Document Detail


Quality use of medicines and health outcomes among a cohort of community dwelling older men: an observational study.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21395652     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
AIM: To determine the prevalence of potentially suboptimal medication use and association with adverse outcomes.
METHODS: A prospective, observational cohort study of 4260 community-dwelling older men from Perth, Western Australia (mean age of 77 ± 3.6 years) was conducted. Follow-up was for 4.5 years (or until death, if sooner). Cox proportional hazard models were used to explore associations between suboptimal medication use and prospective clinical outcomes. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore predictors of a fall in the previous 12 months.
RESULTS: Use of potentially inappropriate medicines (48.7%), polypharmacy (≥5 medications, 35.8%) and potential under-utilization (56.7%) were highly prevalent, and overall 82.3% of participants reported some form of potentially suboptimal medication use. A self-reported history of falls in the previous 12 months was independently associated with the number of medicines taken (odds ratio [OR]= 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02, 1.09) and use of one or more potentially inappropriate medicines (OR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.04, 1.45). After adjusting for age, co-morbidity, smoking status, body mass index, hypertension and educational attainment, the number of medicines reported was associated with admission to hospital (hazard ratio [HR]= 1.04, 95% CI 1.03, 1.06), cardiovascular events (HR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.06, 1.12) and all cause mortality (HR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.00, 1.07). Use of one or more potentially inappropriate medicines was associated with admission to hospital (HR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.08, 1.24). Potential under-utilization was associated with cardiovascular events (HR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.03, 1.40).
CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that both medication over-use and under-use occur frequently among older men and may be harmful.
Authors:
Christopher Beer; Zoë Hyde; Osvaldo P Almeida; Paul Norman; Graeme J Hankey; Bu B Yeap; Leon Flicker
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  British journal of clinical pharmacology     Volume:  71     ISSN:  1365-2125     ISO Abbreviation:  Br J Clin Pharmacol     Publication Date:  2011 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-03-14     Completed Date:  2011-06-21     Revised Date:  2012-04-02    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7503323     Medline TA:  Br J Clin Pharmacol     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  592-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
© 2011 The Authors. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology © 2011 The British Pharmacological Society.
Affiliation:
Western Australian Centre for Health and Ageing, Centre for Medical Research, Western Australian Institute for Medical Research, Perth, WA, Australia. cdbeer@graduate.uwa.edu.au
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Accidental Falls / mortality,  statistics & numerical data*
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Attitude to Health
Cardiovascular Diseases / complications,  drug therapy*,  mortality
Cohort Studies
Geriatrics
Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data*
Humans
Male
Medication Errors*
Nonprescription Drugs / adverse effects*
Polypharmacy*
Prescription Drugs / adverse effects*
Proportional Hazards Models
Prospective Studies
Quality of Life
Risk Factors
Western Australia
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Nonprescription Drugs; 0/Prescription Drugs

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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