Clinical factors affecting potentially inappropriate medications at discharge in older stroke patients

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use is associated with improved activities of daily living and rehabilitation in older adult patients following a fracture: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Insufficient rehabilitation due to postfracture pain can result in muscle atrophy and joint contractures, which may affect the improvement of activities of daily living (ADL). This study investigated the impact of using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on the improvement of ADL in older adult patients with fractures admitted to a convalescent rehabilitation unit.

METHODS

Of 489 older adult patients with fractures from January 2017 to June 2019, 261 fulfilled the requirements for this retrospective cohort analysis. Patients who had convalescent rehabilitation following a fracture were categorized into two groups: those who used NSAIDs and those who did not. The functional independence measure-total gain (FIM-total) score, which was used for evaluating ADL, was the main outcome measure. We ascertained the independent relationship between NSAIDs use and rehabilitation outcomes using a multiple linear regression analysis. Covariates selected to correct bias included age, sex (male), BMI, hypertension, dementia, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, upper limb paralysis, femoral fracture, lumbar compression fracture, thoracic compression fracture, pelvic fracture, patellar fracture, FIM-total at admission, number of drugs, acetaminophen use.

RESULTS

The mean participant age was 82.3 ± 7.4 years, 69 (26.4%) of them were men, and 94 (36%) used NSAIDs. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that NSAIDs use was independently associated with FIM-total gain during hospitalization (β=2.311, P=0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that the appropriate use of NSAIDs may play a beneficial role in maximizing rehabilitation outcomes. However, careful monitoring for potential adverse effects is essential, particularly in older adults.

Deprescribing psychotropic medications is associated with improvements in activities of daily living in post-stroke patients

AIMS

To examine the effect of deprescribing psychotropic medications on activities of daily living (ADLs) and swallowing function in patients undergoing convalescent rehabilitation following a stroke.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, patients who underwent convalescent rehabilitation after a stroke were divided into two groups: deprescribing (number of psychotropic medications decreased during hospitalization) and non-deprescribing (number of psychotropic medications increased or remained unchanged). The primary outcome measure was ADLs assessed using the Functional Independence-Measured Motor Activity (FIM-motor) score at discharge. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the independent association between deprescribing psychotropic medications and rehabilitation outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the 586 patients enrolled, 128 with a mean age of 74.1 ± 12.7 years were included in the final analysis after being prescribed psychotropic medications, with 36 of them (28.1%) in the deprescribing group. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that deprescribing psychotropic medications was independently associated with FIM-motor function at discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

Deprescribing psychotropic medications is positively associated with improvements in ADLs among patients undergoing convalescent rehabilitation after a stroke. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 275-282.

Potentially inappropriate medications are negatively associated with functional recovery in patients with sarcopenia after stroke

BACKGROUND

Evidence is scarce for potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in rehabilitation medicine.

AIM

To examine the effect of PIMs on functional recovery in older patients with sarcopenia after stroke.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a post-acute rehabilitation hospital. All patients diagnosed with sarcopenia aged ≥ 65 years among all post-stroke patients hospitalized from 2015 to 2020 were included. PIMs were defined based on the 2019 Beers criteria. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using handgrip strength (HG) and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), according to the criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019. The outcomes included functional independence measure motor (FIM-motor), HG, and SMI values at discharge. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine whether PIMs used at admission were independently associated with outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the eligible patients, 361 were 65 years or older, of whom 196 (mean age 81.0 years, 44.4% male) presented with sarcopenia and were included in the analysis. Of these, 131 (66.8%) were prescribed PIMs at admission. The most frequently prescribed PIMs were proton pump inhibitors, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The number of PIMs on admission was independently associated with FIM-motor (β = - 0.132, P = 0.001) and HG (β = - 0.091, P = 0.048) at discharge, but not with SMI (β = - 0.055, P = 0.256).

CONCLUSIONS

High admission PIMs prescription numbers are negatively associated with favorable discharge functional status and muscle strength in older patients with sarcopenia after stroke.

Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications in stroke rehabilitation: prevalence and association with outcomes

Background Evidence is scarce regarding polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in rehabilitation medicine. Aim To investigate the prevalence of polypharmacy and PIMs and their association with outcomes in stroke rehabilitation. Method A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 849 older inpatients post-stroke. Polypharmacy was defined as six or more medications, and PIMs were defined based on Beers criteria 2019. Study outcomes included functional independence measure (FIM)-motor, FIM-cognitive, energy intake, dysphagia, length of hospital stay, and the rate of home discharge. To consider the effect of pharmacotherapy during rehabilitation, multivariate analyses were used to determine whether the presence of polypharmacy or PIMs at discharge was associated with outcomes. Results After enrollment, 361 patients (mean age 78.3 ± 7.7 years; 49.3% male) were analyzed. Polypharmacy was observed in 43.8% and 62.9% of patients, and any PIMs were observed in 64.8% and 65.4% of patients at admission and discharge, respectively. The most frequently prescribed PIMs included antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and proton pump inhibitors. Polypharmacy was negatively associated with FIM-motor score (β = - 0.062, P = 0.049), FIM-cognitive score (β = - 0.076, P = 0.014), energy intake (β = - 0.143, P = 0.005), and home discharge (OR: 0.458; 95% CI: 0.248, 0.847; P = 0.013). PIMs were negatively associated with home discharge (OR: 0.375; 95% CI: 0.195, 0.718; P = 0.003). Conclusion Polypharmacy and PIMs are commonly found among older patients undergoing stroke rehabilitation. Moreover, polypharmacy was negatively associated with activities of daily living (ADL) but not with PIMs and ADLs, and both were associated with home discharge.

Pharmacotherapy and the Role of Pharmacists in Rehabilitation Medicine

Pharmacotherapy is important in older patients undergoing rehabilitation because such patients, especially those with frailty and physical disabilities, are susceptible to drug-related functional impairment. Drug-related problems include polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), and potential prescription omissions. These problems are associated with adverse drug events such as dysphagia, depression, drowsiness, falls and fractures, incontinence, decreased appetite, and Parkinson's syndrome, leading to impaired improvement in activities of daily living (ADL), quality of life (QOL), and nutritional status. Moreover, the anticholinergic burden is associated with impaired physical and cognitive functions. Therefore, pharmacist-centered multidisciplinary pharmacotherapy should be performed to maximize rehabilitation outcomes. Pharmacotherapy includes a review of all medications, the assessment of drug-related problems, goal setting, correction of polypharmacy and PIMs, monitoring of drug prescriptions, and reassessment of drug-related problems. The goal of pharmacotherapy in rehabilitation medicine is to optimize drug prescribing and to maximize the improvement of ADL and QOL as patient outcomes. The role of pharmacists during rehabilitation is to treat patients as part of multidisciplinary teams and as key members of nutritional support teams. In this review, we aim to highlight existing evidence regarding pharmacotherapy in older adults, including drug-related functional impairment and the association between pharmacotherapy and functional, cognitive, and nutritional outcomes among patients undergoing rehabilitation. In addition, we highlight the important role of pharmacists in maximizing improvements in rehabilitation outcomes and minimizing drug-related adverse effects.

The impact of decreasing potentially inappropriate medications on activities of daily living in a convalescent rehabilitation setting

Background Polypharmacy or potentially inappropriate medications negatively affect the functional recovery of rehabilitation. However, limited research exists regarding the effect of decreasing in potentially inappropriate medications use on functional improvement of rehabilitation in geriatric Japanese patients. Objective To elucidate whether decreasing PIM during hospitalization could be a predictor of rehabilitation outcomes among geriatric patients in a convalescent rehabilitation setting. Setting This study was conducted at the convalescent rehabilitation ward in the Hitachinaka General Hospital in Japan. Methods This retrospective observational cohort study included consecutive geriatric patients admitted at the convalescent rehabilitation ward between 2010 and 2018. Participants were divided based on presence or absence of decreasing in potentially inappropriate medications use during hospitalization. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to analyze whether decreasing potentially inappropriate medications use during hospitalization could be a predictor of Functional Independence Measure-Motor at discharge. Main outcome measures The primary outcome was the Functional Independence Measure-Motor at discharge. Results In total, 569 participants (interquartile range 73-85 years; 33.6% men) were included in the present study. A multiple linear regression analysis of Functional Independence Measure-Motor at discharge, adjusting for confounding factors, revealed that decreasing in potentially inappropriate medications use was independently correlated with Functional Independence Measure-Motor at discharge. In particular, the use of first-generation antihistamines, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs among potentially inappropriate medications decreased significantly during hospitalization. Conclusion Decreased potentially inappropriate medications use during hospitalization may be a predictor of improvement of rehabilitation outcomes in geriatric patients.