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Thompson W, McDonald EG. Polypharmacy and Deprescribing in Older Adults. Annu Rev Med 2024; 75:113-127. [PMID: 37729029 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-med-070822-101947] [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] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Older adults commonly end up on many medications. Deprescribing is an important part of individualizing care for older adults. It is an opportunity to discuss treatment options and revisit medications that may not have been reassessed in many years. A large evidence base exists in the field, suggesting that deprescribing is feasible and safe, though questions remain about the potential clinical benefits. Deprescribing research faces a myriad of challenges, such as identifying and employing the optimal outcome measures. Further, there is uncertainty about which deprescribing approaches are likely to be most effective and in what contexts. Evidence on barriers and facilitators to deprescribing has underscored how deprescribing in routine clinical practice can be complex and challenging. Thus, finding practical, sustainable ways to implement deprescribing is a priority for future research in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wade Thompson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada;
- Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Emily G McDonald
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada;
- Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Clinical Practice Assessment Unit, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Shantsila E, Lip GYH, Shantsila A, Kurpas D, Beevers G, Gill PS, Williams NH. Antihypertensive treatment in people of very old age with frailty: time for a paradigm shift? J Hypertens 2023; 41:1502-1510. [PMID: 37432893 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000003495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
The optimal management of hypertension in individuals aged 80 years or older with frailty remains uncertain due to multiple gaps in evidence. Complex health issues, polypharmacy, and limited physiological reserve make responding to antihypertensive treatments unpredictable. Patients in this age group may have limited life expectancy, so their quality of life should be prioritized when making treatment decisions. Further research is needed to identify which patients would benefit from more relaxed blood pressure targets and which antihypertensive medications are preferable or should be avoided. A paradigm shift is required in attitudes towards treatment, placing equal emphasis on deprescribing and prescribing when optimizing care. This review discusses the current evidence on managing hypertension in individuals aged 80 years or older with frailty, but further research is essential to address the gaps in knowledge and improve the care of this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduard Shantsila
- Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool, UK
| | - Gregory Y H Lip
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool, UK
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Denmark
| | - Alena Shantsila
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool, UK
| | - Donata Kurpas
- Health Sciences Faculty, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
- Primary Care and Risk Factor Management Section, European Association of Preventative Cardiology, European Heart House, Les Templiers, Sophia Antipolis
- International Advisory Board of EURIPA (WONCA) - France
- International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC), Schiphol Airport, The Netherlands
| | - Gareth Beevers
- University of Birmingham, Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham
| | - Paramjit S Gill
- Academic Unit of Primary Care Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick Coventry, UK
| | - Nefyn H Williams
- Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool
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Welsh TJ, Mitchell A. Centrally acting antihypertensives and alpha-blockers in people at risk of falls: therapeutic dilemmas-a clinical review. Eur Geriatr Med 2023; 14:675-682. [PMID: 37436689 PMCID: PMC10447259 DOI: 10.1007/s41999-023-00813-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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this clinical review was to summarise the existing knowledge on the adverse effects of alpha-blockers and centrally acting antihypertensives, the effect these may have on falls risk, and guide deprescribing of these medications. METHODS Literature searches were conducted using PubMed and Embase. Additional articles were identified by searching reference lists and reference to personal libraries. We discuss the place of alpha-blockers and centrally acting antihypertensives in the treatment of hypertension and methods for deprescribing. RESULTS Alpha-blockers and centrally acting antihypertensives are no longer recommended for the treatment of hypertension unless all other agents are contraindicated or not tolerated. These medications carry a significant falls risk and non-falls risk-associated side effects. Tools to aid and guide de-prescribing and monitoring of the withdrawal of these medication classes are available to assist the clinician including information on reducing the risk of withdrawal syndromes. CONCLUSIONS Centrally acting antihypertensives and alpha-blockers increase the risk of falls through a variety of mechanisms-principally by increasing the risk of hypotension, orthostatic hypotension, arrhythmias and sedation. These agents should be prioritised for de-prescribing in older frailer individuals. We identify a number of tools and a withdrawal protocol to aid the clinician in identifying and de-prescribing these medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J Welsh
- University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- RICE-The Research Institute for the Care of Older People, The RICE Centre, Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, UK
| | - A Mitchell
- RICE-The Research Institute for the Care of Older People, The RICE Centre, Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK.
- Pharmacy Department, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Plymouth, UK.
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
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Acosta Benito MÁ, García Pliego RA, Baena Díez JM, Gorroñogoitia Iturbe A, Herreros Herreros Y, De Hoyos Alonso MDC, Magán Tapia P, Martin Lesende I. [PAPPS update on older people 2022]. Aten Primaria 2022; 54 Suppl 1:102438. [PMID: 36435582 PMCID: PMC9705221 DOI: 10.1016/j.aprim.2022.102438] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
This article examines the latest available evidence on preventive activities in the elderly, including sleep disorders, physical exercise, deprescription, cognitive disorders and dementias, nutrition, social isolation and frailty.
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García Pliego RA, Baena Díez JM, Herreros Herreros Y, Acosta Benito MÁ. [Deprescription in old people: It's time to take action]. Aten Primaria 2022; 54:102367. [PMID: 35653980 DOI: 10.1016/j.aprim.2022.102367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
El uso de fármacos conlleva innegables beneficios en las personas mayores, pero no está exento de efectos indeseables. La deprescripción es el proceso de revisión sistemática de la medicación con el objetivo de lograr la mejor relación riesgo-beneficio en base a la mejor evidencia disponible. Este proceso es especialmente importante en mayores polimedicados, sobretratados, frágiles, con enfermedades terminales y en el final de la vida. La deprescripción debe hacerse de forma escalonada, estableciendo un seguimiento estrecho por si aparecen problemas tras la retirada. En la toma de decisiones es muy importante contar con la opinión del paciente y de los cuidadores, valorando los objetivos del tratamiento según la situación clínica, funcional y social del enfermo. Existen múltiples herramientas para facilitar a los clínicos la tarea de seleccionar qué fármacos deprescribir (criterios Beers, STOPP-START…). Los grupos farmacológicos más susceptibles de intervención son: antihipertensivos, antidiabéticos, estatinas, benzodiacepinas, antidepresivos, anticolinérgicos, anticolinesterásicos y neurolépticos.
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Zazzara MB, Cangini A, Da Cas R, Ippoliti I, Marengoni A, Pierantozzi A, Poluzzi E, Zito S, Onder G. Medication Use and Costs Among Older Adults Aged 90 Years and Older in Italy. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:818875. [PMID: 35370651 PMCID: PMC8971522 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.818875] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Older adults are often affected by multiple chronic conditions and experience geriatric syndromes that may affect the risk/benefit profile of medications. Little is known about the use of such medications in the older population. This article describes medication use and costs in Italian adults aged ≥90 years. Data from the 2019 Pharmaceutical Prescriptions database, concerning data on medications reimbursed by the Italian National Health Service, were analyzed in terms of prevalence and amount of use expressed as defined daily dose/1,000 users (DDD/1,000 users/day), accounting for different age-groups and sex. All individuals aged ≥90 years used at least one medication, with a mean number of 3128 DDD/1,000 users/day corresponding to an annual cost of 683 euros per user. Both use and costs linearly decreased with increasing age, with men accounting for a higher amount of DDD/1,000 users and costs than women across all age-groups. Antihypertensives (1330 DDD/1,000 inhabitants), antiplatelet agents (337 DDD/1,000 inhabitants), medications for peptic ulcer and gastroesophageal reflux (328 DDD/1,000 inhabitants), and lipid-lowering agents (166 DDD/1,000 inhabitants) were the most frequently used medications. We observed a progressive decrease in the usage of the majority of medications with increasing age, with the exception of antibiotics and antipsychotics. Individuals aged ≥90 years used a lower DDD/1,000 users, with an associated decrease in annual costs. The persistent use of preventive medications highlights the potential lack of awareness regarding medication rationalization and guidance for optimizing prescriptions. Our findings highlight the need for further initiatives to improve medications’ appropriateness in these older age-groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Beatrice Zazzara
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Maria Beatrice Zazzara,
| | | | - Roberto Da Cas
- Pharmacoepidemiology Unit, National Centre for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Ippoliti
- Pharmacoepidemiology Unit, National Centre for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Marengoni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Elisabetta Poluzzi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Graziano Onder
- Department of Cardiovascular and Endocrine-Metabolic Diseases and Aging, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Bryniarski P, Nazimek K, Marcinkiewicz J. Immunomodulatory properties of antihypertensive drugs and digitalis glycosides. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther 2022; 20:111-121. [PMID: 35130796 DOI: 10.1080/14779072.2022.2039627] [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: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The role of chronic inflammatory process in the pathogenesis or exacerbation of hypertension has been already acknowledged. AREAS COVERED Therefore, one can speculate that hypotensive drugs may exert some of their therapeutic effects due to immunomodulatory properties. So far, this assumption has been tested in different studies, and the resulting knowledge is summarized in the current review article that is dedicated to different groups of antihypertensives, namely calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, as well as other less commonly used medications, such as hydralazine, agonists of alfa-2 receptor, diazoxide, doxazosin, aliskiren, and sodium nitroprusside. Articles were found in the Pubmed database by entering the name of a specific drug (or group of drugs) together with the words: immunology, cellular response, humoral response, inflammation, interleukin. The 2000-2021 range was used to search for all drugs except propranolol (1980-2021) and calcium blockers (1990-2021). EXPERT OPINION Observed decrease in serum/plasma concentration of proinflammatory cytokines, and CRP along with lower expression of adhesion molecules on immune cells strongly suggest that these drugs possess immunomodulatory properties, which seems to be crucial in the medical practice, especially in the therapy of hypertensive patients with other accompanying inflammatory-based diseases, such as type II diabetes, developed metabolic syndrome, allergies or autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Bryniarski
- Department of Immunology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków Medical College Ringgold standard institution, Krakow, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Nazimek
- Department of Immunology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków Medical College Ringgold standard institution, Krakow, Poland
| | - Janusz Marcinkiewicz
- Department of Immunology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków Medical College Ringgold standard institution, Krakow, Poland
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