Physical and cognitive performance and burden of anticholinergics, sedatives, and ACE inhibitors in older women

Sleep medicines are often prescribed for older adults (≥75 years) without appropriate dosing instructions: A nationwide retrospective register study in Finland

BACKGROUND

Sleep medicines should be prescribed cautiously, accompanied by instructions that ensure appropriate use and reduce risks. This is especially important for older adults, for whom many of these medicines are classified as potentially inappropriate medicines.

METHODS

We investigated the use and appropriateness of dosing instructions for sleep medicines (described in the Finnish National Current Care Guideline for Insomnia) prescribed for older adults (≥75 years) and dispensed with instruction label in pharmacies. The retrospective reimbursement register data for year 2020 by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland was used as the data source (1,080,843 purchases by 143,886 individuals of which 565,228 purchases were pharmacy dispenses). The appropriateness of the pharmacy dosing instructions containing keyword(s) referring to insomnia treatment was examined according to the prescribed dose, time of intake, frequency of use, and warnings/remarks. A random sample of 1000 instructions was used to manually analyze the phrasing and appropriateness.

OUTCOMES

We focused our analysis on 58.1% (328,285 purchases by 87,396 individuals) of the pharmacy dispenses, which contained dosing instructions referring insomnia treatment. Of these, zopiclone and mirtazapine were the most prescribed drugs (134,631 and 112,463 purchases, respectively). Dose and time of intake were specified in most of the instructions (98.4% and 83.4%, respectively), whereas frequency of use was specified in 57.3%. A small percentage of the instructions included warnings/remarks (2.8%). Overall, only 2.1% of the instructions contained information about a single dose, time of intake, temporary use, and warnings/remarks and were thus defined as sufficient. Notably, 47.7% (n = 515,615) of all the purchases in our dataset were dispensed via automated multi-dose dispensing systems, which is aimed for long-term treatment.

INTERPRETATION

It is common to prescribe sleep medicines for older adults without appropriate dosing instructions, particularly excluding warnings against long-term, regular use. Actions to change the current prescribing practices are warranted.

Polypharmacy in Older Patients: A Three-Year Longitudinal Analysis in Primary Care Settings of Aragón, Spain

BACKGROUND

Challenges of polypharmacy and the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in older patients require further investigation. This retrospective study analyzed the progression of polypharmacy and anticholinergic burden in older patients in a primary care setting before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

This 3-year cross-sectional study (2019, 2020, and 2021) comprised a dynamic cohort of individuals aged ≥75 years, who attended the Arrabal Primary Care Center in Zaragoza, Spain. Older patients with polypharmacy (≥5 medications) were identified according to their electronic health records. We collected demographic and clinical data, including medication prescriptions, diagnoses, and anticholinergic risks, and performed descriptive and statistical analyses.

RESULTS

This study included a total of 1,928 patients with a mean age of 83.52±0.30 years. Over the 3-year study period, the mean number of medications prescribed increased, from 9.4 in 2019 to 10.4 in 2021. The prevalence of excessive polypharmacy (≥10 medications) increased from 39% in 2019 to 45% in 2021. The most commonly prescribed drugs were anilides, proton pump inhibitors, benzodiazepine derivatives, and platelet aggregation inhibitors. Women had a higher prevalence of illnesses and anticholinergic drug prescriptions than men.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study highlighted an upward trend in polypharmacy and excessive polypharmacy among older patients in primary care settings. Future research should focus on optimizing medication management and deprescribing strategies and minimizing the adverse effects of polypharmacy in this population.

Pharmcokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations for the anticholinergic burden scale of drugs

Older adults frequently have many systemic diseases that require treatment with multiple drugs, and thus anticholinergic adverse effect by polypharmacy is a significant concern in the management of older adults. The accuracy of the anticholinergic burden rating may be increased by considering pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic factors such as biophase drug concentrations, the pharmacologically active metabolites formed after drug administration, and muscarinic receptor-mediated effects. Therefore, a pharmacological evidence-based burden scale that considers pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic factors is expected to be a more optimal tool for precisely assessing the anticholinergic burden, specifically risk reductions in anticholinergic adverse events in the poly-medicated elderly. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 81-87.

Association of systemic anticholinergic medication use and accelerated decrease in lung function in older adults

Older adults are frequently exposed to medicines with systemic anticholinergic properties, which are linked to increased risk of negative health outcomes. The association between systemic anticholinergics and lung function has not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate if exposure to systemic anticholinergics influences lung function in older adults. Participants of the southernmost centres of the Swedish National study on Aging and Care (SNAC) were followed from 2001 to 2021. In total, 2936 subjects (2253 from Good Aging in Skåne and 683 from SNAC-B) were included. An extensive medical examination including spirometry assessments was performed during the study visits. The systemic anticholinergic burden was described using the anticholinergic cognitive burden scale. The effect of new use of systemic anticholinergics on the annual change in forced expiratory volume (FEV1s) was estimated using mixed models. During follow-up, 802 (27.3%) participants were exposed to at least one systemic anticholinergic medicine. On average, the FEV1s of participants without systemic anticholinergic exposure decreased 37.2 ml/year (95% CI [33.8; 40.6]) while participants with low and high exposure lose 47.2 ml/year (95% CI [42.4; 52.0]) and 43.7 ml/year (95% CI [25.4; 62.0]). A novel association between new use of medicines with systemic anticholinergic properties and accelerated decrease in lung function in older adults was found. The accelerated decrease is comparable to that observed in smokers. Studies are needed to further explore this potential side effect of systemic anticholinergics.

Potentially inappropriate medication and frailty in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to systematically assess existing studies to demonstrate the association between potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) and frailty.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

We searched major electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Embase, CINHAL, PsycInfo, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Biology Medicine disk, Weipu, and Wanfang) from their inception until February 25, 2023 (data updated on May 4, 2023), for observational studies investigating PIM and frailty. I2 was used to measure the heterogeneity between studies quantitatively. A random effect model calculated pooled effect size owing to high heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis was conducted to explore sources of heterogeneity. Additionally, the studies' quality was evaluated using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (a modified Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate cross-sectional studies).

RESULTS

Twenty-four studies were included for systematic review, 14 of which were included in the meta-analysis. After pooling the effect size, the odds ratio with PIM as the dependent variable was 1.12 (95%CI: 1.01-1.25), and that with frailty as the dependent variable was 1.75 (95%CI: 1.25-2.43), indicating a bidirectional association between PIM and frailty.

CONCLUSIONS

PIM and frailty interact with each other and have a bidirectional association, thus providing additional information for early clinical identification and prevention of frailty, and medication safety management.

The association between anticholinergic burden and mobility: a systematic review and meta-analyses

BACKGROUND

As people age, they accumulate several health conditions, requiring the use of multiple medications (polypharmacy) to treat them. One of the challenges with polypharmacy is the associated increase in anticholinergic exposure to older adults. In addition, several studies suggest an association between anticholinergic burden and declining physical function in older adults.

OBJECTIVE/PURPOSE

This systematic review aimed to synthesise data from published studies regarding the association between anticholinergic burden and mobility. The studies were critically appraised for the strength of their evidence.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted across five electronic databases, EMBASE, CINAHL, PSYCHINFO, Cochrane CENTRAL and MEDLINE, from inception to December 2021, to identify studies on the association of anticholinergic burden with mobility. The search was performed following a strategy that converted concepts in the PECO elements into search terms, focusing on terms most likely to be found in the title and abstracts of the studies. For observational studies, the risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale, and the Cochrane risk of bias tool was used for randomised trials. The GRADE criteria was used to rate confidence in evidence and conclusions. For the meta-analyses, we explored the heterogeneity using the Q test and I² test and the publication bias using the funnel plot and Egger's regression test. The meta-analyses were performed using Jeffreys's Amazing Statistics Program (JASP).

RESULTS

Sixteen studies satisfied the inclusion criteria from an initial 496 studies. Fifteen studies identified a significant negative association of anticholinergic burden with mobility measures. One study did not find an association between anticholinergic intervention and mobility measures. Five studies included in the meta-analyses showed that anticholinergic burden significantly decreased walking speed (0.079 m/s ± 0.035 MD ± SE,95% CI: 0.010 to 0.149, p = 0.026), whilst a meta-analysis of four studies showed that anticholinergic burden significantly decreased physical function as measured by three variations of the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) instrument 0.27 ± 0.12 (SMD ± SE,95% CI: 0.03 to 0.52), p = 0.027. The results of both meta-analyses had an I² statistic of 99% for study heterogeneity. Egger's test did not reveal publication bias.

CONCLUSION

There is consensus in published literature suggesting a clear association between anticholinergic burden and mobility. Consideration of cognitive anticholinergic effects may be important in interpreting results regarding the association of anticholinergic burden and mobility as anticholinergic drugs may affect mobility through cognitive effects.

Drug Burden Index in Older Adults with Psychiatric Illnesses: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Medications with anticholinergic and/or sedative properties are commonly used in the management of psychiatric illnesses. The burden of anticholinergic and sedative medication use has been measured by the Drug Burden Index (DBI) score tool. A higher DBI score has been associated with increased risk of falls, bone and hip fractures, and functional and cognitive impairment, among other serious health outcomes, especially in older adults.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to describe the drug burden in older adults with psychiatric illnesses using DBI, determine the factors that are associated with the drug burden measured by DBI, and examine the association between DBI score and Katz for activities of daily living (ADL) index.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the psychogeriatric division of an aged-care home. The study sample comprised all inpatients, aged ≥ 65 years, diagnosed with psychiatric illness. The data obtained included demographic characteristics, duration of hospital stay, primary psychiatric diagnosis and comorbidities, functional status using the Katz ADL index, and cognitive status using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score. DBI score was calculated for each anticholinergic and sedative medication used.

RESULTS

Of the 200 patients eligible for analysis, 106 (53.1%) were females and the mean age was 76 ± 9 years. The most commonly encountered chronic disorders were hypertension 102 (51%) and schizophrenia 94 (47%). The use of drugs with anticholinergic and/or sedative effects was seen in 163 (81.5%) patients; the mean DBI score was 1.25 ± 1. The results of the multinomial logistic regression showed that schizophrenia (odds ratio (OR) = 2.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.57-4.45), p = 0.01), level of dependency (OR = 3.50 (95% CI 1.38-5.70), p = 0.001), and polypharmacy (OR = 2.99 (95% CI 2.15-4.29), p = 0.003) were significantly associated with DBI score ≥ 1 compared to DBI score 0.

CONCLUSIONS

The study showed that anticholinergic and sedative medication exposure measured by DBI was associated with higher levels of dependency on the Katz ADL index in a sample of older adults with psychiatric illnesses from an aged-care home.

Anticholinergic burden measures, symptoms, and fall-associated risk in older adults with polypharmacy: Development and validation of a prognostic model

BACKGROUND

Anticholinergic burden has been associated with adverse outcomes such as falls. To date, no gold standard measure has been identified to assess anticholinergic burden, and no conclusion has been drawn on which of the different measure algorithms best predicts falls in older patients from general practice. This study compared the ability of five measures of anticholinergic burden to predict falls. To account for patients' individual susceptibility to medications, the added predictive value of typical anticholinergic symptoms was further quantified in this context.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

To predict falls, models were developed and validated based on logistic regression models created using data from two German cluster-randomized controlled trials. The outcome was defined as "≥ 1 fall" vs. "no fall" within a 6-month follow-up period. Data from the RIME study (n = 1,197) were used in model development, and from PRIMUM (n = 502) for external validation. The models were developed step-wise in order to quantify the predictive ability of anticholinergic burden measures, and anticholinergic symptoms. In the development set, 1,015 patients had complete data and 188 (18.5%) experienced ≥ 1 fall within the 6-month follow-up period. The overall predictive value of the five anticholinergic measures was limited, with neither the employed anticholinergic variable (binary / count / burden), nor dose-dependent or dose-independent measures differing significantly in their ability to predict falls. The highest c-statistic was obtained using the German Anticholinergic Burden Score (0.73), whereby the optimism-corrected c-statistic was 0.71 after interval validation using bootstrapping and 0.63 in the external validation. Previous falls and dizziness / vertigo had the strongest prognostic value in all models.

CONCLUSIONS

The ability of anticholinergic burden measures to predict falls does not appear to differ significantly, and the added value they contribute to risk classification in fall-prediction models is limited. Previous falls and dizziness / vertigo contributed most to model performance.

A Universal Pharmacological-Based List of Drugs with Anticholinergic Activity

Anticholinergic burden tools have relevant pharmacological gaps that may explain their limited predictive ability for clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to provide a universal pharmacological-based list of drugs with their documented affinity for muscarinic receptors. A comprehensive literature review was performed to identify the anticholinergic burden tools. Drugs included in these instruments were searched in four pharmacological databases, and the investigation was supplemented with PubMed. The evidence regarding the potential antagonism of the five muscarinic receptors of each drug was assessed. The proportion of drugs included in the tools with an affinity for muscarinic receptors was evaluated. A universal list of drugs with anticholinergic activity was developed based on their documented affinity for the different subtypes of muscarinic receptors and their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. A total of 23 tools were identified, including 304 different drugs. Only 48.68%, 47.70%, 48.03%, 43.75%, and 42.76% of the drugs had an affinity to the M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5 receptor, respectively, reported in any pharmacological database. The proportion of drugs with confirmed antagonism varied among the tools (36.8% to 100%). A universal pharmacological-based list of 133 drugs is presented. It should be further validated in different clinical settings.

Exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medication is associated with impaired functioning in older people with vertigo, dizziness and balance disorders-Results from the longitudinal multicenter study MobilE-TRA

Introduction: Anticholinergic and sedative medication is prescribed for various conditions in older patients. While the general association between anticholinergic and sedative medication and impaired functioning is well established, its specific role in older individuals with vertigo, dizziness, and balance disorders (VDB) is still incompletely understood. The objective of this study was to investigate, whether an exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medication is associated with lower generic and lower vertigo-specific functioning in older patients with VDB. Methods: Data originates from the longitudinal multicenter study MobilE-TRA with two follow-ups, conducted from 2017 to 2019 in two German federal states. Exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medication was quantified using the drug burden index (DBI). Generic functioning was assessed by the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index, appraising the amount of difficulties in performing activities of daily living (ADL). Vertigo-specific functioning was measured using the Vestibular Activities and Participation (VAP) questionnaire, assessing patient-reported functioning regarding activities of daily living that are difficult to perform because of their propensity to provoke VDB (Scale 1) as well as immediate consequences of VDB on activities and participation related to mobility (Scale 2). Longitudinal linear mixed models were applied to assess the association of exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medication at baseline and the level of generic and vertigo-specific functioning status over time. Results: An overall of 19 (7 from Bavaria) primary care physicians (mean age = 54 years, 29% female) recruited 158 (59% from Bavaria) patients with VDB (median age = 78 years, 70% female). Anticholinergic and sedative medication at baseline was present in 56 (35%) patients. An exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medication at baseline was significantly associated with lower generic functioning [Beta = 0.40, 95%-CI (0.18; 0.61)] and lower vertigo-specific functioning [VAP Scale 1: Beta = 2.47, 95%-CI (0.92; 4.02)], and VAP Scale 2: Beta = 3.74, 95%-CI [2.23; 5.24]). Conclusion: Our results highlight the importance of a close monitoring of anticholinergic and sedative medication use in older patients with VDB. When feasible, anticholinergic and sedative medication should be replaced by equivalent alternative therapies in order to potentially reduce the burden of VDB.

The Predictive Value of Anticholinergic Burden Measures in Relation to Cognitive Impairment in Older Chronic Complex Patients

Anticholinergic burden (AB) is related to cognitive impairment (CI) and older complex chronic patients (OCCP) are more susceptible. Our objective was to evaluate the predictive value of ten anticholinergic scales to predict a potential CI due to anticholinergic pharmacotherapy in OCCP. An eight-month longitudinal multicentre study was carried out in a cohort of OCCP, in treatment with at least one anticholinergic drug and whose cognition status had been evaluated by Pfeiffer test twice for a period of 6-15 months. CI was considered when the Pfeiffer test increased 2 or more points. AB was detected using ten scales included on the Anticholinergic Burden Calculator. An ROC curve analysis was performed to assess the discriminative capacity of the scales to predict a potential CI and the cut-off point of AB that obtains better validity indicators. 415 patients were included (60.2% female, median age of 85 years (IQR = 11)). 190 patients (45.8%) manifested CI. Only the DBI (Drug Burden Index) showed statistically significant differences in the median AB between patients without CI and with CI (0.5 (1.00) vs. 0.67 (0.65), p = 0.006). At the ROC curve analysis, statistically significant values were obtained only with the DBI (AUC: 0.578 (0.523-0.633), p = 0.006). The cut-off point with the greatest validity selected for the DBI was an AB of 0.41 (moderate risk) (sensitivity = 81%, specificity = 36%, PPV = 51%). The DBI is the scale with the greatest discriminatory power to detect OCCP at risk of CI and the best cut-off point is a load value of 0.41.

Fall risk-increasing drugs and gait performance in community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review

PURPOSE

Medication use, and gait impairment are two major risk factors for falls in older adults. There are several mechanisms linking fall risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs) and increased fall risk. One pathway involves gait performance as an intermediate variable. It is plausible that FRIDs indirectly increase fall risk by causing gait impairment. The purpose of this review was to systematically review the existing evidence on the association between FRIDs and gait performance in community-dwelling older adults without neurological movement disorders.

METHODS

Two searches were performed using MeSH terms and keywords in the electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and grey literature. We included clinical trials and observational studies that assessed the association between a FRID class and any quantitative measure of gait performance. Quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for observational studies and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for clinical trials. Study characteristics and findings were summarized in a descriptive approach for each drug class.

RESULTS

A total of 11,197 studies were retrieved from both searches at the first step and a total of 23 studies met the final inclusion criteria. Fourteen studies assessed the association between psychotropic FRIDs and gait performance and nine assessed cardiovascular FRIDs. Four out of five studies found that drugs with sedative properties are associated with reduced gait speed in older adults. Three out of four studies found no association between statin use and gait speed. There is insufficient evidence on the association between FRIDs and other gait performance measures.

CONCLUSION

Caution should be taken when prescribing drugs with sedative properties to older adults at risk of falls. Further research is required to assess the impact of the use FRIDs on gait performance measures other than gait speed.

An Increased Anticholinergic Drug Burden Index Score Negatively Affect Nutritional Status in Older Patients Without Dementia

Introduction/Aim

Anticholinergic drugs, which have severe central and peripheric side effects, are frequently prescribed to older adults. Increased anticholinergic drug burden is associated with poor physical and cognitive functions. On the other side, the impact of anticholinergics on nutritional status is not elaborated in the literature. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the effect of the anticholinergic burden on nutrition.

Materials and Methods

Patients who underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) 6 months apart were included in the study. Patients diagnosed with dementia were excluded because of the difference in the course of cognition, physical performance and nutrition. Nutritional status and global cognition were evaluated using Mini Nutritional Assessment-short form (MNA-SF), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Anticholinergic drug burden was assessed with the Drug Burden Index (DBI), enabling a precise dose-related cumulative exposure. Patients were divided into three groups according to DBI score: 0, no DBI exposure; 0–1, low risk; and ≥1, high risk. Regression analysis was performed to show the relationship between the difference in CGA parameters and the change in DBI score at the sixth month.

Results

A total of 423 patients were included in the study. Participants' mean age was 79.40 ± 7.50, and 68.6% were female. The DBI 0 score group has better MMSE and MNA-SF scores and a lower rate of falls, polypharmacy, malnutrition, and risk of malnutrition in the baseline. Having malnutrition or risk of malnutrition is 2.21 times higher for every one-unit increase in DBI score. Additionally, during the 6-month follow-up, increased DBI score was associated with decreased MNA-SF and MMSE score, albumin.

Conclusions

The harmful effects of anticholinergics may be prevented because anticholinergic activity is a potentially reversible factor. Therefore, reducing exposure to drugs with anticholinergic activity has particular importance in geriatric practice.

Older adults’ exposure to anticholinergic medications: Implications for pharmaceutical care for Nigerian older adults

Introduction:

Anticholinergic medications which are commonly prescribed to older adults can produce more pronounced adverse effects compared to the younger population.

Objectives:

To investigate the prevalence of polypharmacy, describe the prescription patterns of anticholinergic medications, determine the prevalence of exposure to high-risk anticholinergic cognitive burden (ACB) medications, and identify the potential predictors of exposure to high-risk ACB medications in older adults in a Nigerian secondary hospital.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study that included older adults prescribed at least one anticholinergic medication was conducted at a secondary care hospital in Nigeria. The study data were initially summarized using descriptive statistics, whereas multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the potential predictors of exposure to high-risk ACB medications. In this study, the cumulative ACB scores were dichotomized into low risk (score 1–2) and high risk (score ⩾ 3). A p value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results:

A total of 256 older adults were included in this study; 113 (44.1%) had polypharmacy, whereas 26.6% (188/256) were exposed to high-risk ACB medications. Of a total of 391 anticholinergic medications used by the population, furosemide (36.57%) was the most commonly prescribed. The adjusted multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that patients who had acute diseases were 2.5 times (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40–4.45) more likely to be exposed to high-risk ACB medications than those with chronic diseases.

Conclusion:

The study demonstrates a high prevalence of polypharmacy and exposure to high-risk ACB medications suggesting the need for pharmaceutical care in this high-risk population. Older adults’ exposure to high-risk ACB medications was significantly associated with prescriptions for acute diseases.

Anticholinergic and Sedative Medications and Dynamic Gait Parameters in Older Patients

BACKGROUND

Anticholinergic and sedative medications are associated with poorer physical function in older age. Gait and physical function have traditionally been assessed with the time needed to execute objective function tests. Accelerometer-based gait parameters provide a precise capturing of gait dynamics and patterns and as such have added value.

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the associations between cumulative exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications and gait dimensions as assessed with accelerometer-based dynamic gait parameters.

METHODS

Data were collected from outpatients of a diagnostic geriatric day clinic who underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). Cumulative exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications was quantified with the Drug Burden Index (DBI), a linear additive pharmacological dose-response model. From a total of 22 dynamic gait parameters, the gait dimensions 'Regularity', 'Complexity', 'Stability', 'Pace', and 'Postural Control' were derived using factor analysis (and standardized total scores for these dimensions were calculated accordingly). Data were analyzed with multivariable linear regression analysis, in which adjustment was made for the covariates age, gender, body mass index (BMI), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) including dementia, and number of medications not included in the DBI.

RESULTS

A total of 184 patients participated, whose mean age was 79.8 years (± SD 5.8), of whom 110 (60%) were women and of whom 88 (48%) had polypharmacy (i.e., received treatment with ≥5 medications). Of the 893 medications that were prescribed in total, 157 medications (17.6%) had anticholinergic and/or sedative properties. Of the patients, 100 (54%) had no exposure (DBI = 0), 42 (23%) had moderate exposure (0 > DBI ≤ 1), while another 42 (23%) had high exposure (DBI >1) to anticholinergic and sedative medications. Findings showed that high cumulative exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications was related with poorer function on the Regularity and Pace dimensions. Furthermore, moderate and high exposure were associated with poorer function on the Complexity dimension.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings show that in older patients with comorbidities, cumulative anticholinergic and sedative exposure is associated with poorer function on multiple gait dimensions.

Deprescribing to reduce polypharmacy: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial assessing deprescribing of anticholinergic and sedative drugs in a cohort of frail older people living in the community

BACKGROUND

Targeted deprescribing of anticholinergic and sedative medications in older people may improve their health outcomes. This trial will determine if pharmacist-led reviews lead to general practitioners deprescribing anticholinergic and sedative medications in older people living in the community.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The standard protocol items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) checklist was used to develop and report the protocol. The trial will involve older adults stratified by frailty (low, medium, and high). This will be a pragmatic two-arm randomized controlled trial to test general practitioner uptake of pharmacist recommendations to deprescribe anticholinergic and sedative medications that are causing adverse side effects in patients.

STUDY POPULATION

Community-dwelling frail adults, 65 years or older, living in the Canterbury region of New Zealand, seeking publicly funded home support services or admission to aged residential care and taking at least one anticholinergic or sedative medication regularly.

INTERVENTION

New Zealand registered pharmacists using peer-reviewed deprescribing guidelines will visit participants at home in the community, review their medications, and recommend anticholinergic and sedative medications that could be deprescribed to the participant's general practitioner. The total use of anticholinergic and sedative medications will be quantified using the Drug Burden Index (DBI).

OUTCOMES

The primary outcome will be the change in total DBI between baseline and 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes will include entry into aged residential care, prolonged hospitalization, and death.

DATA COLLECTION POINTS

Data will be collected at the time of interRAI assessments (T0), at the time of the baseline review (T1), at 6 months following the baseline review (T2), and at the end of the study period, or end of study participation for participants admitted into aged residential care, or who died (T3).

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval has been obtained from the Human, Disability and Ethics Committee: ethical number (17CEN265).

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov ACTRN12618000729224 . Registered on May 2, 2018, with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry.

Use of antipsychotic drugs and cholinesterase inhibitors and risk of falls and fractures: self-controlled case series

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between the use of antipsychotic drugs and cholinesterase inhibitors and the risk of falls and fractures in elderly patients with major neurocognitive disorders.

DESIGN

Self-controlled case series.

SETTING

Taiwan's National Health Insurance Database.

PARTICIPANTS

15 278 adults, aged ≥65, with newly prescribed antipsychotic drugs and cholinesterase inhibitors, who had an incident fall or fracture between 2006 and 2017. Prescription records of cholinesterase inhibitors confirmed the diagnosis of major neurocognitive disorders; all use of cholinesterase inhibitors was reviewed by experts.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Conditional Poisson regression was used to derive incidence rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals for evaluating the risk of falls and fractures for different treatment periods: use of cholinesterase inhibitors alone, antipsychotic drugs alone, and a combination of cholinesterase inhibitors and antipsychotic drugs, compared with the non-treatment period in the same individual. A 14 day pretreatment period was defined before starting the study drugs because of concerns about confounding by indication.

RESULTS

The incidence of falls and fractures per 100 person years was 8.30 (95% confidence interval 8.14 to 8.46) for the non-treatment period, 52.35 (48.46 to 56.47) for the pretreatment period, and 10.55 (9.98 to 11.14), 10.34 (9.80 to 10.89), and 9.41 (8.98 to 9.86) for use of a combination of cholinesterase inhibitors and antipsychotic drugs, antipsychotic drugs alone, and cholinesterase inhibitors alone, respectively. Compared with the non-treatment period, the highest risk of falls and fractures was during the pretreatment period (adjusted incidence rate ratio 6.17, 95% confidence interval 5.69 to 6.69), followed by treatment with the combination of cholinesterase inhibitors and antipsychotic drugs (1.35, 1.26 to 1.45), antipsychotic drugs alone (1.33, 1.24 to 1.43), and cholinesterase inhibitors alone (1.17, 1.10 to 1.24).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of falls and fractures was high in the pretreatment period, suggesting that factors other than the study drugs, such as underlying diseases, should be taken into consideration when evaluating the association between the risk of falls and fractures and use of cholinesterase inhibitors and antipsychotic drugs. The treatment periods were also associated with a higher risk of falls and fractures compared with the non-treatment period, although the magnitude was much lower than during the pretreatment period. Strategies for prevention and close monitoring of the risk of falls are still necessary until patients regain a more stable physical and mental state.

Predicting hospital admissions from individual patient data (IPD): an applied example to explore key elements driving external validity

OBJECTIVE

To explore factors that potentially impact external validation performance while developing and validating a prognostic model for hospital admissions (HAs) in complex older general practice patients.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

Using individual participant data from four cluster-randomised trials conducted in the Netherlands and Germany, we used logistic regression to develop a prognostic model to predict all-cause HAs within a 6-month follow-up period. A stratified intercept was used to account for heterogeneity in baseline risk between the studies. The model was validated both internally and by using internal-external cross-validation (IECV).

RESULTS

Prior HAs, physical components of the health-related quality of life comorbidity index, and medication-related variables were used in the final model. While achieving moderate discriminatory performance, internal bootstrap validation revealed a pronounced risk of overfitting. The results of the IECV, in which calibration was highly variable even after accounting for between-study heterogeneity, agreed with this finding. Heterogeneity was equally reflected in differing baseline risk, predictor effects and absolute risk predictions.

CONCLUSIONS

Predictor effect heterogeneity and differing baseline risk can explain the limited external performance of HA prediction models. With such drivers known, model adjustments in external validation settings (eg, intercept recalibration, complete updating) can be applied more purposefully.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO id: CRD42018088129.

Polypharmacy and Cognition Function Among Rural Adults

BACKGROUND

Polypharmacy (using≥5 medications) is associated with poor health outcomes. Mixed results from past studies surrounding chronic medication use, control of chronic conditions, and their effects on cognitive performance warrant further attention.

OBJECTIVE

Investigate a link between polypharmacy and cognition function in rural-dwelling adults in Texas, USA.

METHODS

Project FRONTIER (Facing Rural Obstacles to Healthcare Now Through Intervention, Education & Research) is a cross-sectional epidemiological study using community-based participatory research in three counties of Texas. Residents age > 40 were eligible for inclusion. The primary outcome is cognitive impairment, and exposures of interest are polypharmacy; comorbidities; and diabetes, hypertension, and depression medication. Logistic regression was used to assess association.

RESULTS

Six hundred eighty-nine individuals participated; the mean age was 61, and the majority were female (68.7%).The median number of medications taken by participants was 3.3 (IQR: 0-5); the rate of polypharmacy was 29.6%. Anti-hypertensive agents were the most common medications (15%) used. Polypharmacy users were 2.84 times more likely to have cognitive impairment [OR: 2.84, 95%CI (1.32-6.09)] than those using < 5 medications. Participants on hypertensive medications had 1.85 times higher odds [OR: 1.85, 95%CI (1.14-3.01)] of having cognitive impairment than those who did not have cognitive impairment.

CONCLUSION

Polypharmacy increases the odds of cognitive impairment. The odds of presenting with cognitive impairment increased as the number of medications increased. Additionally, we identified a large, concerning number of participants with pharmacotherapy and poor chronic disease management. A larger study should examine medication adherence among rural elders to manage chronic disease and any healthcare barriers to adherence.

Associations Between Anticholinergic Medication Exposure and Adverse Health Outcomes in Older People with Frailty: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introduction

There are robust associations between use of anticholinergic medicines and adverse effects in older people. However, the nature of these associations for older people living with frailty is yet to be established.

Objectives

The aims were to identify and investigate associations between anticholinergics and adverse outcomes in older people living with frailty and to investigate whether exposure is associated with greater risks according to frailty status.

Methods

MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Web of Science and PsycINFO were searched to 1 August 2019. Observational studies reporting associations between anticholinergics and outcomes in older adults (average age ≥ 65 years) that reported frailty using validated measures were included. Primary outcomes were physical impairment, cognitive dysfunction, and change in frailty status. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias In Non-randomised Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool. Meta-analysis was undertaken where appropriate.

Results

Thirteen studies (21,516 participants) were included (ten community, one residential aged-care facility and two hospital studies). Observed associations included reduced ability for chair standing, slower gait speeds, poorer physical performance, increased risk of falls and mortality. Conflicting results were reported for grip strength, timed up and go test, cognition and activities of daily living. No associations were observed for transitions between frailty states, psychological wellbeing or benzodiazepine-related adverse reactions. There was no clear evidence of differences in risks according to frailty status.

Conclusions

Anticholinergics are associated with adverse outcomes in older people living with frailty; however, the literature has significant methodological limitations. There is insufficient evidence to suggest greater risks based on frailty, and there is an urgent need to evaluate this further in well-designed studies stratifying by frailty.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40801-021-00256-5.

Anticholinergic burden (prognostic factor) for prediction of dementia or cognitive decline in older adults with no known cognitive syndrome

BACKGROUND

Medications with anticholinergic properties are commonly prescribed to older adults. The cumulative anticholinergic effect of all the medications a person takes is referred to as the 'anticholinergic burden' because of its potential to cause adverse effects. It is possible that high anticholinergic burden may be a risk factor for development of cognitive decline or dementia. There are various scales available to measure anticholinergic burden but agreement between them is often poor.

OBJECTIVES

To assess whether anticholinergic burden, as defined at the level of each individual scale, is a prognostic factor for future cognitive decline or dementia in cognitively unimpaired older adults.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the following databases from inception to 24 March 2021: MEDLINE (OvidSP), Embase (OvidSP), PsycINFO (OvidSP), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), and ISI Web of Science Core Collection (ISI Web of Science).

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included prospective and retrospective longitudinal cohort and case-control observational studies with a minimum of one year' follow-up that examined the association between an anticholinergic burden measurement scale and future cognitive decline or dementia in cognitively unimpaired older adults.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed studies for inclusion, and undertook data extraction, assessment of risk of bias, and GRADE assessment. We extracted odds ratios (OR) and hazard ratios, with 95% confidence intervals (CI), and linear data on the association between anticholinergic burden and cognitive decline or dementia. We intended to pool each metric separately; however, only OR-based data were suitable for pooling via a random-effects meta-analysis. We initially established adjusted and unadjusted pooled rates for each available anticholinergic scale; then, as an exploratory analysis, established pooled rates on the prespecified association across scales. We examined variability based on severity of anticholinergic burden.

MAIN RESULTS

We identified 25 studies that met our inclusion criteria (968,428 older adults). Twenty studies were conducted in the community care setting, two in primary care clinics, and three in secondary care settings. Eight studies (320,906 participants) provided suitable data for meta-analysis. The Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden scale (ACB scale) was the only scale with sufficient data for 'scale-based' meta-analysis. Unadjusted ORs suggested an increased risk for cognitive decline or dementia in older adults with an anticholinergic burden (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.96) and adjusted ORs similarly suggested an increased risk for anticholinergic burden, defined according to the ACB scale (OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.09 to 6.29). Exploratory analysis combining adjusted ORs across available scales supported these results (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.38 to 3.38), and there was evidence of variability in risk based on severity of anticholinergic burden (ACB scale 1: OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.11 to 4.29; ACB scale 2: OR 2.71, 95% CI 2.01 to 3.56; ACB scale 3: OR 3.27, 95% CI 1.41 to 7.61); however, overall GRADE evaluation of certainty of the evidence was low.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is low-certainty evidence that older adults without cognitive impairment who take medications with anticholinergic effects may be at increased risk of cognitive decline or dementia.

The Effect of Cumulative Anticholinergic Use on the Cognitive Function of Older Adults: Results from the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life Study

BACKGROUND

Multiple comorbidities are common in older adults, resulting in polypharmacy that often includes medications with anticholinergic properties. These medications have multiple side effects, which are more pronounced in the older population. This study examined the association between the use of anticholinergics and changes in the cognitive function of older adults.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 2,222 individuals aged 65-69 years at baseline from the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life Study in Australia. Medication data were obtained from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Cognitive measures were obtained from neuropsychological battery assessment. Exposure to cumulative anticholinergic use was quantified to a total standardized daily dose (TSDD). The association between change in cognitive measures between baseline and 4-year follow-up, and cumulative use of anticholinergic was assessed through generalized linear models.

RESULTS

During the study period, 18.6% (n = 413) of participants filled at least one prescription for anticholinergics. Compared to those not on anticholinergics, participants on anticholinergics were more likely to be woman (62.7% compared to 45.1%) and spent lesser time engaging in vigorous physical activity (0.4 h/week compared to 0.9 h/week). Cumulative use of anticholinergic resulting in a TSDD exceeding 1,095 was significantly associated with poorer performance in Trail Making Test Part B (Model 1: β = 5.77, Model 2: β = 5.33, Model 3: β = 8.32, p < .01), indicating impairment in processing speed.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, except for speed of processing, other cognitive domains measured were not affected by cumulative anticholinergic use over a 4-year period.

Quality of anticholinergic burden scales and their impact on clinical outcomes: a systematic review

PURPOSE

Older people are at risk of anticholinergic side effects due to changes affecting drug elimination and higher sensitivity to drug's side effects. Anticholinergic burden scales (ABS) were developed to quantify the anticholinergic drug burden (ADB). We aim to identify all published ABS, to compare them systematically and to evaluate their associations with clinical outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a literature search in MEDLINE and EMBASE to identify all published ABS and a Web of Science citation (WoS) analysis to track validation studies implying clinical outcomes. Quality of the ABS was assessed using an adapted AGREE II tool. For the validation studies, we used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Cochrane tool Rob2.0. The validation studies were categorized into six evidence levels based on the propositions of the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine with respect to their quality. At least two researchers independently performed screening and quality assessments.

RESULTS

Out of 1297 records, we identified 19 ABS and 104 validations studies. Despite differences in quality, all ABS were recommended for use. The anticholinergic cognitive burden (ACB) scale and the German anticholinergic burden scale (GABS) achieved the highest percentage in quality. Most ABS are validated, yet validation studies for newer scales are lacking. Only two studies compared eight ABS simultaneously. The four most investigated clinical outcomes delirium, cognition, mortality and falls showed contradicting results.

CONCLUSION

There is need for good quality validation studies comparing multiple scales to define the best scale and to conduct a meta-analysis for the assessment of their clinical impact.

The Impact of Anticholinergic Burden on Functional Capacity in Persons With Schizophrenia Across the Adult Life Span

Anticholinergic burden (ACB) from medications impairs cognition in schizophrenia. Cognition is a predictor of functional capacity; however, little is known about ACB effect on functional capacity in this population. This study assesses the relationship between ACB and functional capacity across the life span in individuals with schizophrenia after controlling for ACB effect on cognition. A cross-sectional analysis was performed with data collected from 6 academic tertiary health centers. Two hundred and twenty-three community-dwelling participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were included in this study. Main variables were ACB, antipsychotic olanzapine equivalents, functional capacity, cognition, and negative symptoms. Simultaneous linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association between ACB, functional capacity, and cognition and then between ACB and cognition. A mediation analysis was then performed to examine whether cognition mediated ACB effect on functional capacity if there was an association between ACB and cognition. Mean age of participants was 49.0 years (SD = 13.1, range 19-79), and 63.7% of participants had severe ACB, ie, a total score of 3 or above. Regression analyses revealed that ACB, age, education, and cognition independently predicted functional capacity and that ACB predicted cognition among those aged 55 years and older. Mediation analysis showed that cognition did partially mediate the effect of ACB on functional capacity in this older cohort. In conclusion, people with schizophrenia are exposed to severe ACB that can have a direct negative impact on functional capacity after controlling for its impact on cognition. Reducing ACB could improve functional capacity and potentially real-world function in schizophrenia.

Predicting negative health outcomes in older general practice patients with chronic illness: Rationale and development of the PROPERmed harmonized individual participant data database

The prevalence of multimorbidity and polypharmacy increases significantly with age and are associated with negative health consequences. However, most current interventions to optimize medication have failed to show significant effects on patient-relevant outcomes. This may be due to ineffectiveness of interventions themselves but may also reflect other factors: insufficient sample sizes, heterogeneity of population. To address this issue, the international PROPERmed collaboration was set up to obtain/synthesize individual participant data (IPD) from five cluster-randomized trials. The trials took place in Germany and The Netherlands and aimed to optimize medication in older general practice patients with chronic illness. PROPERmed is the first database of IPD to be drawn from multiple trials in this patient population and setting. It offers the opportunity to derive prognostic models with increased statistical power for prediction of patient-relevant outcomes resulting from the interplay of multimorbidity and polypharmacy. This may help patients from this heterogeneous group to be stratified according to risk and enable clinicians to identify patients that are likely to benefit most from resource/time-intensive interventions. The aim of this manuscript is to describe the rationale behind PROPERmed collaboration, characteristics of the included studies/participants, development of the harmonized IPD database and challenges faced during this process.

Frailty, and not medicines with anticholinergic or sedative effects, predicts adverse outcomes in octogenarians admitted for myocardial infarction: Population-level study

OBJECTIVE

To determine independent associations between the use of medicines with anticholinergic or sedative effects and frailty with outcomes of length of stay (LOS), coronary artery procedure performed and 30-day deaths in octogenarians admitted for a myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODS

We quantified patient exposure to medicines with anticholinergic or sedative effects using the drug burden index (DBI) and frailty using the hospital frailty risk score (HFRS). We used multivariable regression methods to determine the association between DBI and HFRS with outcomes of LOS, coronary artery procedures performed and 30-day deaths.

RESULTS

HFRS and not DBI score was significantly associated with receipt of coronary artery procedures (odds ratio [OR] 0.42; 95% CI 0.28-0.62 for high- versus low-risk groups) and 30-day deaths (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.12-2.24 for high- versus low-risk groups).

CONCLUSION

Frailty risk is a more important predictor of outcomes than DBI score for octogenarians with an MI.

Anticholinergic medication exposure predicts poor physical capability: Findings from a large prospective cohort study in England

OBJECTIVES

To examine whether anticholinergic medication exposure in middle and late life is associated with physical capability.

STUDY DESIGN

We used data from 8477 men and women who had enrolled in the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer-Norfolk study at baseline (1HC; 1993-1997) and who had attended its third health examination (3HC; 2004-2010). Medication history at the 1HC and 3HC was used to score participants according to the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) Scale at baseline and 3HC; participants were categorised as ACB = 0, ACB = 1, ACB>2.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

At 3HC, physical capability was objectively measured by: usual walking speed, maximum grip strength, timed chair stands speed (TCSS) and standing balance. Linear and logistic regression models examined prospective and cross-sectional associations between ACB and physical capability, controlling for co-morbidity, sociodemographic and lifestyle factors.

RESULTS

The analyses included 3386 men and 4110 women who were 56.4 (SD 7.9) and 55.0 (7.7) years old respectively at baseline and 69.4 (8.1) and 67.9 (8.0) years old at follow-up. Significant cross-sectional and prospective relationships were observed for all physical capability measures in women, except grip strength. For example, women with ACB ≥ 2 compared with ACB = 0 at baseline had 0.07 m/s (95 % CI -0.11, -0.03) slower usual walking speed, 2.61 stands/min (-4.17, -1.05) slower TCSS and higher odds of being unable to complete a tandem stand (odds ratio 2.40, 95 % CI 1.53, 3.76). These trends were observed in men but were less consistent in prospective analyses.

CONCLUSION

Exposure to anticholinergic medication predicts poor physical capability and is a potentially reversible risk factor.

Potentially Inappropriate Medications, Drug-Drug Interactions, and Anticholinergic Burden in Elderly Hospitalized Patients: Does an Association Exist with Post-Discharge Health Outcomes?

BACKGROUND

Polypharmacy is very common in elderly patients and is associated with detrimental outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to evaluate the associations between a large panel of therapy quality indicators, including explicit lists of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs; Beers criteria and Screening Tool of Older Persons' potentially inappropriate Prescriptions [STOPP] criteria), the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) score, and the number of drug-drug interactions (DDIs), with respect to mortality, rehospitalization, and physical function decline within 3 months from hospital discharge in a cohort of hospitalized elderly patients.

METHODS

We studied 2631 individuals aged ≥ 65 years (median age 79.6; males 48.6%) enrolled in the REPOSI registry. The relationships with mortality and rehospitalization were evaluated using Cox regressions, and relationships with functional status change (as percentage variation of Barthel Index [BI]) were evaluated using mixed linear models.

RESULTS

None of the studied indicators was associated with mortality and rehospitalization. Conversely, only ACB was associated with physical function decline, even after correction for confounders (adjusted mean BI variation of - 7.55%; 95% confidence interval [CI] - 12.37 to - 2.47). The number of medications at discharge, particularly polypharmacy (more than five drugs daily), were the only therapy-related factors associated with mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.05 [95% CI 1.01-1.10] and 1.70 [95% CI 1.12-2.58], respectively) and rehospitalization (aHR 1.05 [95% CI 1.01-1.08] and 1.31 [95% CI 1.01-1.71], respectively).

CONCLUSION

Polypharmacy, a very simple measure, outperformed sophisticated PIM and DDI indicators of quality of therapy as a correlate of primary clinical outcomes, whereas ACB was associated with physical function decline. Thus, innovative approaches to the definition and research of PIMs and DDIs are eagerly awaited from the perspective of averaging the quantitative burden and qualitative interaction of drugs.

Association between anticholinergic burden and anticholinergic adverse outcomes in the elderly: Pharmacological basis of their predictive value for adverse outcomes

The use of anticholinergic drugs and other drugs with anticholinergic activity is highly prevalent in older people. Cumulative anticholinergic effects, known as anticholinergic burden, are associated with important peripheral and central adverse effects and outcomes. Several methods have been developed to quantify anticholinergic burden and to estimate the risk of adverse anticholinergic effects. Serum anticholinergic activity (SAA) and anticholinergic burden scoring systems are the most commonly used methods to predict the occurrence of important negative outcomes. These tools could guide clinicians in making more rational prescriptions to enhance patient safety, especially in older people. However, the literature has reported conflicting results about the predictive ability of these tools. The majority of these instruments ignore relevant pharmacologic aspects such as the doses used, differential muscarinic receptor subtype affinities, and blood-brain barrier permeability. To increase the clinical relevance of these tools, mechanistic and clinical pharmacology should collaborate. This narrative review describes the rational and pharmacological basis of anticholinergic burden tools and provides insight about their predictive value for adverse outcomes.

A prognostic model predicted deterioration in health-related quality of life in older patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy

OBJECTIVES

To develop and validate a prognostic model to predict deterioration in health-related quality of life (dHRQoL) in older general practice patients with at least one chronic condition and one chronic prescription.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

We used individual participant data from five cluster-randomized trials conducted in the Netherlands and Germany to predict dHRQoL, defined as a decrease in EQ-5D-3 L index score of ≥5% after 6-month follow-up in logistic regression models with stratified intercepts to account for between-study heterogeneity. The model was validated internally and by using internal-external cross-validation (IECV).

RESULTS

In 3,582 patients with complete data, of whom 1,046 (29.2%) showed deterioration in HRQoL, and 12/87 variables were selected that were related to single (chronic) conditions, inappropriate medication, medication underuse, functional status, well-being, and HRQoL. Bootstrap internal validation showed a C-statistic of 0.71 (0.69 to 0.72) and a calibration slope of 0.88 (0.78 to 0.98). In the IECV loop, the model provided a pooled C-statistic of 0.68 (0.65 to 0.70) and calibration-in-the-large of 0 (-0.13 to 0.13). HRQoL/functionality had the strongest prognostic value.

CONCLUSION

The model performed well in terms of discrimination, calibration, and generalizability and might help clinicians identify older patients at high risk of dHRQoL.

REGISTRATION

PROSPERO ID: CRD42018088129.

Adverse Effects of Anticholinergic Drugs on Cognition and Mobility: Cutoff for Impairment in a Cross-Sectional Study in Young-Old and Old-Old Adults

BACKGROUND

Drugs with anticholinergic properties are commonly prescribed in older adults despite growing evidence of their adverse outcomes. Several issues regarding these detrimental effects remain unresolved, such as the putative existence of a threshold above which anticholinergic drug consumption impairs cognitive or mobility performance.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to investigate the number of anticholinergic drugs and the anticholinergic burden that leads to mobility or cognitive impairment and compare the effects in community-dwelling older adults in two age groups ("young-old" 55-74 vs. "old-old" ≥ 75 years).

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, we identified drugs with anticholinergic (antimuscarinic) properties using the Anticholinergic Drug Scale. Cognition was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Trail Making Test (TMT-A and TMT-B), and mobility was assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test.

RESULTS

The study population consisted of 177 volunteers, 114 of whom were classed as young-old and 63 were classed as old-old adults. Despite the lack of cutoff values for impaired outcomes in young-old adults, impaired MMSE were significantly more numerous in users than in nonusers of anticholinergic drugs. In old-old adults, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that taking a single anticholinergic drug per day was associated with impaired TMT-B completion time, TMT difference score (B-A), and TUG scores. The cutoff for anticholinergic burden was also one for these same outcomes. Based on these cutoff values, multivariate logistic regressions in old-old adults showed that the increased risk of impaired cognition and mobility was independent of confounding factors, including comorbidities. They also suggested that anticholinergic drugs would affect mobility through executive functions.

CONCLUSIONS

Drugs with anticholinergic (antimuscarinic) properties are associated with cognitive impairment in individuals as young as 55 years, and only one such drug per day, regardless of its anticholinergic burden, is associated with both impaired cognition and impaired mobility in old-old adults. Therefore, wherever possible, clinicians should avoid prescribing drugs with anticholinergic properties.

Quality of anticholinergic burden scales and their impact on clinical outcomes: a systematic review

Purpose

Older people are at risk of anticholinergic side effects due to changes affecting drug elimination and higher sensitivity to drug’s side effects. Anticholinergic burden scales (ABS) were developed to quantify the anticholinergic drug burden (ADB). We aim to identify all published ABS, to compare them systematically and to evaluate their associations with clinical outcomes.

Methods

We conducted a literature search in MEDLINE and EMBASE to identify all published ABS and a Web of Science citation (WoS) analysis to track validation studies implying clinical outcomes. Quality of the ABS was assessed using an adapted AGREE II tool. For the validation studies, we used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Cochrane tool Rob2.0. The validation studies were categorized into six evidence levels based on the propositions of the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine with respect to their quality. At least two researchers independently performed screening and quality assessments.

Results

Out of 1297 records, we identified 19 ABS and 104 validations studies. Despite differences in quality, all ABS were recommended for use. The anticholinergic cognitive burden (ACB) scale and the German anticholinergic burden scale (GABS) achieved the highest percentage in quality. Most ABS are validated, yet validation studies for newer scales are lacking. Only two studies compared eight ABS simultaneously. The four most investigated clinical outcomes delirium, cognition, mortality and falls showed contradicting results.

Conclusion

There is need for good quality validation studies comparing multiple scales to define the best scale and to conduct a meta-analysis for the assessment of their clinical impact.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00228-020-02994-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Long-Term Exposure to Anticholinergic and Sedative Medications and Cognitive and Physical Function in Later Life

BACKGROUND

Anticholinergic and sedative medications are frequently prescribed to older individuals. These medications are associated with short-term cognitive and physical impairment, but less is known about long-term associations. We therefore examined whether over 20 years cumulative exposure to these medications was related to poorer cognitive and physical functioning.

METHODS

Older adult participants of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) were followed from 1992 to 2012. On seven measurement occasions, cumulative exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications was quantified with the drug burden index (DBI), a linear additive pharmacological dose-response model. Cognitive functioning was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Alphabet Coding Task (ACT, three trials), Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT, learning and retention condition), and Raven Colored Progressive Matrices (RCPM, two trials). Physical functioning was assessed with the Walking Test (WT), Cardigan Test (CT), Chair Stands Test (CST), Balance Test (BT), and self-reported Functional Independence (FI). Data were analyzed with linear mixed models adjusted for age, education, sex, living with a partner, BMI, depressive symptoms, comorbidities (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, COPD, osteoarthritis, CNS diseases), and prescribed medications.

RESULTS

Longitudinal associations were found of the DBI with poorer cognitive functioning (less items correct on the three ACT trials, AVLT learning condition, and the two RCPM trials) and with poorer physical functioning (longer completion time on the CT, CST, and lower self-reported FI).

CONCLUSIONS

This longitudinal analysis of data collected over 20 years, showed that higher long-term cumulative exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications was associated with poorer cognitive and physical functioning.

Stability of anticholinergic load in Australian community-dwelling older people: a longitudinal analysis

BACKGROUND

It is recommended that anticholinergic medication is avoided in older people, especially those with cognitive impairment.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate anticholinergic load (ACL) over time in older primary care patients with and without cognitive impairment.

METHODS

Community-dwelling general practice patients at baseline (n = 1768), at year one (n = 1373) and a restricted cohort (with possible or definite cognitive impairment) at year two (n = 370) had medication regimens documented by a research nurse during a home visit. Anticholinergic medicines were categorized as levels 1-3 (low-high potency) and summed for each participant as a measure of their ACL.

RESULTS

Most participants had no change in ACL over time, but there was some turnover in the anticholinergic medications used. The mean change in ACL was 0.012 ± 0.99 from baseline to 12 months and -0.04 ± 1.3 from baseline to 24 months. Cardiovascular drugs were the most commonly used level 1 anticholinergics, followed by antidepressants and opioids. Antidepressants and urologicals were the most commonly used level 3 anticholinergics. The rate of anticholinergic deprescribing was equivalent to the rate of anticholinergic initiation, and commonly involved the level 1 drugs warfarin, furosemide and temazepam, and the level 3 drugs amitriptyline and oxybutynin. People with dementia had a higher ACL at baseline and year one compared with other participants.

CONCLUSION

ACL of community-dwelling older people was very stable over time. This may represent lost opportunities for deprescribing as well as potentially inappropriate prescribing, particularly in those with cognitive impairment.

Prevalence of Alternative Diagnoses and Implications for Management in Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Patients

BACKGROUND

Following Bayes theorem, ventriculomegaly and ataxia confer only a 30% chance of idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). When coupled with positive responses to best diagnostic testing (extended lumbar drainage), 70% of patients recommended for shunting will not actually have NPH. This is inadequate clinical care.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the proportion of alternative and treatable diagnoses in patients referred to a multidisciplinary NPH clinic.

METHODS

Patients without previously diagnosed NPH were queried from prospectively collected data. At least 1 neurosurgeon, cognitive neurologist, and neuropsychologist jointly formulated best treatment plans.

RESULTS

Of 328 total patients, 45% had an alternative diagnosis; 11% of all patients improved with treatment of an alternative diagnosis. Of 87 patients with treatable conditions, the highest frequency of pathologies included sleep disorders, and cervical stenosis, followed by Parkinson disease. Anti-cholinergic burden was a contributor for multiple patients. Of 142 patients undergoing lumbar puncture, 71% had positive responses and referred to surgery. Compared to NPH patients, mimickers were statistically significantly older with lower Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score and worse gait parameters. Overall, 26% of the original patients underwent shunting. Pre-post testing revealed a statistically significant improved MoCA score and gait parameters in those patients who underwent surgery with follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Because the Multidisciplinary NPH Clinic selected only 26% for surgery (corroborating 30% in Bayes theorem), an overwhelming majority of patients with suspected NPH will harbor alternative diagnoses. Identification of contributing/confounding conditions will support the meticulous work-up necessary to appropriately manage patients without NPH while optimizing clinical responses to shunting in correctly diagnosed patients.

Chronic polypharmacy impairs explorative behavior and reduces synaptic functions in young adult mice

A major challenge in the health care system is the lack of knowledge about the possible harmful effects of multiple drug treatments in old age. The present study aims to characterize a mouse model of polypharmacy, in order to investigate whether long-term exposure to multiple drugs could lead to adverse outcomes. To this purpose we selected five drugs from the ten most commonly used by older adults in Sweden (metoprolol, paracetamol, aspirin, simvastatin and citalopram). Five-month-old wild type male mice were fed for eight weeks with control or polypharmacy diet. We report for the first time that young adult polypharmacy-treated mice showed a significant decrease in exploration and spatial working memory compared to the control group. This memory impairment was further supported by a significant reduction of synaptic proteins in the hippocampus of treated mice. These novel results suggest that already at young adult age, use of polypharmacy affects explorative behavior and synaptic functions. This study underlines the importance of investigating the potentially negative outcomes from concomitant administration of different drugs, which have been poorly explored until now. The mouse model proposed here has translatable findings and can be applied as a useful tool for future studies on polypharmacy.

Symptomatic Events in a Community Palliative Care Population: A Prospective Pilot Study

Background: The palliative care population is prescribed a large number of drugs, increasing as patients deteriorate. The cumulative effects of these medications combined with underlying symptom burden can result in significant morbidity. There is an urgent need to describe possible symptomatic events that could be exacerbated by commonly prescribed drugs in palliative care and their impact. Objectives: To trial the feasibility and acceptability of determining baseline symptomatic event rates for community palliative care patients from which a composite measure of symptomatic events can be developed. Design: This prospective pilot study of patient-reported symptomatic events recruited a convenience cohort of 27 community palliative care patients in a metropolitan specialist palliative care service in Australia. Results: This study has demonstrated a high prevalence rate of symptomatic events (total crude event/participant day rate 0.87) in the study population. Conclusion: Data collection of patient-centered symptomatic events was acceptable and feasible to participants. This pilot supports a fully powered study.

Cognitive changes in women starting anticholinergic medications for overactive bladder: a prospective study

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

To assess cognitive changes in women 12 months after starting anticholinergic medications for overactive bladder syndrome (OAB).

METHODS

We present a prospective cohort study assessing changes in cognition in women seen in a referral urogynecology practice. We compared women who started anticholinergic OAB medications with women not on anticholinergic OAB medications. The primary outcome was change over time on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) screening score. At enrollment, women completed a baseline MOCA screening, a Geriatric Depression Screen (GDS), and an assessment of medications to create an anticholinergic burden score (ACB). At 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after enrollment women were administered the MOCA, GDS, and a review of their medications and medical problems. Statistical analysis was performed using a linear mixed effects model taking into account correlated error terms given multiple MOCA assessments at various time points per patient.

RESULTS

A total of 106 women were enrolled, 60 in the OAB medication group and 46 in the control (non-OAB medication) group. The mean age was 77 years, 93% of women were Caucasian, and 98% completed high school, with no difference between groups. Over time there was no difference in change of MOCA score between the OAB and control groups when controlling for age, GDS score, and ACB score (p = 0.78). This association did not change when women with a neurological diagnosis were excluded (n = 6). On average MOCA scores for the OAB group increased by 0.76 over 12 months and the control group increased 0.39, with no difference between the groups (p = 0.53).

CONCLUSIONS

We found no changes in MOCA scores between OAB medication and control groups after controlling for age, depression, and polypharmacy after 12 months of follow-up.

Analysis of anticholinergic and sedative medicine effects on physical function, cognitive function, appetite and frailty: a cross-sectional study in Australia

OBJECTIVE

To test the association between use of medicines with anticholinergic or sedative properties and physical function, cognitive function, appetite and frailty.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

This cross-sectional study analysed baseline data collected as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a population-based cohort of 2087 participants aged 65 years or over living in South Australia.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Physical function was measured at baseline using measures including hand grip strength, walking speed, chair stands, activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Cognitive function was measured using Mini-Mental State Examination. Appetite was measured using Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression question 2. Frailty was measured using frailty index. The association between use of anticholinergics or sedatives and physical or cognitive function, appetite, or frailty was assessed using analysis of covariance and ordinal or binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

Almost half of the population were using anticholinergics or sedatives (n=954, 45.7%). Use of anticholinergics was significantly associated with poorer grip strength, slower walking speed, poorer IADL and poorer appetite. Use of sedatives was significantly associated with poorer grip strength, slower walking speed and poorer IADL. We found no significant association between medicine use and cognitive function. Users of anticholinergics or sedatives were significantly more likely to be frail compared with non-users.

CONCLUSION

Use of medicines with anticholinergic or sedative properties is significantly associated with poorer physical function, poorer appetite and increased frailty. Early identification of signs and symptoms of deterioration associated with medicine use is particularly important in older people so that worsening frailty and subsequent adverse events are prevented.

Association of Drug Burden Index with grip strength, timed up and go and Barthel index activities of daily living in older adults with intellectual disabilities: an observational cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Drug Burden Index (DBI), a measure of exposure to medications with anticholinergic and sedative activity, has been associated with poorer physical function in older adults in the general population. While extensive study has been conducted on associations between DBI and physical function in older adults in the general population, little is known about associations in older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). This is the first study which aims to examine the association between DBI score and its two sub-scores, anticholinergic and sedative burden, with two objective measures of physical performance, grip strength and timed up and go, and a measure of dependency, Barthel Index activities of daily living, in older adults with ID.

METHODS

Data from Wave 2 (2013/2014) of the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA) was analysed. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to detect associations and produce adjusted means for the physical function and dependency measures with respect to categorical DBI scores and the anticholinergic and sedative sub-scores (DBA and DBS).

RESULTS

After adjusting for confounders (age, level of ID, history of falls, comorbidities and number of non-DBI medications, Down syndrome (grip strength only) and gender (timed up and go and Barthel Index)), neither grip strength nor timed up and go were significantly associated with DBI, DBA or DBS score > 0 (p > 0.05). Higher dependency in Barthel Index was associated with DBS exposure (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

DBI, DBA or DBS scores were not significantly associated with grip strength or timed up and go. This could be as a result of established limitations in physical function in this cohort, long-term exposure to these types of medications or lifelong sedentary lifestyles. Higher dependency in Barthel Index activities of daily living was associated with sedative drug burden, which is an area which can be examined further for review.

Impact of drug burden index on adverse health outcomes in Irish community-dwelling older people: a cohort study

Background

The Drug Burden Index (DBI) quantifies exposure to medications with anticholinergic and/or sedative effects. A consensus list of DBI medications available in Ireland was recently developed for use as a DBI tool. The aim of this study was to validate this DBI tool by examining the association of DBI score with important health outcomes in Irish community-dwelling older people.

Methods

This was a cohort study using data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) with linked pharmacy claims data. Individuals aged ≥65 years participating in TILDA and enrolled in the General Medical Services scheme were eligible for inclusion. DBI score was determined by applying the DBI tool to participants’ medication dispensing data in the year prior to outcome assessment. DBI score was recoded into a categorical variable [none (0), low (> 0 and < 1), and high (≥1)]. Outcome measures included any Activities of Daily Living (ADL) impairment, any Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) impairment, any self-reported fall in the previous 12 months, any frailty criterion met (Fried Phenotype measure), quality of life (QoL) score (CASP-19 [Control Autonomy Self-realisation Pleasure] measure), and healthcare utilisation (any hospital admission and any emergency department (ED) visit) in the previous 12 months. Statistical analyses included multivariate logistic and linear regression models controlling for potential confounders.

Results

61.3% (n = 1946) of participants received at least one DBI prescription in the year before their outcome assessment. High DBI exposure (DBI score ≥ 1) vs none was significantly associated with impaired function (ADL impairment adjusted OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.25, 2.88; IADL impairment adjusted OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.91, 4.61), self-reported falls (adjusted OR 1.50, 95%CI 1.03, 2.18), frailty (adjusted OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.14, 2.67), and reduced QoL (β = − 1.84, 95%CI -3.14, − 0.54). There was no significant association between DBI exposure and healthcare utilisation.

Conclusions

The findings validate the use of the DBI tool for predicting risk of functional impairment, falls, frailty and reduced QoL in older people in Ireland, and may be extended to other European countries. Integration of this tool into routine practice may be an appropriate step forward to improve outcomes in older people.

A patient-centered deprescribing intervention for hospitalized older patients with polypharmacy: rationale and design of the Shed-MEDS randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Polypharmacy is prevalent among hospitalized older adults, particularly those being discharged to a post-care care facility (PAC). The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to determine if a patient-centered deprescribing intervention initiated in the hospital and continued in the PAC setting reduces the total number of medications among older patients.

METHODS

The Shed-MEDS study is a 5-year, randomized controlled clinical intervention trial comparing a patient-centered describing intervention with usual care among older (≥50 years) hospitalized patients discharged to PAC, either a skilled nursing facility (SNF) or an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IPR). Patient measurements occur at hospital enrollment, hospital discharge, within 7 days of PAC discharge, and at 60 and 90 days following PAC discharge. Patients are randomized in a permuted block fashion, with block sizes of two to four. The overall effectiveness of the intervention will be evaluated using total medication count as the primary outcome measure. We estimate that 576 patients will enroll in the study. Following attrition due to death or loss to follow-up, 420 patients will contribute measurements at 90 days, which provides 90% power to detect a 30% versus 25% reduction in total medications with an alpha error of 0.05. Secondary outcomes include the number of medications associated with geriatric syndromes, drug burden index, medication adherence, the prevalence and severity of geriatric syndromes and functional health status.

DISCUSSION

The Shed-MEDS trial aims to test the hypothesis that a patient-centered deprescribing intervention initiated in the hospital and continuing through the PAC stay will reduce the total number of medications 90 days following PAC discharge and result in improvements in geriatric syndromes and functional health status. The results of this trial will quantify the health outcomes associated with reducing medications for hospitalized older adults with polypharmacy who are discharged to post-acute care facilities.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial was prospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov ( NCT02979353 ). The trial was first registered on 12/1/2016, with an update on 09/28/17 and 10/12/2018.

DEFEAT-polypharmacy: deprescribing anticholinergic and sedative medicines feasibility trial in residential aged care facilities

Background Prolonged use of anticholinergic and sedative medicines is correlated with worsening cognition and physical function decline. Deprescribing is a proposed intervention that can help to minimise polypharmacy whilst potentially improving several health outcomes in older people. Objective This study aimed to examine the feasibility of implementing a deprescribing intervention that utilises a patient-centred pharmacist-led intervention model; in order to address major deprescribing challenges such as general practitioner time constraints and lack of accessible deprescribing guidelines and processes. Setting Three residential care facilities. Methods The intervention involved a New Zealand registered pharmacist utilising peer-reviewed deprescribing guidelines to recommend targeted deprescribing of anticholinergic and sedative medicines to GPs. Main outcome measure The change in the participants' Drug Burden Index (DBI) total and DBI 'as required' (PRN) was assessed 3 and 6 months after implementing the deprescribing intervention. Results Seventy percent of potential participants were recruited for the study (n = 46), and 72% of deprescribing recommendations suggested by the pharmacist were implemented by General Pratitioners (p = 0.01; Fisher's exact test). Ninety-six percent of the residents agreed to the deprescribing recommendations, emphasising the importance of patient centred approach. Deprescribing resulted in a significant reduction in participants' DBI scores by 0.34, number of falls and adverse drug reactions, 6 months post deprescribing. Moreover, participants reported lower depression scores and scored lower frailty scores 6 months after deprescribing. However, cognition did not improve; nor did participants' reported quality of life. Conclusion This patient-centred deprescribing approach, demonstrated a high uptake of deprescribing recommendations and success rate. After 6 months, significant benefits were noted across a range of important health measures including mood, frailty, falls and reduced adverse reactions. This further supports deprescribing as a possible imperative to improve health outcomes in older adults.

Anticholinergic and sedative drug burden in community-dwelling older people: a national database study

OBJECTIVES

The Drug Burden Index (DBI) tool quantifies individual exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications. The DBI has been internationally validated against adverse health outcomes in older people. DBI exposure has not been reported in the Irish older population. This study aimed to: (1) develop a list of drugs with clinically significant anticholinergic and/or sedative effects (DBI medications) relevant to Ireland; (2) examine, using the DBI formula, the prevalence of exposure to DBI medications in Irish older people and (3) explore patient factors associated DBI exposure.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional national pharmacy claims database study.

SETTING

Community setting using the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme pharmacy claims database maintained by the Health Service Executive Primary Care Reimbursement Services.

PARTICIPANTS

Irish older individuals (aged ≥65 years) enrolled in the GMS scheme and dispensed at least one prescription item in 2016 (n=428 516).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Prevalence of exposure to DBI medications and patient factors associated with DBI exposure.

RESULTS

282 874 (66%) of the GMS population aged ≥65 years were exposed to at least one DBI medication in 2016. Prevalence of exposure to DBI medications was significantly higher in females than males (females 71.6% vs males 58.7%, adjusted OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.63 to 1.68). Prevalence of DBI exposure increased progressively with the number of chronic drugs used, rising from 42.7% of those prescribed 0-4 chronic drugs to 95.4% of those on ≥12 chronic drugs (adjusted OR 27.8, 95% CI 26.7 to 29.0). The most frequently used DBI medications were codeine/paracetamol combination products (20.1% of patients), tramadol (11.5%), zopiclone (9.5%), zolpidem (8.5%), pregabalin (7.9%) and alprazolam (7.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of older people in Ireland are exposed to medications with anticholinergic and/or sedative effects, particularly females and those with multiple comorbidities. The high use of low-dose codeine/paracetamol combination products, Z-drugs and benzodiazepines, suggests there are opportunities for deprescribing.