Okoro RN, Idris AI. Older adults’ exposure to anticholinergic medications: Implications for pharmaceutical care for Nigerian older adults.
THE JOURNAL OF MEDICINE ACCESS 2022;
6:27550834221112753. [PMID:
36204529 PMCID:
PMC9483949 DOI:
10.1177/27550834221112753]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
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.
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