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Schleiden LJ, Klima G, Rodriguez KL, Ersek M, Robinson JE, Hickson RP, Smith D, Cashy J, Sileanu FE, Thorpe CT. Clinician and Family Caregiver Perspectives on Deprescribing Chronic Disease Medications in Older Nursing Home Residents Near the End of Life. Drugs Aging 2024; 41:367-377. [PMID: 38575748 PMCID: PMC11021174 DOI: 10.1007/s40266-024-01110-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Nursing home (NH) residents with limited life expectancy (LLE) who are intensely treated for hyperlipidemia, hypertension, or diabetes may benefit from deprescribing. OBJECTIVE This study sought to describe NH clinician and family caregiver perspectives on key influences on deprescribing decisions for chronic disease medications in NH residents near the end of life. METHODS We recruited family caregivers of veterans who recently died in a Veterans Affairs (VA) NH, known as community living centers (CLCs), and CLC healthcare clinicians (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, registered nurses). Respondents completed semi-structured interviews about their experiences with deprescribing statin, antihypertensive, and antidiabetic medications for residents near end of life. We conducted thematic analysis of interview transcripts to identify key themes regarding influences on deprescribing decisions. RESULTS Thirteen family caregivers and 13 clinicians completed interviews. Key themes included (1) clinicians and caregivers both prefer to minimize drug burden; (2) clinical factors strongly influence deprescribing of chronic disease medications, with differences in how clinicians and caregivers weigh specific factors; (3) caregivers trust and rely on clinicians to make deprescribing decisions; (4) clinicians perceive caregiver involvement and buy-in as essential to deprescribing decisions, which requires time and effort to obtain; and (5) clinicians perceive conflicting care from other clinicians as a barrier to deprescribing. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest a need for efforts to encourage communication with and education for family caregivers of residents with LLE about deprescribing, and to foster better collaboration among clinicians in CLC and non-CLC settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loren J Schleiden
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Research Office Building #30, University Drive (151C), Pittsburgh, PA, 15240, USA.
| | - Gloria Klima
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Research Office Building #30, University Drive (151C), Pittsburgh, PA, 15240, USA
| | - Keri L Rodriguez
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Research Office Building #30, University Drive (151C), Pittsburgh, PA, 15240, USA
| | - Mary Ersek
- Veteran Experience Center, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jacob E Robinson
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Research Office Building #30, University Drive (151C), Pittsburgh, PA, 15240, USA
- Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ryan P Hickson
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Research Office Building #30, University Drive (151C), Pittsburgh, PA, 15240, USA
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Dawn Smith
- Veteran Experience Center, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John Cashy
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Research Office Building #30, University Drive (151C), Pittsburgh, PA, 15240, USA
- Veteran Experience Center, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Florentina E Sileanu
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Research Office Building #30, University Drive (151C), Pittsburgh, PA, 15240, USA
| | - Carolyn T Thorpe
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Research Office Building #30, University Drive (151C), Pittsburgh, PA, 15240, USA
- Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Fernández-Fradejas J, Martínez-Barros H, Rexach-Cano L, Álvarez-Díaz AM, Delgado-Silveira E. Deprescribing in older patients with advanced cancer referred to palliative care. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2024:spcare-2024-004849. [PMID: 38453405 DOI: 10.1136/spcare-2024-004849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to explore the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in a cohort of older adults with advanced cancer referred to palliative care. Secondary objectives were to describe the categories of identified PIMs and assess risk factors associated with their presence in this population. METHODS This retrospective, observational study evaluated patients with advanced cancer admitted to a tertiary university hospital in Madrid, Spain and referred to palliative care between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2020. Demographic, clinical, and pharmacotherapeutic data were obtained from the electronic medical records and regional databases. PIMs were assessed using the Screening Tool of Older Persons Prescriptions in Frail adults (STOPPFrail) criteria, V1. RESULTS Among 123 patients (median age 80 years (IQR 73.5-87), 64.2% male), 74% presented at least one PIM according to the STOPPFrail criteria. The most common categories of inappropriate medications were lipid-lowering therapies, proton pump inhibitors, calcium supplements, and oral antidiabetics. The number of chronic comedications was significantly associated with PIM presence. CONCLUSIONS Our study found a high prevalence of PIM among a cohort of older adults with advanced cancer and short life expectancy. This underlines the need for a comprehensive medication review to optimise pharmacotherapy in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lourdes Rexach-Cano
- Unidad de Cuidados Paliativos, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Eva Delgado-Silveira
- Servicio de Farmacia, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
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de Andrade FK, Ignacio Nunes RP, Barboza Zanetti MO, Barboza Zanetti AC, Dos Santos M, de Oliveira AM, Carson-Stevens A, Leira Pereira LR, Rossi Varallo F. Validated medication deprescribing instruments for patients with palliative care needs palliative care: A systematic review. Farm Hosp 2024; 48:T83-T89. [PMID: 38016841 DOI: 10.1016/j.farma.2023.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Patients with life-limiting illnesses are prone to unnecessary polypharmacy. Deprescribing tools may contribute to minimizing negative outcomes. Thus, the aims of the study were to identify validated instruments for deprescribing inappropriate medications for patients with palliative care needs and to assess the impact on clinical, humanistic, and economic outcomes. METHODS A systematic review was conducted in LILACS, PUBMED, EMBASE, COCHRANE, and WEB OF SCIENCE databases (until May 2021). A manual search was performed in the references of enrolled articles. The screening, eligibility, extraction, and bias risk assessment were carried out by two independent researchers. Experimental and observational studies were eligible for inclusion. RESULTS Out of the 5,791 studies retrieved, after excluding duplicates (n = 1,050), conducting title/abstract screening (n = 4,741), and full reading (n = 41), only one study met the inclusion criteria. In this included study, a randomized controlled trial was conducted, which showed a high level of bias risk overall. Adults 75 years or older (n = 130) with limited life expectancy and polypharmacy were allocated to two groups [intervention arm (deprescribing); and control arm (usual care)]. Deprescribing was performed with the aid of the STOPPFrail tool. The mean number of inappropriate medications and monthly medication costs were significantly lower in the intervention arm. No statistically significant differences were found in terms of unscheduled hospital presentations, falls, fractures, mortality, and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS Despite the availability of several instruments to support deprescribing in patients with palliative care needs, only one of them has undergone validation and robust assessment for effectiveness in clinical practice. The STOPPFrail tool appears to reduce the number of inappropriate medications for older people with limited life expectancy (and probably palliative care needs) and decrease the monthly costs of pharmacotherapy. Nevertheless, the impact on patient safety and humanistic outcomes remain unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frangie Kallas de Andrade
- Facultad de Ciencias Farmacéuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidad de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brasil
| | | | | | | | - Márcia Dos Santos
- Biblioteca Central, Universidad de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Alan Maicon de Oliveira
- Facultad de Ciencias Farmacéuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidad de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brasil.
| | - Andrew Carson-Stevens
- Centro PRIME de Gales, División de Medicina de la Población, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cardiff, Cardiff, Reino Unido
| | | | - Fabiana Rossi Varallo
- Facultad de Ciencias Farmacéuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidad de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brasil
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de Andrade FK, Nunes RPI, Zanetti MOB, Zanetti ACB, Dos Santos M, de Oliveira AM, Carson-Stevens A, Pereira LRL, Varallo FR. Validated medication deprescribing instruments for patients with palliative care needs: a systematic review. Farm Hosp 2024; 48:83-89. [PMID: 37770284 DOI: 10.1016/j.farma.2023.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Patients with life-limiting illnesses are prone to unnecessary polypharmacy. Deprescribing tools may contribute to minimizing negative outcomes. Thus, the aims of the study were to identify validated instruments for deprescribing inappropriate medications for patients with palliative care needs and to assess the impact on clinical, humanistic, and economic outcomes. METHODS A systematic review was conducted in LILACS, PUBMED, EMBASE, COCHRANE, and WEB OF SCIENCE databases (until May 2021). A manual search was performed in the references of enrolled articles. The screening, eligibility, extraction, and bias risk assessment were carried out by 2 independent researchers. Experimental and observational studies were eligible for inclusion. RESULTS Out of the 5791 studies retrieved, after excluding duplicates (n = 1050), conducting title/abstract screening (n = 4741), and full reading (n = 41), only 1 study met the inclusion criteria. In this included study, a randomized controlled trial was conducted, which showed a high level of bias risk overall. Adults 75 years or older (n = 130) with limited life expectancy and polypharmacy were allocated to 2 groups [intervention arm (deprescribing); and control arm (usual care)]. Deprescribing was performed with the aid of the STOPPFrail tool. The mean number of inappropriate medications and monthly medication costs were significantly lower in the intervention arm. No statistically significant differences were found in terms of unscheduled hospital presentations, falls, fractures, mortality, and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS Despite the availability of several instruments to support deprescribing in patients with palliative care needs, only 1 of them has undergone validation and robust assessment for effectiveness in clinical practice. The STOPPFrail tool appears to reduce the number of inappropriate medications for older people with limited life expectancy (and probably palliative care needs) and decrease the monthly costs of pharmacotherapy. Nevertheless, the impact on patient safety and humanistic outcomes remain unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frangie Kallas de Andrade
- University of São Paulo (USP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Raziel Prado Ignacio Nunes
- University of São Paulo (USP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Márcia Dos Santos
- University of São Paulo (USP), Central Library, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Alan Maicon de Oliveira
- University of São Paulo (USP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Andrew Carson-Stevens
- PRIME Centre Wales, Division of Population Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Leonardo Régis Leira Pereira
- University of São Paulo (USP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabiana Rossi Varallo
- University of São Paulo (USP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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Evin A, Denis C, Nizet P, Denis R, Lannes M, Victorri-Vigneau C, Huon JF. Are the deprescribing guidelines for proton pump inhibitors in palliative care applicable? A monocentric observational study. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2024; 13:e928-e932. [PMID: 37595979 DOI: 10.1136/spcare-2023-004542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most commonly prescribed medications. The aim of this study was to assess the appropriateness of prescribing PPIs in the palliative care unit on admission and during hospitalisation to determine the applicability of deprescribing recommendations. METHODS A monocentric observational study was conducted over a 6-month period in 2020 in a university palliative care unit. Data on indication, starting date, dose and posology were collected at discharge from the medical record and by contacting the prescriber. A physician and a pharmacist evaluated PPI prescription appropriateness according to guidelines. RESULTS 131 patients (mean age: 69.5 years; 82% with cancer) were included. Prior to admission, 41% (54/131) of patients were already prescribed PPIs. During hospitalisation, 50% of prescriptions were discontinued, while 12% were initiated. The indication was known for 50% of patients on admission and 59% during their stay. Among patients with PPI prescriptions, 56% had a relevant indication on admission, and 63% during their stay. The prevalence of potential drug interactions was low (<1/10). CONCLUSIONS While PPIs remain essential for specific indications, this study highlights their excessive prescription even during palliative care. Implementing deprescribing recommendations in this population is crucial to optimise treatment plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien Evin
- CHU de Nantes, Service de soins palliatifs et de support, Nantes Université, Nantes, France
- INSERM UMR 1246 SPHERE, Nantes Université, Nantes, France
| | - Claire Denis
- CHU de Nantes, Service de soins palliatifs et de support, Nantes Université, Nantes, France
| | - Pierre Nizet
- INSERM UMR 1246 SPHERE, Nantes Université, Nantes, France
- CHU de Nantes, Pharmacie, Nantes Université, Nantes, France
| | - Roxane Denis
- CHU de Nantes, Service de santé publique, Nantes Université, Nantes, France
| | - Morgane Lannes
- CHU de Nantes, Service de santé publique, Nantes Université, Nantes, France
| | - Caroline Victorri-Vigneau
- INSERM UMR 1246 SPHERE, Nantes Université, Nantes, France
- CHU de Nantes, Centre d'évaluation et d'information sur la pharmacodépendance-addictovigilance, Nantes Université, Nantes, France
| | - Jean Francois Huon
- INSERM UMR 1246 SPHERE, Nantes Université, Nantes, France
- CHU de Nantes, Pharmacie, Nantes Université, Nantes, France
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Alwidyan T, McCorry NK, Black C, Coulter R, Forbes J, Parsons C. Prescribing and deprescribing in older people with life-limiting illnesses receiving hospice care at the end of life: A longitudinal, retrospective cohort study. Palliat Med 2024; 38:121-130. [PMID: 38032069 PMCID: PMC10798021 DOI: 10.1177/02692163231209024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although prescribing and deprescribing practices in older people have been the subject of much research generally, there are limited data in older people at the end of life. This highlights the need for research to determine prescribing and deprescribing patterns, as a first step to facilitate guideline development for medicines optimisation in this vulnerable population. AIMS To examine prescribing and deprescribing patterns in older people at the end of life and to determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication use. DESIGN A longitudinal, retrospective cohort study where medical records of eligible participants were reviewed, and data extracted. Medication appropriateness was assessed using two sets of consensus-based criteria; the STOPPFrail criteria and criteria developed by Morin et al. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS Decedents aged 65 years and older admitted continuously for at least 14 days before death to three inpatient hospice units across Northern Ireland, who died between 1st January and 31st December 2018, and who had a known diagnosis, known cause of death and prescription data. Unexpected/sudden deaths were excluded. RESULTS Polypharmacy was reported to be continued until death in 96.2% of 106 decedents (mean age of 75.6 years). Most patients received at least one potentially inappropriate medication at the end of life according to the STOPPFrail and the criteria developed by Morin et al. (57.5 and 69.8% respectively). Limited prevalence of proactive deprescribing interventions was observed. CONCLUSIONS In the absence of systematic rationalisation of drug treatments, a substantial proportion of older patients continued to receive potentially inappropriate medication until death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahani Alwidyan
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan
| | - Noleen K McCorry
- School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | | | | | - June Forbes
- Northern Ireland Hospice, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Carole Parsons
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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Anlay DZ, Paque K, Van Leeuwen E, Cohen J, Dilles T. Tools and guidelines to assess the appropriateness of medication and aid deprescribing: An umbrella review. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2024; 90:12-106. [PMID: 37697479 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.15906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS The aim of this umbrella review was to identify tools and guidelines to aid the deprescribing process of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), evaluate development and validation methods, and describe evidence levels for medication inclusion. METHODS Searches were conducted on MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase.com, Cochrane CDSR, CINAHL (EBSCO), Web of Science Core Collection and guideline databases from the date of inception to 7 July 2022. Following the initial search, an additional search was conducted to identify an updated versions of tools on 17 July 2023. We analysed the contents of tools and guidelines. RESULTS From 23 systematic reviews and guidelines, we identified 95 tools (72 explicit, 12 mixed and 11 implicit) and nine guidelines. Most tools (83.2%) were developed to use for older persons, including 14 for those with limited life expectancy. Seven tools were for children <18 years (7.37%). Most explicit/mixed tools (78.57%) and all guidelines were validated. We found 484 PIMs and 202 medications with different appropriateness independent of disease for older persons with normal and limited life expectancy, respectively. Only two tools and eight guidelines reported the evidence level, and a quarter of medications had high-quality evidence. CONCLUSIONS Tools are available for a diversity of populations. There were discrepancies, with the same medication being classified as inappropriate in some tools and appropriate in others, possibly due to low-quality evidence. In particular, tools for patients with limited life expectancy were developed based on very limited evidence, and research to generate this evidence is urgently needed. Our medication lists, along with the level of evidence, could facilitate efforts to strengthen the evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Degefaye Zelalem Anlay
- End-of-life Care Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
- Centre for Research and Innovation in Care, Nurse and Pharmaceutical Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Kristel Paque
- Centre for Research and Innovation in Care, Nurse and Pharmaceutical Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- HAST, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Ellen Van Leeuwen
- Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences & Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joachim Cohen
- End-of-life Care Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tinne Dilles
- Centre for Research and Innovation in Care, Nurse and Pharmaceutical Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Szilcz M, Wastesson JW, Calderón-Larrañaga A, Morin L, Lindman H, Johnell K. Endocrine treatment near the end of life among older women with metastatic breast cancer: a nationwide cohort study. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1223563. [PMID: 37876970 PMCID: PMC10591323 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1223563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The appropriate time to discontinue chemotherapy at the end of life has been widely discussed. In contrast, few studies have investigated the patterns of endocrine treatment near death. In this study, we aimed to investigate the end-of-life endocrine treatment patterns of older women with metastatic breast cancer and explore characteristics associated with treatment. Methods A retrospective cohort study of all older women (age ≥65 years) with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer who died in Sweden, 2016 - 2020. We used routinely collected administrative and health data with national coverage. Treatment initiation was defined as dispensing during the last three months of life with a nine-month washout period, while continuation and discontinuation were assessed by previous use during the same period. We used log-binomial models to explore factors associated with the continuation and initiation of endocrine treatments. Results We included 3098 deceased older women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (median age 78). Overall, endocrine treatment was continued by 39% and initiated by 5% and of women during their last three months of life, while 31% discontinued and 24% did not use endocrine treatment during their last year of life. Endocrine treatment continuation was more likely among older and less educated women, and among women who had multi-dose drug dispensing, chemotherapy, and CDK4/6 use. Only treatment-related factors were associated with treatment initiation. Conclusion More than a third of women with metastatic breast cancer continue endocrine treatments potentially past the point of benefit, whereas late initiation is less frequent. Further research is warranted to determine whether our results reflect overtreatment at the end of life once patients' preferences and survival prognosis are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Máté Szilcz
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonas W. Wastesson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stockholm Gerontology Research Center, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lucas Morin
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Inserm CIC 1431, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
- Inserm U1018, High-Dimensional Biostatistics for Drug Safety and Genomics, CESP, Villejuif, France
| | - Henrik Lindman
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Experimental and Clinical Oncology; Clinical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kristina Johnell
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Antonisse A, van der Baan FH, Grant M, Uyttewaal G, Verboeket C, Smits-Pelser H, Teunissen SCCM, Geijteman ECT. Use of preventive medication and supplements in general practice in patients in their last year of life: a Retrospective cohort study. BMC Prim Care 2023; 24:101. [PMID: 37061665 PMCID: PMC10105458 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-023-02049-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several preventive medications and supplements become inappropriate in the last phase of life due to increased risk of adverse events caused by changed pharmacokinetics, drug-drug interactions, and changed care goals. Information on these preventive medication and supplements use in patients with a life-limiting illness in the home-care setting is limited. The primary aim of this study was to assess the use of four different groups of preventive drugs and supplements, which are inappropriate in adult patients with a life-limiting illness, living at home in the last year of life. The secondary aims were to assess reasons for discontinuing these drugs as documented in the general practitioners' patient file and whether these reasons affected the time between medication discontinuation and death. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study using the routine primary care database of the Julius General Practitioners' Network of the University Medical Centre Utrecht, a database consisting of routine care data from GPs from the city of Utrecht and its vicinity. Patients in the homecare setting with a life-limiting illness, diagnosed at least one year before death, were included. Descriptive analyses were used to describe the study population and the frequency of starting, using, and discontinuing medication and supplements in the last year of life. RESULTS A total of 458 of 666 included patients (69%) used at least one preventive drug in the last year of life. Vitamins were used by 36% of the patients, followed with 35% using cholesterol-lowering medication, 24% using calcium supplements and 9% using bisphosphonates. Bisphosphonates were discontinued by 70% of the users, calcium supplements by 61%, vitamins by 56% and cholesterol-lowering medication by 48% of the users, with a median interval between day of discontinuation and death of 119, 60, 110 and, 65 days, respectively. The median time between medication or supplement discontinuation and death was longest in patients with side effects and who had medication reviews. CONCLUSION Many patients in their last phase of life in the home-care setting use inappropriate medication and supplements. Timely medication review may contribute to optimise medication use in the last year of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Antonisse
- Centre of Expertise Palliative Care, Department General Practice, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Frederieke H van der Baan
- Centre of Expertise Palliative Care, Department General Practice, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Matthew Grant
- Centre of Expertise Palliative Care, Department General Practice, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Saskia C C M Teunissen
- Centre of Expertise Palliative Care, Department General Practice, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Eric C T Geijteman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Bernardo C, Tosin MHDS, Almada M, Sampaio R, Oliveira BGRBD, Costa E, Vrijens B, Alves da Costa F. Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the ABC taxonomy for medication adherence into Portuguese - Updating patients into people. Res Social Adm Pharm 2023; 19:653-659. [PMID: 36621396 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2022.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Ascertaining Barriers to Compliance (ABC) taxonomy for describing medication adherence was created in 2012, aiming to standardize terms and definitions in research and practice. The taxonomy comprises seven terms and definitions. Originally developed in English, subsequently translated into French and German, is currently being translated to Portuguese, Spanish, Czech, Romanian and Italian, aiming to promote its global use and overcome cultural barriers. OBJECTIVES To cross-culturally translate the ABC taxonomy into Portuguese for Portugal and Brazil. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted to identify published taxonomy terms and definitions in Portuguese, and to identify panelists in medication adherence. Initial mapping of terms and definitions retrieved was scrutinized by the research team to build an e-survey. The e-survey was piloted and then sent to panelists in both countries seeking consensus using a three-round Delphi method. Consensus was defined as ≥ 85% for round 1 and ≥ 75% for round 2. Terms with agreement <10% were dropped between rounds. In round 3, terms and definitions reaching agreement between 50 and 75% were classified as moderate consensus,>75-95% as consensus and >95% as strong consensus. RESULTS A total of 778 studies were identified and 84 included, enabling the extraction of 154 terms and 32 definitions. In round 1, 164 panelists participated, 115 in round 2 and 99 in the round 3. Consensus was achieved in both countries for all seven terms and definitions, although with varying intensity of agreement. The term "Management of adherence" and the definition of "Discontinuation" obtained moderate consensus in both countries. CONCLUSIONS A unified and unique ABC taxonomy in Portuguese was possible to develop for use in Portugal and in Brazil. Its use will harmonize and standardize the terms and definitions used in clinical practice and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Bernardo
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMED.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Michelle Hyczy de Siqueira Tosin
- Department of Nursing, Fluminense Federal University. Dr. Celestino 74, Centro, 24020-091, Niterói, RJ, Brazil; Rush University Medical Center. 1620 W Harrison St, 60612, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Marta Almada
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, R. Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rute Sampaio
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal; Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), University of Porto, R. Dr. Plácido da Costa, 4200-450, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Elísio Costa
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, R. Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal; Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, R. Jorge deViterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Filipa Alves da Costa
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMED.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisboa, Portugal; Interdisciplinary Research Center Egas Moniz (CiiEM), University Institute Egas Moniz (IUEM), Campus Universitário, Quinta da Granja, Monte da Caparica, 2829-511, Caparica, Portugal.
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11
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Shrestha S, Poudel A, Forough AS, Steadman KJ, Nissen LM. A systematic review on methods for developing and validating deprescribing tools for older adults with limited life expectancy. Int J Pharm Pract 2023; 31:3-14. [PMID: 36472946 DOI: 10.1093/ijpp/riac094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A number of deprescribing tools are available to assist clinicians to make decisions on medication management. We aimed to review deprescribing tools that may be used with older adults that have limited life expectancy (LLE), including those at the palliative and end-of-life stage, and consider the rigour with which the tools were developed and validated. KEY FINDINGS Literature was searched in PubMed, Embase, CINHAL and Google Scholar until February 2021 for studies involving the development and/or consensus validation of deprescribing tools targeting those aged ≥65 years with LLE. We were interested in the tool development process, tool validation process and clinical components addressed by the tool.Six studies were included. The approaches followed for tool development were systematic review (n = 3), expert-literature review (n = 2) and concept data (n = 1). The content included a list of disease-non-specific medications divided with or without recommendations (n = 4) and disease-specific medications with recommendations (n = 2). The tool validation was performed using the Delphi method (n = 4) or GRADE framework (n = 2) with panel size ranging from 8 to 17 and 60-80% consensus agreement with or without a rating scale. LLE targeted were ≤1 year (n = 2) or ≤3 months (n = 1). SUMMARY There is a limited number of deprescribing tools with consensus validation available for use in older adults with LLE. These tools are either targeted for disease-specific medication/medication class guided by the GRADE framework or targeted for a list of medications or medication classes irrespective of disease that are developed using a combination of approaches and validated using a Delphi method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakti Shrestha
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Arjun Poudel
- School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ayda S Forough
- School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kathryn J Steadman
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lisa M Nissen
- Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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12
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Szilcz M, Wastesson JW, Morin L, Calderón-Larrañaga A, Lambe M, Johnell K. Potential overtreatment in end-of-life care in adults 65 years or older dying from cancer: applying quality indicators on nationwide registries. Acta Oncol 2022; 61:1437-1445. [PMID: 36495144 DOI: 10.1080/0284186x.2022.2153621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quality indicators are frequently used to measure the quality of care at the end of life. Whether quality indicators of potential overtreatment (i.e., when the risks outweigh the benefits) at the end of life can be reliably applied to routinely collected data remains uncertain. This study aimed to identify quality indicators of overtreatment at the end of life in the published literature and to investigate their tentative prevalence among older adults dying with solid cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective cohort study of decedents including all older adults (≥65 years) who died with solid cancer between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2015 (n = 54,177) in Sweden. Individual data from the National Cause of Death Register were linked with data from the Total Population Register, the National Patient Register, and the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. Quality indicators were applied for the last one and three months of life. RESULTS From a total of 145 quality indicators of overtreatment identified in the literature, 82 (57%) were potentially operationalisable with routine administrative and healthcare data in Sweden. Unidentifiable procedures and hospital drug treatments were the reason for non-operationalisability in 52% of the excluded indicators. Among the 82 operationalisable indicators, 67 measured overlapping concepts. Based on the remaining 15 unique indicators, we tentatively estimated that overall, about one-third of decedents received at least one treatment or procedure indicative of 'potential overtreatment' during their last month of life. CONCLUSION Almost half of the published overtreatment indicators could not be measured in routine administrative and healthcare data in Sweden due to a lack of means to capture the care procedure. Our tentative estimates suggest that potential overtreatment might affect one-third of cancer decedents near death. However, quality indicators of potential overtreatment for specific use in routinely collected data should be developed and validated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Máté Szilcz
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonas W Wastesson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lucas Morin
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Inserm CIC 1431, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.,Stockholm Gerontology Research Center, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats Lambe
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kristina Johnell
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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13
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McGraw C. Involving older people in decisions about deprescribing in end of life care. Nurs Stand 2022; 37:55-60. [PMID: 36213960 DOI: 10.7748/ns.2022.e12021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
It is essential for all healthcare practitioners, including nurses, to recognise and respond to people's wishes and preferences for end of life care as part of a person-centred approach. Older people approaching the end of life are significant consumers of prescribed medicines and are at increased risk of adverse drug events. As such, prescribers and other healthcare practitioners should offer older people the opportunity to be involved in decisions about their medicines. This article focuses on older people and deprescribing in the last year of life. It provides an overview of the personalised care agenda, explores the risks and benefits of medicines among older people with advanced illness, and describes some of the most widely used deprescribing tools. The article emphasises a person-centred approach to end of life care and makes suggestions for holding discussions about deprescribing with patients and their families and/or carers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline McGraw
- Department of Health Services Research and Management, School of Health & Psychological Sciences, City, University of London, London, England
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14
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Elsorady KE, Matter LM, Abdelrahim DS. Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions and Hospital Outcome among Geriatric Patients. JGG 2022. [DOI: 10.36150/2499-6564-n558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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15
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Engell AE, Bathum L, Andersen JS, Thompson W, Lind BS, Jørgensen HL, Nexøe J. Factors associated with statin discontinuation near end of life in a Danish primary health care cohort. Fam Pract 2022; 40:300-307. [PMID: 35950318 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmac090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term preventive treatment such as treatment with statins should be reassessed among patients approaching end of life. The aim of the study was to describe the rate of discontinuation of statin treatment and factors associated with discontinuation in the 6 months before death. METHODS This study is a retrospective cohort study using national registers and blood test results from primary health care patients. Patients in the Copenhagen municipality, Denmark who died between 1997 and 2018 and were statin users during the 10-year period before death were included. We calculated the proportion who remained statin users in the 6-month period before death. Factors associated with discontinuation were tested using logistic regression. RESULTS A total of 55,591 decedents were included. More patients continued treatment (64%, n = 35,693) than discontinued (36%, n = 19,898) the last 6 months of life. The 70 and 80 age groups had the lowest odds of discontinuing compared to the 90 (OR 1.59, 95% CI 0.93-2.72) and 100 (OR 3.11, 95% CI 2.79-3.47) age groups. Increasing comorbidity score (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.87; 0.90 per 1-point increase) and use of statins for secondary prevention (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.85; 0.93) reduced the likelihood of discontinuation as did a diagnosis of dementia, heart failure, or cancer. CONCLUSION A substantial portion of patients continued statin treatment near end of life. Efforts to promote rational statin use and discontinuation are required among patients with limited life expectancy, including establishing clear, practical recommendations about statin discontinuation, and initiatives to translate recommendations into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna E Engell
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Lise Bathum
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - John S Andersen
- Research Unit for General Practice and Section of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Wade Thompson
- Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Hospital Pharmacy of Funen, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Bent S Lind
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark.,Research Unit for General Practice and Section of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik L Jørgensen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Jørgen Nexøe
- Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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16
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Hedman C, Frisk G, Björkhem-bergman L. Deprescribing in Palliative Cancer Care. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:613. [PMID: 35629281 PMCID: PMC9147815 DOI: 10.3390/life12050613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of palliative care is to maintain as high a quality of life (QoL) as possible despite a life-threatening illness. Thus, the prescribed medications need to be evaluated and the benefit of each treatment must be weighed against potential side effects. Medications that contribute to symptom relief and maintained QoL should be prioritized. However, studies have shown that treatment with preventive drugs that may not benefit the patient in end-of-life is generally deprescribed very late in the disease trajectory of cancer patients. Yet, knowing how and when to deprescribe drugs can be difficult. In addition, some drugs, such as beta-blockers, proton pump inhibitors, anti-depressants and cortisone need to be scaled down slowly to avoid troublesome withdrawal symptoms. In contrast, other medicines, such as statins, antihypertensives and vitamins, can be discontinued directly. The aim of this review is to give some advice according to when and how to deprescribe medications in palliative cancer care according to current evidence and clinical praxis. The review includes antihypertensive drugs, statins, anti-coagulants, aspirin, anti-diabetics, proton pump inhibitors, histamin-2-blockers, bisphosphonates denosumab, urologicals, anti-depressants, cortisone, thyroxin and vitamins.
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17
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Tjia J, Lund JL, Mack DS, Mbrah A, Yuan Y, Chen Q, Osundolire S, McDermott CL. Methodological Challenges for Epidemiologic Studies of Deprescribing at the End of Life. CURR EPIDEMIOL REP 2021; 8:116-129. [PMID: 34722115 PMCID: PMC8553236 DOI: 10.1007/s40471-021-00264-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review To describe approaches to measuring deprescribing and associated outcomes in studies of patients approaching end of life (EOL). Recent Findings We reviewed studies published through 2020 that evaluated deprescribing in patients with limited life expectancy and approaching EOL. Deprescribing includes reducing the number of medications, decreasing medication dose(s), and eliminating potentially inappropriate medications. Tools such as STOPPFrail, OncPal, and the Unnecessary Drug Use Measure can facilitate deprescribing. Outcome measures vary and selection of measures should align with the operationalized deprescribing definition used by study investigators. Summary EOL deprescribing considerations include medication appropriateness in the context of patient goals for care, expected benefit from medication given life expectancy, and heightened potential for medication-related harm as death nears. Additional data are needed on how EOL deprescribing impacts patient quality of life, caregiver burden, and out-of-pocket medication-related costs to patients and caregivers. Investigators should design deprescribing studies with this information in mind.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Tjia
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, AS6-2065, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jennifer L Lund
- Department of Epidemiology, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Deborah S Mack
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, AS6-2065, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Attah Mbrah
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, AS6-2065, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Yiyang Yuan
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, AS6-2065, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Qiaoxi Chen
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, AS6-2065, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Seun Osundolire
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, AS6-2065, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Cara L McDermott
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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18
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Cadogan CA, Murphy M, Boland M, Bennett K, Mclean S, Hughes C. Prescribing practices, patterns, and potential harms in patients receiving palliative care: A systematic scoping review. Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy 2021; 3:100050. [PMID: 35480601 PMCID: PMC9031741 DOI: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2021.100050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Patients receiving palliative care often have existing comorbidities necessitating the prescribing of multiple medications. To maximize quality of life in this patient cohort, it is important to tailor prescribing of medication for preventing and treating existing illnesses and those for controlling symptoms, such as pain, according to individual specific needs. Objective(s) To provide an overview of peer-reviewed observational research on prescribing practices, patterns, and potential harms in patients receiving palliative care. Methods A systematic scoping review was conducted using four electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science). Each database was searched from inception to May 2020. Search terms included ‘palliative care,’ ‘end of life,’ and ‘prescribing.’ Eligible studies had to examine prescribing for adults (≥18 years) receiving palliative care in any setting as a study aim or outcome. Studies focusing on single medication types (e.g., opioids), medication classes (e.g., chemotherapy), or clinical indications (e.g., pain) were excluded. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for scoping reviews, and the findings were described using narrative synthesis. Results Following deduplication, 16,565 unique citations were reviewed, and 56 studies met inclusion criteria. The average number of prescribed medications per patient ranged from 3 to 23. Typically, prescribing changes involved decreases in preventative medications and increases in symptom-specific medications closer to the time of death. Twenty-one studies assessed the appropriateness of prescribing using various tools. The prevalence of patients with ≥1 potentially inappropriate prescription ranged from 15 to 92%. Three studies reported on adverse drug events. Conclusions This scoping review provides a broad overview of existing research and shows that many patients receiving palliative care receive multiple medications closer to the time of death. Future research should focus in greater detail on prescribing appropriateness using tools specifically developed to guide prescribing in palliative care and the potential for harm.
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19
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Pollock K, Wilson E, Caswell G, Latif A, Caswell A, Avery A, Anderson C, Crosby V, Faull C. Family and health-care professionals managing medicines for patients with serious and terminal illness at home: a qualitative study. Health Serv Deliv Res 2021. [DOI: 10.3310/hsdr09140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
More effective ways of managing symptoms of chronic and terminal illness enable patients to be cared for, and to die, at home. This requires patients and family caregivers to manage complex medicines regimens, including powerful painkillers that can have serious side effects. Little is known about how patients and family caregivers manage the physical and emotional work of managing medicines in the home or the support that they receive from health-care professionals and services.
Objective
To investigate how patients with serious and terminal illness, their family caregivers and the health-care professionals manage complex medication regimens and routines of care in the domestic setting.
Design
A qualitative study involving (1) semistructured interviews and group discussions with 40 health-care professionals and 21 bereaved family caregivers, (2) 20 patient case studies with up to 4 months’ follow-up and (3) two end-of-project stakeholder workshops.
Setting
This took place in Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, UK.
Results
As patients’ health deteriorated, family caregivers assumed the role of a care co-ordinator, undertaking the everyday work of organising and collecting prescriptions and storing and administering medicines around other care tasks and daily routines. Participants described the difficulties of navigating a complex and fragmented system and the need to remain vigilant about medicines prescribed, especially when changes were made by different professionals. Access to support, resilience and coping capacity are mediated through the resources available to patients, through the relationships that they have with people in their personal and professional networks, and, beyond that, through the wider connections – or disconnections – that these links have with others. Health-care professionals often lacked understanding of the practical and emotional challenges involved. All participants experienced difficulties in communication and organisation within a health-care system that they felt was complicated and poorly co-ordinated. Having a key health professional to support and guide patients and family caregivers through the system was important to a good experience of care.
Limitations
The study achieved diversity in the recruitment of patients, with different characteristics relating to the type of illness and socioeconomic circumstances. However, recruitment of participants from ethnically diverse and disadvantaged or hard-to-reach populations was particularly challenging, and we were unable to include as many participants from these groups as had been originally planned.
Conclusions
The study identified two key and inter-related areas in which patient and family caregiver experience of managing medicines at home in end-of-life care could be improved: (1) reducing work and responsibility for medicines management and (2) improving co-ordination and communication in health care. It is important to be mindful of the need for transparency and open discussion about the extent to which patients and family caregivers can and should be co-opted as proto-professionals in the technically and emotionally demanding tasks of managing medicines at the end of life.
Future work
Priorities for future research include investigating how allocated key professionals could integrate and co-ordinate care and optimise medicines management; the role of domiciliary home care workers in supporting medicines management in end-of-life care; patient and family perspectives and understanding of anticipatory prescribing and their preferences for involvement in decision-making; the experience of medicines management in terminal illness among minority, disadvantaged and hard-to-reach patient groups; and barriers to and facilitators of increased involvement of community pharmacists in palliative and end-of-life care.
Funding
This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Services and Delivery Research programme and will be published in full in Health Services and Delivery Research; Vol. 9, No. 14. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian Pollock
- School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Eleanor Wilson
- School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Glenys Caswell
- School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Asam Latif
- School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Alan Caswell
- Patient and Public Involvement Representative, Dementia, Frail Older and Palliative Care Patient and Public Involvement Advisory Group, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Anthony Avery
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Claire Anderson
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Vincent Crosby
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
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20
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Frisk G, Bergström H, Helde Frankling M, Björkhem-Bergman L. Sex-Differences in Discontinuation of Statin Treatment in Cancer Patients the Year before Death. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:368. [PMID: 33923405 DOI: 10.3390/ph14040368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Statin treatment is often terminated in patients with advanced cancer but guidelines for statin discontinuation are still lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate sex-differences in time-points of statin discontinuation in patients with advanced cancer. Medical records from 1535 deceased patients enrolled at a Palliative Home Care Unit were reviewed. A total of 149 patients (42 women and 107 men) who were diagnosed with cancer, and were treated with statins one year before death, were identified. Statin treatment was terminated earlier in women than in men, 3.0 months prior to death (IQR 0.88–7.25) as compared to 1.5 months (IQR 0.5–4.0) (p < 0.05), respectively. In a longitudinal analysis there was a significant difference between men and women still on statin treatment at all studied time-points, 9, 6, and 3 months before death (p < 0.05), where women terminated statin treatment earlier in the disease trajectory. Baseline demographics were similar between the sexes except that more men than women had a history of previous cardiovascular events (p < 0.01). However, neither the indication for statin treatment, i.e., primary prevention versus secondary prevention, nor age could explain the sex-difference in statin discontinuation. There was no difference in cardiovascular events or mortality between men and women after statin discontinuation.
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21
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Bosetti C, Santucci C, Pasina L, Fortino I, Merlino L, Corli O, Nobili A. Use of preventive drugs during the last year of life in older adults with cancer or chronic progressive diseases. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2021; 30:1057-1065. [PMID: 33675260 DOI: 10.1002/pds.5223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the prescription of preventive medications with questionable usefulness in community dwelling elderly adults with cancer or chronic progressive diseases during the last year of life. METHODS Through the utilization of the healthcare databases of the Lombardy region, Italy, we identified two retrospective cohorts of patients aged 65 years or more, who died in 2018 and had a diagnosis of either a solid cancer (N = 19 367) or a chronic progressive disease (N = 27 819). We estimated prescription of eight major classes of preventive drugs 1 year and 1 month before death; continuation or initiation of preventive drug use during the last month of life was also investigated. RESULTS Over the last year of life, in both oncologic and non-oncologic patients, we observed a modest decrease in the prescription of blood glucose-lowering drugs, anti-hypertensives, lipid-modifying agents, and bisphosphonates, and a slight increase in the prescription of vitamins, minerals, antianemic drugs, and antithrombotic agents (among oncologic patients only). One month before death, the prescription of preventive drugs was still common, particularly for anti-hypertensives, antithrombotics, and antianemics, with more than 60% of patients continuing to be prescribed most preventive drugs and an over 10% starting a therapy with an antithrombotic, an antianemic, or a vitamin or mineral supplement. CONCLUSION These findings support the need for an appropriate drug review and improvement in the quality of drug prescription for vulnerable populations at the end-of-life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Bosetti
- Department of Oncology, Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Santucci
- Department of Oncology, Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy.,Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Pasina
- Department of Neuroscience, Unit of Pharmacotherapy and Prescription Appropriateness, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Ida Fortino
- Regional Ministry of Health, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Merlino
- Regional Ministry of Health, Lombardy Region, Milan, Italy
| | - Oscar Corli
- Department of Oncology, Unit of Pain and Palliative Care Research, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Nobili
- Department of Neuroscience, Laboratory for Quality Assessment of Geriatric Therapies and Services, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
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Wauters M, Elseviers M, Vander Stichele R, Dilles T, Thienpont G, Christiaens T. Efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of the OptiMEDs tool for multidisciplinary medication review in nursing homes. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2021; 95:104391. [PMID: 33819776 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
AIM(S) Exploring efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of a complex multifaced intervention (OptiMEDs) supporting multidisciplinary medication reviews in Belgian nursing homes (NHs). METHODS A pilot study in 2 intervention, 1 control NH was held, involving dementia and non-dementia NH residents (>65 years). OptiMEDs provided automated assessment of possible inappropriate medications (PIMs) and patient-specific nurse observation lists of potential side-effects. Medication changes were evaluated one month after the medication review. Feasibility and acceptability was collected via surveys among the health-care professionals. Trial registration NCT04142645, 31/10/2019. RESULTS Participants (n = 148, n = 100 in the intervention NHs) had a mean age of 87.2 years, with 75.0% females and 49.3% non-dementia patients. Prevalence of PIM use was 84.7% and of potential medication side-effects 84.5%, (range 1-19 per resident). One month after the intervention, the medication use decreased in 35.8% and PIM use in 25.9% of surviving intervention NHresidents (n = 88). GPs changed more medications when side-effects were observed (42% when side-effects present versus 12% when no side-effects, p = 0.019). Median workload for nurses was 45 min, 20 for pharmacists, and 8 for GPs. User satisfaction for the OptiMEDs tool was high (n = 33, median score of 8, IQR 6 -8), with GPs (n = 19) showing the highest appreciation. Nurses (n = 9) reported a median score on the System Usability Scale of 70 (IQR 55 - 72), with lower scores for learnability aspects. CONCLUSION The OptiMEDs intervention was feasible and user-friendly, showing decreases in the medication and PIM use; without affecting patient safety. A cluster-randomized trial is needed to explore impact on patient-related outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten Wauters
- Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Monique Elseviers
- Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Centre for Research and Innovation in Care (CRIC), Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Robert Vander Stichele
- Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; RAMIT vzw, Research in Advanced Medical Informatics and Telematics, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tinne Dilles
- University of Antwerp, Centre for Research and Innovation in Care (CRIC), Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Geert Thienpont
- RAMIT vzw, Research in Advanced Medical Informatics and Telematics, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thierry Christiaens
- Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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23
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Scullion L, Dodds H, Liu Q, Hunt ME, Gordon S, Todd A. Medication use in the last year of life: a cross-sectional hospice study. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2020; 12:e740-e743. [PMID: 32788273 DOI: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2019-002101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The issue of polypharmacy and medication use in people with life limiting illness raises important questions from a clinical and ethical viewpoint. The objectives of our study were to (1) explore medication use among people with life limiting illness receiving hospice care; (2) apply consensus criteria to assess medication appropriateness; and (3) determine the overall pill burden in this patient population. METHODS Six hospices in the North East of England were included. All deceased adult patients who received hospice care in 2018 were eligible for study inclusion. Descriptive statistics were used to report medication details; while medication appropriateness was assessed according to consensus criteria developed by Morin and colleagues. RESULTS Six hundred and ninety patients were included in the study. Patients were using a mean number of 8.8 medications per day, while polypharmacy was evident in 80% of patients. In terms of potentially questionable medication, patients were prescribed a mean number of 1.3 per day. Common potentially questionable medications included vitamin and mineral supplements, antihypertensives, antiplatelets, lipid regulating agents and anticoagulants. The pill burden in this population was also high with, on average, people using 13.7 oral doses per day. CONCLUSIONS Polypharmacy is common in patients accessing hospice care, as is the use of potentially questionable medication. The pill burden in this patient population is also high, which may be an additional treatment burden to patients. Holistic deprescribing approaches for this population should be developed and implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam Scullion
- School of Pharmacy, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Hope Dodds
- School of Pharmacy, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Qinghao Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | | | - Adam Todd
- School of Pharmacy, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Abstract
BACKGROUND A substantial number of older adults die in residential aged care facilities, yet little is known about the characteristics of and how best to optimise medication use in the last year of life. AIM The aim of this review was to map characteristics of medication use in aged care residents during the last year of life in order to examine key concepts related to medication safety and draw implications for further research and service provision. DESIGN A scoping review following Arskey and O'Malley's framework was conducted using a targeted keyword search, followed by assessments of eligibility based on title and content of abstracts and full papers. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, the scoping review protocol was prospectively registered to the Open Science Framework on 27 November 2018. DATA SOURCES We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, CINAHL and Cochrane databases to identify peer-reviewed studies published between 1937 and 2018, written in English and looking at medication use in individuals living in aged care facilities within their last year of life. RESULTS A total of 30 papers were reviewed. Five key overarching themes were derived from the analysis process: (1) access to medicines at the end of life, (2) categorisation and classes: medicines and populations, (3) polypharmacy and total medication numbers, (4) use of symptomatic versus preventive medications and (5) 'inappropriate' medications. CONCLUSION Number of prescriptions or blunt categorisations of medications to assess their appropriateness are unlikely to be sufficient to promote well-being and medication safety for older people in residential aged care in the final stages of life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michal Boyd
- The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Aileen Collier
- The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
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25
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Pasina L, Recchia A, Nobili A, Rizzi B. Inappropriate medications among end-of-life patients living at home: an Italian observational study. Eur Geriatr Med 2020; 11:505-10. [DOI: 10.1007/s41999-020-00315-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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26
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Reed K. Sustainable access to appropriate opioids for palliative care patients in Australia-preventing the need for crisis management. J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother 2020; 34:13-21. [DOI: 10.1080/15360288.2019.1650869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kate Reed
- Kate Reed Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner and National Clinical Advisor, Palliative Care Australia, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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27
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Piotrowicz K, Fähling K, Roubaud-Baudron C, Sánchez-Rodríguez D, Bauer J, Gąsowski J. Highlights of the 14th International Congress of the European Geriatric Medicine Society. Eur Geriatr Med 2019; 10:995-998. [PMID: 34652769 DOI: 10.1007/s41999-019-00238-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To report the most important messages of the 2018 EuGMS Congress in Berlin. METHODS Review based on an on-site attendance in the sessions by the European Academy for Medicine of Aging graduates. RESULTS The 14th Congress of the European Geriatric Medicine Society which took place in Berlin, Germany, from 10 to 12 October 2018, addressed the issue of challenges and opportunities associated with a fast changing modern world. Covering among other topics social issues, new technologies and the much-awaited new European definition of sarcopenia, the meeting streamed with important information. CONCLUSIONS Attended by more than 1800 participants from Europe and from across the world, it was one of the most successful geriatric events in 2018. In the following text, in preparation to the next, 15th Congress in Kraków, Poland, we briefly describe the highlights of the Berlin Congress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Piotrowicz
- Department of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Śniadeckich 10 Str., 31-531, Kraków, Poland.
| | - Katrin Fähling
- Agaplesion Bethesda Klinik Ulm and Geriatrisches Zentrum Ulm, Zollernring 26, 89073, Ulm, Germany
| | - Claire Roubaud-Baudron
- University of Bordeaux, CHU de Bordeaux, Pôle de Gérontologie, Place Amélie Raba Léon, 33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Dolores Sánchez-Rodríguez
- Geriatrics Department, Centre Forum, Hospital Del Mar, Parc Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain.,Rehabilitation Research Group, Hospital Del Mar Medical Research Institute, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.,Division of Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Economics, WHO Collaborating Centre for Public Health Aspects of Musculoskeletal Health and Aging, University of Liège, CHU Sart Tilman, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - Jürgen Bauer
- Center for Geriatric Medicine and Network Aging Research, Heidelberg University, Rohrbacher 149, 69126, Heidelberg, Germany.,President of the 2018 EuGMS Congress, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jerzy Gąsowski
- Department of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Śniadeckich 10 Str., 31-531, Kraków, Poland
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Lee AJ. Healthcare professionals must communicate with patients and relatives. They must enable informed, realistic and appropriate decisions in end-of-life pharmacotherapy. Evid Based Nurs 2019; 24:12. [PMID: 31719127 DOI: 10.1136/ebnurs-2019-103179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J Lee
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Hull Faculty of Health and Social Care, Hull, UK
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29
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Zueger PM, Holmes HM, Calip GS, Qato DM, Pickard AS, Lee TA. Older Medicare Beneficiaries Frequently Continue Medications with Limited Benefit Following Hospice Admission. J Gen Intern Med 2019; 34:2029-2037. [PMID: 31346909 PMCID: PMC6816724 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-019-05152-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of medications not relieving symptoms or maximizing quality of life should be minimized following hospice enrollment. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the frequency of and predictive factors for continuation of medications with limited benefit after hospice admission among those admitted for cancer- and non-cancer-related causes. DESIGN Cohort study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare linked database. PATIENTS Medicare Part D-enrolled beneficiaries 66 years and older who were admitted to and died under hospice care between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2013 (N = 70,035). MAIN MEASURES Patients were followed from hospice enrollment through death for Part D dispensing of limited benefit medications (LBMs) they had used in the 6 months prior to hospice admission, including anti-hyperlipidemics, anti-hypertensives, oral anti-diabetics, anti-platelets, anti-dementia medications, anti-osteoporotic medications, and proton pump inhibitors. The proportion of patients continuing an LBM after hospice admission was evaluated. Adjusted relative risks (RRs) were estimated for factors associated with LBM continuation. KEY RESULTS Overall, 29.8% and 30.5% of patients admitted to hospice for a cancer- and non-cancer-related cause, respectively, continued at least one LBM after hospice admission. Anti-dementia medications were continued most frequently (29.3%) while anti-osteoporotic medications were continued least often (14.1%). Compared to home hospice, LBM continuation was greater in hospice patients residing in skilled nursing (RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.20-1.29), non-skilled nursing (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.25-1.32), and assisted living facilities (RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.24-1.32). Patients with hospice stays ≥ 180 days were more likely to continue at least one LBM compared to those with stays of 1 week or less (RR 13.11, 95% CI 12.25-14.02). CONCLUSIONS A substantial proportion of Medicare hospice beneficiaries continued to receive LBMs following hospice enrollment. Providers should evaluate the necessity of continuing non-palliative medications at the end of life through a careful, patient-centric consideration of their potential risks and benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M Zueger
- Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Holly M Holmes
- Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, UTHealth McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gregory S Calip
- Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomic Research, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Epidemiology Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Dima M Qato
- Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomic Research, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - A Simon Pickard
- Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomic Research, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Todd A Lee
- Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomic Research, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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30
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The high burden of disease-oriented drugs among older adults with limited life expectancy raises important questions about the potential futility of care. AIM To describe the use of drugs of questionable clinical benefit during the last 3 months of life of older adults who died from life-limiting conditions. DESIGN Longitudinal, retrospective cohort study of decedents. Death certificate data were linked to administrative and healthcare registries with national coverage in Sweden. SETTING Older adults (≥75 years) who died from conditions potentially amenable to palliative care between 1 January and 31 December 2015 in Sweden. We identified drugs of questionable clinical benefit from a set of consensus-based criteria. RESULTS A total of 58,415 decedents were included (mean age, 87.0 years). During their last 3 months of life, they received on average 8.9 different drugs. Overall, 32.0% of older adults continued and 14.0% initiated at least one drug of questionable clinical benefit (e.g. statins, calcium supplements, vitamin D, bisphosphonates, antidementia drugs). These proportions were highest among younger individuals (i.e. aged 75-84 years), among people who died from organ failure and among those with a large number of coexisting chronic conditions. Excluding people who died from acute and potentially unpredictable fatal events had little influence on the results. CONCLUSION A substantial share of older persons with life-limiting diseases receive drugs of questionable clinical benefit during their last months of life. Adequate training, guidance and resources are needed to rationalize and deprescribe drug treatments for older adults near the end of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Morin
- 1 Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,2 Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonas W Wastesson
- 1 Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,2 Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marie-Laure Laroche
- 3 Centre de pharmacovigilance et de pharmaco-épidémiologie, Department of Pharmacology-Toxicology and Centre of Pharmacovigilance, CHU Limoges, Limoges, France.,4 INSERM 1248, University of Limoges, CHU Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Johan Fastbom
- 1 Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kristina Johnell
- 2 Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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31
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Roux B, Morin L, Papon A, Laroche ML. Prescription and deprescription of medications for older adults receiving palliative care during the last 3 months of life: a single-center retrospective cohort study. Eur Geriatr Med 2019; 10:463-471. [PMID: 34652792 DOI: 10.1007/s41999-019-00175-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Near the end of life, drugs to ensure comfort and improve quality of life should be prioritized, and unnecessary drugs should be avoided. The aim was to assess the evolution and quality of drug therapy throughout the last 3 months of life of older adults in need of palliative care. METHODS A single-center retrospective cohort study included older adults (≥ 65 years) who died in a teaching hospital between 1 January 2014 and 30 June 2014 and had been identified as patients in need of palliative care in their last 3 months of life. Drugs were collected from electronic medical records and defined as 'unnecessary' or 'essential' based on a review of the literature. RESULTS A total of 149 patients were included [age: 82.1 (SD 8.6) years, women: 46.3%]. The mean number of medications varied from 6.7 (SD 3.3) drugs 90 days before death, to 7.5 (SD 4.1) 7 days before death, to 5.6 (SD 3.6) on the day of death. During the final week of life, one additional prescription of essential drugs was observed for 75.2% of patients and 79.3% of patients had at least one unnecessary drug deprescribed. The most prescribed and deprescribed drug classes were, respectively, analgesics (56.4%) and antithrombotic agents (38.2%) during the last week of life. CONCLUSIONS Near the end of life, medication therapy is adapted to the goals of palliative care. However, this only occurs during the last week of life. Earlier transition to palliative care is necessary to avoid exposure to unnecessary drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Roux
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacovigilance, University Hospital of Limoges, 2 avenue Martin Luther King, 87042, Limoges Cedex, France. .,INSERM UMR 1248, University of Limoges, Limoges, France.
| | - Lucas Morin
- Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arnaud Papon
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Hospital of Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Marie-Laure Laroche
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacovigilance, University Hospital of Limoges, 2 avenue Martin Luther King, 87042, Limoges Cedex, France.,INSERM UMR 1248, University of Limoges, Limoges, France
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Delgado-Silveira E, Mateos-Nozal J, Muñoz García M, Rexach Cano L, Vélez-Díaz-Pallarés M, Albeniz López J, Cruz-Jentoft AJ. [Inappropriate drug use in palliative care: SPANISH version of the STOPP-Frail criteria (STOPP-Pal)]. Rev Esp Geriatr Gerontol 2019; 54:151-155. [PMID: 30606497 DOI: 10.1016/j.regg.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Multiple medication and inappropriate drug prescription are prevalent and challenging problems in older patients in end-of-life situations, and increases both preventable adverse events and health care costs. Recent literature recommends de-prescribing some drugs in patients with short life expectancy, when the aim of drug treatments is not prevention or cure, but symptom control. Recently, a list of explicit criteria (STOPP-Frail) intended to guide prescribing physicians in decision making on the use of drugs in older patients with terminal conditions. This article presents a Spanish version of such criteria, which have been named STOPP-Pal to avoid confusion with the current concept of frailty.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jesús Mateos-Nozal
- Servicio de Geriatría (IRYCIS), Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España
| | - Maria Muñoz García
- Servicio de Farmacia, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España
| | - Lourdes Rexach Cano
- Unidad de Cuidados Paliativos, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España
| | | | - Jana Albeniz López
- Servicio de Geriatría (IRYCIS), Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España
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Morin L, Todd A, Barclay S, Wastesson JW, Fastbom J, Johnell K. Preventive drugs in the last year of life of older adults with cancer: Is there room for deprescribing? Cancer 2019; 125:2309-2317. [PMID: 30906987 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.32044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The continuation of preventive drugs among older patients with advanced cancer has come under scrutiny because these drugs are unlikely to achieve their clinical benefit during the patients' remaining lifespan. METHODS A nationwide cohort study of older adults (those aged ≥65 years) with solid tumors who died between 2007 and 2013 was performed in Sweden, using routinely collected data with record linkage. The authors calculated the monthly use and cost of preventive drugs throughout the last year before the patients' death. RESULTS Among 151,201 older persons who died with cancer (mean age, 81.3 years [standard deviation, 8.1 years]), the average number of drugs increased from 6.9 to 10.1 over the course of the last year before death. Preventive drugs frequently were continued until the final month of life, including antihypertensives, platelet aggregation inhibitors, anticoagulants, statins, and oral antidiabetics. Median drug costs amounted to $1482 (interquartile range [IQR], $700-$2896]) per person, including $213 (IQR, $77-$490) for preventive therapies. Compared with older adults who died with lung cancer (median drug cost, $205; IQR, $61-$523), costs for preventive drugs were higher among older adults who died with pancreatic cancer (adjusted median difference, $13; 95% confidence interval, $5-$22) or gynecological cancers (adjusted median difference, $27; 95% confidence interval, $18-$36). There was no decrease noted with regard to the cost of preventive drugs throughout the last year of life. CONCLUSIONS Preventive drugs commonly are prescribed during the last year of life among older adults with cancer, and often are continued until the final weeks before death. Adequate deprescribing strategies are warranted to reduce the burden of drugs with limited clinical benefit near the end of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Morin
- Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Adam Todd
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Barclay
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Johan Fastbom
- Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Zueger PM, Holmes HM, Qato DM, Pickard AS, Calip GS, Lee TA. Use of Nonpalliative Medications Following Burdensome Health Care Transitions in Hospice Patients: A Matched Cohort Analysis. Med Care 2019; 57:13-20. [DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Paque K, Ivanova I, Elseviers M, Stichele RV, Dilles T, Pardon K, Deliens L, Christiaens T. Initiation of advance care planning in newly admitted nursing home residents in Flanders, Belgium: A prospective cohort study. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 19:141-146. [PMID: 30523667 DOI: 10.1111/ggi.13576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
AIM To describe (i) the timing of initiation of advance care planning (ACP) after nursing home admission; (ii) the association of dementia and physical health with ACP initiation; and (iii) if and how analgesic use and use of lipid modifying agents is related to ACP, in a cohort of newly admitted residents. METHODS A prospective, observational cohort study of nursing home residents was carried out. Data were collected 3 months, 15 months (year 1) and 27 months (year 2) after admission, using a structured questionnaire and validated measuring tools. RESULTS ACP was never initiated during the 2-year stay for 38% of the residents, for 22% ACP was initiated at admission, for 21% during year 1 and for 19% during year 2 (n = 323). ACP initiation was strongly associated with dementia, but not with physical health. Residents without dementia were more likely to have ACP initiation at admission or not at all, whereas ACP initiation was postponed for residents with dementia. Between admission and year 2, analgesic use increased (from 34% to 42%), and the use of lipid-modifying agents decreased (from 28% to 21%). Analgesic use increased more in residents with ACP initiation during year 1 and year 2. The use of lipid-modifying agents was not associated with ACP. CONCLUSIONS The timing of ACP initiation differed significantly for residents with and without dementia, which highlights the importance of an early onset of ACP before residents lose their decision-making capacity. ACP conversations might create opportunities to discuss adequate pain and other symptom treatment, and deprescribing at the end of life. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 141-146.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristel Paque
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Heymans Institute of Pharmacology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ivana Ivanova
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Heymans Institute of Pharmacology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Monique Elseviers
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Heymans Institute of Pharmacology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Nursing Science, Center for Research and Innovation in Care (NuPhaC), University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Robert Vander Stichele
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Heymans Institute of Pharmacology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tinne Dilles
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Nursing Science, Center for Research and Innovation in Care (NuPhaC), University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.,Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Thomas More University College, Lier, Belgium
| | - Koen Pardon
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Luc Deliens
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Medical Oncology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thierry Christiaens
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Heymans Institute of Pharmacology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Gutiérrez-Valencia M, Martínez-Velilla N, Vilches-Moraga A. Polypharmacy in older people: time to take action. Eur Geriatr Med 2019; 10:1-3. [PMID: 32720284 DOI: 10.1007/s41999-018-0140-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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