yielded 1253 articles. Of these, 29 were assessed in full text and 20 met inclusion criteria. Sixteen examined antipsychotic medication (APM) use, 2 anticholinergic medications, 1 sedative-hypnotics, and 2 overall PHM use. APM use was most commonly associated with facilities with a higher proportion of male patients, younger patients, and patients with severe cognitive impairment, anxiety, depression, and aggressive behavior. The use of APM and anticholinergic medications was associated with low registered nurse staffing ratios and for-profit facility status. No studies evaluated prescriber characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Included studies primarily examined APM use. The most commonly reported facility characteristics were consistent with previously reported indicators of poor NH quality and NHs with patient case mix more likely to use PHMs.

Medicare spending associated with a dementia diagnosis among older adults

BACKGROUND

Over 6 million Americans have Alzheimer's Disease or Related Dementia (ADRD) but whether spikes in spending surrounding a new diagnosis reflect pre-diagnosis morbidity, diagnostic testing, or treatments for comorbidities is unknown.

METHODS

We used the 1998-2018 Health and Retirement Study and linked Medicare claims from older (≥65) adults to assess incremental quarterly spending changes just before versus just after a clinical diagnosis (diagnosis cohort, n = 2779) and, for comparative purposes, for a cohort screened as impaired based on the validated Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) (impairment cohort, n = 2318). Models were adjusted for sociodemographic and health characteristics. Spending patterns were examined separately by sex, race, education, dual eligibility, and geography.

RESULTS

Among the diagnosis cohort, mean (SD) overall spending was $4773 ($9774) per quarter - 43% of which was spending on hospital care ($2048). In adjusted analyses, spending increased by $8400 (p < 0.001), or 156%, from $5394 in the quarter prior to $13,794 in the quarter including the diagnosis. Among the cohort in which impairment was incidentally detected using the TICS, adjusted spending did not change from just before to after detection of impairment, from $2986 before and $2962 after detection (p = 0.90). Incremental spending changes did not differ by sex, race, education, dual eligibility, or geography.

CONCLUSION

Large, transient spending increases accompany an ADRD diagnosis that may not be attributed to impairment or changes in functional status due to dementia. Further study may help reveal how treatment for comorbidities is associated with the clinical diagnosis of dementia, with potential implications for Medicare spending.

Trajectories of pregabalin use and their association with longitudinal changes in opioid and benzodiazepine use

ABSTRACT

Concomitant use of pregabalin with opioids and/or benzodiazepines is common, despite the increased risks. However, clinical trials suggest pregabalin can have an opioid-sparing effect when treating acute postoperative pain. We explored how opioid and benzodiazepine use changed over time in people initiating pregabalin, using dispensing claims data for a 10% sample of Australians (2013-19). Among 142,776 people initiating pregabalin (median age = 61 years, 57% female), we used group-based trajectory modelling to identify 6 pregabalin dose trajectories in the first year postinitiation. Two trajectories involved discontinuation: after one dispensing (49%), and after 6 months of treatment (14%). Four trajectories involved persistent use with variable estimated median daily doses of 39 mg (16%), 127 mg (14%), 276 mg (5%), and 541 mg (2%). We quantified opioid and benzodiazepine use in the year before and after pregabalin initiation using generalised linear models. Over the study period, 71% were dispensed opioids and 34% benzodiazepines, with people on the highest pregabalin dose having highest rates of use. Opioid use increased postpregabalin initiation. Among people using both opioids and pregabalin, the geometric mean daily dose in oral morphine equivalents increased after pregabalin initiation in all trajectories, ranging from +5.9% (99% confidence interval 4.8%-7.0%) to +39.8% (99% confidence interval 38.3%-41.5%) in people on the highest daily pregabalin dose. Among people using both pregabalin and benzodiazepines, the dose remained constant over time for people in all trajectories. Notwithstanding its reputation as opioid-sparing, in this outpatient setting, we observed that people using opioids tended to use higher opioid daily doses after pregabalin initiation, especially those on high pregabalin doses.

The Rationale and Design of Behavioral Interventions for Management of Agitation in Dementia in a Multi-Site Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Agitation and aggression are common in patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and pose a significant burden on patients, caregivers, and the healthcare systems. Guidelines recommend personalized behavioral interventions as the first-line treatment; however, these interventions are often underutilized. The Standardizing Care for Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Quality of Life in Dementia (StaN) study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier # NCT0367220) is a multisite randomized controlled trial comparing an Integrated Care Pathway, that includes a sequential pharmacological algorithm and structured behavioral interventions, with treatment-as-usual to treat agitation in dementia in long-term care and inpatient settings.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the rationale and design of structured behavioral interventions in the StaN study.

METHODS

Structured behavioral interventions are designed and implemented based on the following considerations: 1) personalization, 2) evidence base, 3) dose and duration, 4) measurement-based care, and 5) environmental factors and feasibility.

RESULTS

The process to design behavioral interventions for each individual starts with a comprehensive assessment, followed by personalized, evidence-based interventions delivered in a standardized manner with ongoing monitoring of global clinical status. Measurement-based care is used to tailor the interventions and to integrate them with pharmacotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Individualized behavioral interventions in patients with dementia may be challenging to design and implement. Here we describe a process to design and implement individualized and structured behavioral interventions in the context of a multisite trial in long-term care and inpatient settings. This process can inform the design of behavioral interventions in future trials and in clinical settings for the treatment of agitation in dementia.