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Tsang JY, Sperrin M, Blakeman T, Payne RA, Ashcroft D. Defining, identifying and addressing problematic polypharmacy within multimorbidity in primary care: a scoping review. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e081698. [PMID: 38803265 PMCID: PMC11129052 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Polypharmacy and multimorbidity pose escalating challenges. Despite numerous attempts, interventions have yet to show consistent improvements in health outcomes. A key factor may be varied approaches to targeting patients for intervention. OBJECTIVES To explore how patients are targeted for intervention by examining the literature with respect to: understanding how polypharmacy is defined; identifying problematic polypharmacy in practice; and addressing problematic polypharmacy through interventions. DESIGN We performed a scoping review as defined by the Joanna Briggs Institute. SETTING The focus was on primary care settings. DATA SOURCES Medline, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and Cochrane along with ClinicalTrials.gov, Science.gov and WorldCat.org were searched from January 2004 to February 2024. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA We included all articles that had a focus on problematic polypharmacy in multimorbidity and primary care, incorporating multiple types of evidence, such as reviews, quantitative trials, qualitative studies and policy documents. Articles focussing on a single index disease or not written in English were excluded. EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS We performed a narrative synthesis, comparing themes and findings across the collective evidence to draw contextualised insights and conclusions. RESULTS In total, 157 articles were included. Case-finding methods often rely on basic medication counts (often five or more) without considering medical history or whether individual medications are clinically appropriate. Other approaches highlight specific drug indicators and interactions as potentially inappropriate prescribing, failing to capture a proportion of patients not fitting criteria. Different potentially inappropriate prescribing criteria also show significant inconsistencies in determining the appropriateness of medications, often neglecting to consider multimorbidity and underprescribing. This may hinder the identification of the precise population requiring intervention. CONCLUSIONS Improved strategies are needed to target patients with polypharmacy, which should consider patient perspectives, individual factors and clinical appropriateness. The development of a cross-cutting measure of problematic polypharmacy that consistently incorporates adjustment for multimorbidity may be a valuable next step to address frequent confounding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Yin Tsang
- Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester Division of Population Health Health Services Research and Primary Care, Manchester, UK
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GMPSRC), Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre (MAHSC), The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Matthew Sperrin
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GMPSRC), Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre (MAHSC), The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Thomas Blakeman
- Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester Division of Population Health Health Services Research and Primary Care, Manchester, UK
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GMPSRC), Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre (MAHSC), The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Rupert A Payne
- Department of Health and Community Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
| | - Darren Ashcroft
- NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GMPSRC), Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre (MAHSC), The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Séguin DJG, Peschken CA, Dolovich C, Grymonpre RE, St John PD, Tisseverasinghe A. Polypharmacy and Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2023; 75:356-364. [PMID: 34369087 DOI: 10.1002/acr.24766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence and potential risk factors for polypharmacy and prescribing of the potentially inappropriate medications, opioids and benzodiazepines/Z-drugs, in older adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS The study population comprised adults age ≥50 years meeting American College of Rheumatology or Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics classification criteria followed at a tertiary care rheumatology clinic. Information on prescriptions filled in the 4 months preceding chart review was obtained from the Manitoba Drug Program Information Network. Clinical data, including age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 score, prednisone use, SLE duration, and rural residence were abstracted from electronic medical records. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess any association between polypharmacy (using 2 definitions: ≥5 and ≥10 medications), potentially inappropriate medication use, and clinical features. RESULTS A total of 206 patients (mean age 62 years, 91% female, 36% rural) were included: 148 (72%) filled ≥5 medications, 71 (35%) filled ≥10 medications, 63 (31%) used benzodiazepines/Z-drugs, and 50 (24%) used opioids. Among the 77 patients age ≥65 years, 57 (74%) filled ≥5 medications, and 26 (34%) filled ≥10 medications, compared to 30% and 4%, respectively, of Manitobans age ≥65 years (National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System, 2016). The odds of polypharmacy were greater with prednisone use (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.70 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.40-9.79] for ≥5 medications), CCI score (adjusted OR 1.62 [95% CI 1.20-2.17]), and rural residence (adjusted OR 2.05 [95% CI 1.01-4.18]). Odds of benzodiazepine/Z-drug use were increased with polypharmacy (adjusted OR 4.35 [95% CI 1.69-11.22]), and odds of opioid use were increased with polypharmacy (adjusted OR 6.75 [95% CI 1.93-23.69]) and CCI score (adjusted OR 1.29 [95% CI 1.08-1.54]). CONCLUSION The prevalence of polypharmacy in this SLE cohort was higher than in the general Manitoban population. Polypharmacy is a strong marker for use of prescription benzodiazepines/Z-drugs and opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale Jean-Guy Séguin
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Christine A Peschken
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Cassandra Dolovich
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Ruby E Grymonpre
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Philip D St John
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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de Almeida EF, Goulart J, Moraes JT, Lanza FM, Cortez DN. Calidad de vida asociada con polifarmacia en personas con lesiones cutáneas crónicas. J Wound Care 2022; 31:34-40. [PMID: 36787947 DOI: 10.12968/jowc.2022.31.latam_sup_6a.34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Objetivo: Analizar la asociación entre el uso de polifarmacia y la calidad de vida de personas con lesiones cutáneas crónicas. Método: Estudio transversal con una muestra conformada por 146 personas afectadas por lesiones cutáneas crónicas, vinculadas con la atención primaria de salud. La recolección de datos se realizó entre julio de 2017 y febrero de 2018. La información se recopiló mediante un cuestionario sociodemográfico y el cuestionario Cardiff Wound Impact Schedule (CWIS). Resultados: Hubo predominio de hipertensión arterial sistémica en 86 personas (58,9%) y de diabetes mellitus en 50 (34,2%). La etiología de la lesión cutánea predominante fue vasculogénica (38,4%), y se identificó polifarmacia en el 46,7% de los pacientes. En el cuestionario CWIS, el dominio con el puntaje promedio más bajo fue el bienestar (promedio de 46,2±17,9). Hubo asociación estadísticamente significativa (p<0.05) entre polifarmacia y las siguientes variables: dominio de “síntomas físicos/vida diaria", dominio de “vida social” y “autosatisfacción con la calidad de vida". Conclusión: La polifarmacia está asociada con un detrimento en la calidad de vida de personas con lesiones cutáneas crónicas. Por lo tanto, los profesionales de la salud que trabajan en la atención primaria deberían considerar la terapia farmacológica en sus planes de atención, coordinar con asistencia médica y farmacéutica la elaboración de estrategias de monitoreo de los riesgos que involucran la polifarmacia, y evaluar sus impactos en la calidad de vida. Conflicto de interés: Ninguno.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jéssica Goulart
- Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei/Campus Centro Oeste, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | | | - Fernanda Moura Lanza
- Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei/Campus Centro Oeste, Minas Gerais, Brasil
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de Almeida EF, Goulart J, Moraes JT, Lanza FM, Cortez DN. Calidad de vida asociada con polifarmacia en personas con lesiones cutáneas crónicas. J Wound Care 2022; 31:34-40. [PMID: 36789904 DOI: 10.12968/jowc.2022.31.latam_sup_6.34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Objetivo: Analizar la asociación entre el uso de polifarmacia y la calidad de vida de personas con lesiones cutáneas crónicas. Método: Estudio transversal con una muestra conformada por 146 personas afectadas por lesiones cutáneas crónicas, vinculadas con la atención primaria de salud. La recolección de datos se realizó entre julio de 2017 y febrero de 2018. La información se recopiló mediante un cuestionario sociodemográfico y el cuestionario Cardiff Wound Impact Schedule (CWIS). Resultados: Hubo predominio de hipertensión arterial sistémica en 86 personas (58,9%) y de diabetes mellitus en 50 (34,2%). La etiología de la lesión cutánea predominante fue vasculogénica (38,4%), y se identificó polifarmacia en el 46,7% de los pacientes. En el cuestionario CWIS, el dominio con el puntaje promedio más bajo fue el bienestar (promedio de 46,2±17,9). Hubo asociación estadísticamente significativa (p<0.05) entre polifarmacia y las siguientes variables: dominio de “síntomas físicos/vida diaria", dominio de “vida social” y “autosatisfacción con la calidad de vida". Conclusión: La polifarmacia está asociada con un detrimento en la calidad de vida de personas con lesiones cutáneas crónicas. Por lo tanto, los profesionales de la salud que trabajan en la atención primaria deberían considerar la terapia farmacológica en sus planes de atención, coordinar con asistencia médica y farmacéutica la elaboración de estrategias de monitoreo de los riesgos que involucran la polifarmacia, y evaluar sus impactos en la calidad de vida. Conflicto de interés: Ninguno.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jéssica Goulart
- Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei/Campus Centro Oeste, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | | | - Fernanda Moura Lanza
- Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei/Campus Centro Oeste, Minas Gerais, Brasil
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Pazan F, Wehling M. Polypharmacy in older adults: a narrative review of definitions, epidemiology and consequences. Eur Geriatr Med 2021; 12:443-452. [PMID: 33694123 PMCID: PMC8149355 DOI: 10.1007/s41999-021-00479-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The number of older adults has been constantly growing around the globe. Consequently, multimorbidity and related polypharmacy have become an increasing problem. In the absence of an accepted agreement on the definition of polypharmacy, data on its prevalence in various studies are not easily comparable. Besides, the evidence on the potential adverse clinical outcomes related to polypharmacy is limited though polypharmacy has been linked to numerous adverse clinical outcomes. This narrative review aims to find and summarize recent publications on definitions, epidemiology and clinical consequences of polypharmacy. METHODS The MEDLINE database was used to identify recent publications on the definition, prevalence and clinical consequences of polypharmacy using their respective common terms and their variations. Systematic reviews and original studies published between 2015 and 2020 were included. RESULTS One hundred and forty-three definitions of polypharmacy and associated terms were found. Most of them are numerical definitions. Its prevalence ranges from 4% among community-dwelling older people to over 96.5% in hospitalized patients. In addition, numerous adverse clinical outcomes were associated with polypharmacy. CONCLUSION The term polypharmacy is imprecise, and its definition is yet subject to an ongoing debate. The clinically oriented definitions of polypharmacy found in this review such as appropriate or necessary polypharmacy are more useful and relevant. Regardless of the definition, polypharmacy is highly prevalent in older adults, particularly in nursing home residents and hospitalized patients. Approaches to increase the appropriateness of polypharmacy can improve clinical outcomes in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhad Pazan
- Clinical Pharmacology Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Martin Wehling
- Clinical Pharmacology Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.
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Wei YJ, Hsieh CF, Huang YT, Huang MS, Fang TJ. The influence of integrated geriatric outpatient clinics on the health care utilization of older people. BMC Geriatr 2020; 20:379. [PMID: 33008337 PMCID: PMC7531091 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-020-01782-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The number of people aged greater than 65 years is growing in many countries. Taiwan will be a superaged society in 2026, and health care utilization will increase considerably. Our study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the geriatric integrated outpatient clinic model for reducing health care utilization by older people. Methods This was a retrospective case-control study. Patients aged greater than 65 years seen at the geriatric outpatient clinic (Geri-OPD) and non-geriatric outpatient clinic (non-Geri-OPD) at a single medical centre were age and sex matched. Data on the number of outpatient clinic visits, emergency department visits, hospitalizations and medical expenditures were collected during the first and second years. A subgroup analysis by Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and older age (age≧80 years) was performed, and the results were compared between the Geri-OPD and non-Geri-OPD groups. Results A total of 6723 patients were included (3796 women and 2927 men). The mean age was 80.42 ± 6.39 years. There were 1291 (19.2%) patients in the Geri-OPD group and 5432 (80.8%) patients in the non-Geri-OPD group. After one year of regular follow-up, the Geri-OPD patients showed a significant reduction in the types of drugs included in each prescription (5.62 ± 10.85) and the number of clinic visits per year (18.18 ± 48.85) (P < 0.01). After a two-year follow-up, the number of clinic visits, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations and the annual medical costs were still decreased in the Geri-OPD patients. The Geri-OPD patients had more comorbidities and a higher rate of health care utilization than the non-Geri-OPD patients. In the subgroup analysis, patients with more comorbidities (CCI≧2) and an older age (≧80 years) in the Geri-OPD group showed a significant reduction in health care utilization. The Geri-OPD patients also showed a significant decrease in medical utilization in the second year compared with the non-Geri-POD patients. Conclusion The Geri-OPD reduced medical costs, the number of drugs prescribed, and the frequency of outpatient clinic visits, emergency department visits and hospitalizations in older patients with complicated conditions. The effect was even better in the second year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ju Wei
- Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Fang Hsieh
- Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ting Huang
- Division of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Shyan Huang
- E-Da Cancer Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Jung Fang
- Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. .,Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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A scoping review of polypharmacy interventions in patients with stroke, heart disease and diabetes. Int J Clin Pharm 2020; 42:378-392. [DOI: 10.1007/s11096-020-01028-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Taghy N, Cambon L, Cohen JM, Dussart C. Failure to Reach a Consensus in Polypharmacy Definition: An Obstacle to Measuring Risks and Impacts-Results of a Literature Review. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2020; 16:57-73. [PMID: 32103967 PMCID: PMC7023902 DOI: 10.2147/tcrm.s214187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The risk of polypharmacy is on the rise in most industrialized countries, threatening to burden their health systems. Although many definitions exist and numerous concepts are found in literature as synonyms, the phenomenon of polypharmacy remains poorly defined. The aim of this literature review is to provide an overview of available definitions of polypharmacy, to analyse their convergences and divergences and to discuss the consequences on the assessment of the problem. METHODS A literature review was conducted to identify all published systematic reviews on definitions of polypharmacy available via Scopus and Pubmed databases. The Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool was used to appraise the methodological quality of the selected reviews. Available definitions and other characteristics were extracted; summarised in a table and analysed. RESULTS Six systematic reviews were identified. They were published between 2000 and 2018. Three focussed on definitions of polypharmacy in the elderly; two in the general population and one in children. The strategy adopted in reviews is more rigorous in the most recent ones. However, they remain, at best, partially exhaustive. The definitions found in the literature used two main approaches, either (i) quantitative, applying varying thresholds and types of polypharmacy based on the number of medications being taken by the patient (ii) qualitative, based on the clinical indications and effects of a given drug regimen, with a growing number of characteristics to describe polypharmacy. The term "inappropriate" is increasingly associated with polypharmacy especially in studies that aimed to use this definition to identify possible solutions for healthcare providers in the field related to aging. CONCLUSION This review confirms a high variability and an evolution in the approaches defining "polypharmacy" in the absence of a consensus following standardized criteria. That makes it very difficult to estimate and measure the outcomes associated with this phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najwa Taghy
- Laboratory P2S (Health Systemic Process), University of Lyon, University Claude Bernard of Lyon 1, Lyon, EA4129, France
| | - Linda Cambon
- Research Chair in Prevention, University of Bordeaux, ISPED, Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, Team Methods for Population Health Intervention Research, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jean-Marie Cohen
- Open Rome, Paris, France, Laboratory P2S (Health Systemic Process), University of Lyon, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, EA4129, France
| | - Claude Dussart
- Lyon Public Hospices, Central Pharmacy, Laboratory P2S (Health Systemic Process), University of Lyon, University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, EA4129, France
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Sirois C, Simard M, Gosselin E, Gagnon ME, Roux B, Laroche ML. Mixed Bag “Polypharmacy”: Methodological Pitfalls and Challenges of This Exposure Definition. CURR EPIDEMIOL REP 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40471-019-00214-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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