Cross-sectional, case-control and longitudinal associations between exposure to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and the dispensing of antidepressants.

AIM: To determine if the dispensing of glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonists is associated with increased dispensing of antidepressants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used cross-sectional, case-control and retrospective cohort study designs to examine the association between dispensed GLP-1 receptor agonists and antidepressants between 2012 and 2022 in the 10% random sample of the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) data. PBS-listed GLP-1 receptor agonists, exenatide, dulaglutide and semaglutide were the exposures. Outcomes were the odds ratio [ORs; 99% confidence interval (CI)] and hazard ratio (99% CI) of being dispensed any antidepressant. Analyses were adjusted for demographic measures and the dispensing of medicines to manage cardiovascular diseases or anxiety/insomnia. Statistical tests were two-sided at the 1% level of significance. RESULTS: In total, 358 075 of 1 746 391 individuals were dispensed antidepressants, and 8495 of the 24 783 dispensed a GLP-1 receptor agonist were also dispensed an antidepressant in 2022 (OR 1.44; 99% CI 1.38-1.50); 24 103 of the 1 746 391 participants had been dispensed a GLP-1 receptor agonist between 2012 and 2021, and of these 8083 were dispensed antidepressants in 2022 (OR 1.52; 99% CI 1.46-1.59). The 2012 cohort included 1 213 316 individuals who had not been dispensed antidepressants that year. The hazard ratio of being dispensed an antidepressant between 2013 and 2022 following the dispensing of a GLP-1 receptor agonist was 1.19 (99% CI 1.12-1.27). Additional analyses restricting the time of exposure confirmed these associations for all PBS-listed GLP-1 receptor agonists. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals exposed to GLP-1 receptor agonists are at greater risk of being dispensed antidepressants. The possible impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists on the mood of consumers requires ongoing vigilance and further research.

Medicines Regimens Charted for Older People Living in Residential Aged Care: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study Describing the Number of Medicines, Regimen Complexity, High-Risk Prescribing, and Potential Underprescribing.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore medicines regimens charted for older people living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). DESIGN: Repeated cross-sectional study using routinely collected data sampled in a cross-sectional manner at 11 time points (day of admission, then at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 30 days, and 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post admission). SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The cohort is set in 34 RACFs managed by a single Australasian provider. People aged ≥65 years admitted to permanent care between January 1, 2017, and October 1, 2021, with medicines charted on the date of admission. METHODS: Medicines charted were evaluated for potentially suboptimal prescribing including number of medicines, high-risk prescribing (eg, potentially inappropriate medicines, anticholinergic burden), and potential underprescribing. RESULTS: The 3802 residents in the final cohort had a mean age of 84.9 ± 7.2 years at admission. At least 1 example of suboptimal prescribing was identified in 3479 (92%) residents at admission increasing to 1410 (97%) at 24 months. The number of medicines charted for each resident increased over time from 6.0 ± 3.8 regular and 2.8 ± 2.7 as required medicines at admission to 8.9 ± 4.1 regular and 8.1 ± 3.7 as required medicines at 24 months. Anticholinergic drug burden increased from 1.6 ± 2.4 at admission to 3.0 ± 2.8 at 24 months. Half the residents (2173; 57%) used at least 1 potentially inappropriate medicine at admission, which rose to nearly three-quarters (1060; 73%) at 24 months admission. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The total number of medicines charted for older adults living in RACFs increases with length of stay, with charted as required medicines nearly tripling. Effective interventions to optimize medicines use in this vulnerable population are required.

Identifying factors predicting outcomes after major trauma in older patients: Prognostic systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Trauma is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in older people and it is important to determine the predictors of outcomes after major trauma in older people. METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and manual search of relevant papers since 1987 to February 2023 was searched. Random effects meta-analyses were performed. The primary outcome of interest was mortality and secondary outcomes were medical complications, length of stay, discharge destination, readmission, and intensive care requirement. RESULTS: Amongst 6064 studies in the search strategy, 136 studies qualified inclusion criteria. 43 factors, ranging from demographics, patient-factors, admission measurements and injury factors, were identified as potential predictors. Mortality was the commonest outcome investigated and increasing age was associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality (OR 1.05, 95%CI1.03-1.07) along with male gender (OR1.40, 95%CI1.24-1.59). Comorbidities of heart disease (OR 2.59, 95%CI1.41-4.77), renal disease (OR2.52, 95%CI1.79-3.56), respiratory disease (OR1.40. 95%CI 1.09-1.81), diabetes (OR1.35, 95%CI1.03-1.77) and neurological disease (OR 1.42, 95%CI 0.93-2.18) were also associated with increased in-hospital mortality risk. Each point increase in the Glasgow Coma Scale lowered the risk of in-hospital mortality (OR 0.85, 95%CI 0.76-0.95) while each point increase in Injury Severity Score increased the risk of in-hospital mortality (OR 1.07, 95%CI1.04-1.09). There were limited studies and substantial variability in secondary outcome predictors, however, medical comorbidities, frailty, premorbid living condition appeared predictive for those outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This review was able to identify potential predictors for older trauma patients. The identification of these factors allows for future development of risk stratification tools for clinicians. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, Prognostic Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Prevalence of frailty and pain in hospitalised cancer patients: implications for older adult care.

A hospital-wide point prevalence study investigated frailty and pain in patients with a cancer-related admission. Modifiable factors associated with frailty in people with cancer were determined through logistic regression. Forty-eight patients (19%) with cancer-related admissions were 2.65 times more likely to be frail and 2.12 more likely to have moderate pain. Frailty and pain were highly prevalent among cancer-related admissions, reinforcing the need for frailty screening and importance of pain assessment for patients with cancer.

Cost-Consequence Analysis of Deprescribing to Optimize Health Outcomes for Frail Older People: A Within-Trial Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The structured, clinically supervised withdrawal of medicines, known as deprescribing, is one strategy to address inappropriate polypharmacy. This study aimed to evaluate the costs and consequences of deprescribing in frail older people living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) in Australia. DESIGN: A within-trial cost-consequence analysis of a deprescribing intervention-Opti-Med. The Opti-Med double-blind randomized controlled trial of deprescribing included 3 groups: blinded control, blinded intervention, and an open intervention group. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Seventeen RACFs in Western Australia and New South Wales. Participants were 303 older people living in participating RACFs from March 2014 to February 2019. METHODS: Analysis was conducted from the health sector perspective. Health economic outcomes assessed include cost saved from deprescribed medicines and the incremental quality-adjusted life-years. Costs were presented in 2022 Australian dollars. RESULTS: The total cost of the Opti-Med intervention was $239.13 per participant. The costs saved through deprescribed medicines over 12 months after adjusting for mortality within the trial period was $328.90 per participant in the blinded intervention group and $164.00 per participant in the open intervention group. On average, the cost of the intervention was more than offset by the cost saved from deprescribed medicines. Extrapolating these findings to the Australian population suggests a potential net cost saving of about $1 to $16 million per annum for the health system nationally. The incremental quality-adjusted life-years were very similar across the 3 groups within the trial period. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Deprescribing for frail older people living in RACFs can be a cost-saving intervention without reducing the quality of life. Systemwide implementation of deprescribing across RACFs in Australia has the potential to improve health care delivery through the cost savings, which could be reapplied to further optimize care within RACFs.

Dispensing of antineoplastic medications and their impact on the dispensing of anti-dementia drugs for adults aged ≥60 years: A cohort study.

History of cancer has been associated with decreased risk of dementia, but it is unclear if this is due to the use of antineoplastic medications. Participants were 442,795 adults aged ≥60 years, of whom 235,841 (53.26 %) were women. Those dispensed antineoplastic medications during 2012-2013 had lower odds of being dispensed an anti-dementia drug between 2015 and 2021 (age/sex-adjusted OR = 0.60, 95%CI = 0.55-0.66). The dispensing of antineoplastic medications was associated with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.72 (95%CI = 0.65-0.80) of subsequent dispensing of an anti-dementia drug. Understanding the mechanisms that support this association may contribute to the introduction of novel approaches to dementia prevention.

Exposure to low-level ambient air pollution and the relationship with lung and bladder cancer in older men, in Perth, Western Australia.

BACKGROUND: Air pollution is a cause of lung cancer and is associated with bladder cancer. However, the relationship between air pollution and these cancers in regions of low pollution is unclear. We investigated associations between fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, and black carbon (BC), and both these cancers in a low-pollution city. METHODS: A cohort of 11,679 men ≥65 years old in Perth (Western Australia) were followed from 1996-1999 until 2018. Pollutant concentrations, as a time-varying variable, were estimated at participants' residential addresses using land use regression models. Incident lung and bladder cancer were identified through the Western Australian Cancer Registry. Risks were estimated using Cox proportional-hazard models (age as the timescale), adjusting for smoking, socioeconomic status, and co-pollutants. RESULTS: Lung cancer was associated with PM2.5 and BC in the adjusted single-pollutant models. A weak positive association was observed between ambient air pollution and squamous cell lung carcinoma but not lung adenocarcinoma. Positive associations were observed with bladder cancer, although these were not statistically significant. Associations were attenuated in two-pollutant models. CONCLUSION: Low-level ambient air pollution is associated with lung, and possibly bladder, cancer among older men, suggesting there is no known safe level for air pollution as a carcinogen.

Theoretical Underpinnings of a Model to Reduce Polypharmacy and Its Negative Health Effects: Introducing the Team Approach to Polypharmacy Evaluation and Reduction (TAPER).

BACKGROUND: Polypharmacy, particularly among older adults, is gaining recognition as an important risk to health. The harmful effects on health arise from disease-drug and drug-drug interactions, the cumulative burden of side effects from multiple medications and the burden to the patient. Single-disease clinical guidelines fail to consider the complex reality of optimising treatments for patients with multiple morbidities and medications. Efforts have been made to develop and implement interventions to reduce the risk of harmful effects, with some promising results. However, the theoretical basis (or pre-clinical work) that informed the development of these efforts, although likely undertaken, is unclear, difficult to find or inadequately described in publications. It is critical in interpreting effects and achieving effectiveness to understand the theoretical basis for such interventions. OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to outline the theoretical underpinnings of the development of a new polypharmacy intervention: the Team Approach to Polypharmacy Evaluation and Reduction (TAPER). METHODS: We examined deprescribing barriers at patient, provider, and system levels and mapped them to the chronic care model to understand the behavioural change requirements for a model to address polypharmacy. RESULTS: Using the chronic care model framework for understanding the barriers, we developed a model for addressing polypharmacy. CONCLUSIONS: We discuss how TAPER maps to address the specific patient-level, provider-level, and system-level barriers to deprescribing and aligns with three commonly used models and frameworks in medicine (the chronic care model, minimally disruptive medicine, the cumulative complexity model). We also describe how TAPER maps onto primary care principles, ultimately providing a description of the development of TAPER and a conceptualisation of the potential mechanisms by which TAPER reduces polypharmacy and its associated harms.

Deprescribing to optimise health outcomes for frail older people: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomised controlled trial-outcomes of the Opti-med study.

BACKGROUND: potentially harmful polypharmacy is very common in older people living in aged care facilities. To date, there have been no double-blind randomised controlled studies of deprescribing multiple medications. METHODS: three-arm (open intervention, blinded intervention and blinded control) randomised controlled trial enrolling people aged over 65 years (n = 303, noting pre-specified recruitment target of n = 954) living in residential aged care facilities. The blinded groups had medications targeted for deprescribing encapsulated while the medicines were deprescribed (blind intervention) or continued (blind control). A third open intervention arm had unblinded deprescribing of targeted medications. RESULTS: participants were 76% female with mean age 85.0 ± 7.5 years. Deprescribing was associated with a significant reduction in the total number of medicines used per participant over 12 months in both intervention groups (blind intervention group -2.7 medicines, 95% CI -3.5, -1.9, and open intervention group -2.3 medicines; 95% CI -3.1, -1.4) compared with the control group (-0.3, 95% CI -1.0, 0.4, P = 0.053). Deprescribing regular medicines was not associated with any significant increase in the number of 'when required' medicines administered. There were no significant differences in mortality in the blind intervention group (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.50, 1.73, P = 0.83) or the open intervention group (HR 1.47, 95% CI 0.83, 2.61, P = 0.19) compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: deprescribing of two to three medicines per person was achieved with protocol-based deprescribing during this study. Pre-specified recruitment targets were not met, so the impact of deprescribing on survival and other clinical outcomes remains uncertain.

Deprescribing considerations for older people in general practice.

BACKGROUND: Deprescribing is an integral part of patient care. The term 'deprescribing' may be new to some, but the concept is not. Deprescribing refers to the planned withdrawal of medicines that are causing harm or not helping an individual. OBJECTIVE: This article collates the latest evidence on deprescribing to guide general practitioners (GPs) and nurse practitioners on how to deprescribe for their elderly patients. DISCUSSION: Deprescribing is a safe and effective method of reducing polypharmacy and high-risk prescribing. The challenge for GPs in deprescribing medicines for older people is to avoid adverse drug withdrawal events. Strategies to deprescribe confidently in partnership with patients include incorporating a 'stop slow, go low' approach and careful consideration of the medicine withdrawal plan.

Is incident cancer in later life associated with lower incidence of dementia?

Cancer has been associated with lower risk of dementia, although methodological issues raise concerns about the validity of this association. We recruited 31,080 men aged 65-85 years who were free of cancer and dementia, and followed them for up to 22 years. We used health record linkage to identify incident cases of cancer and dementia, and split time span to investigate this association. 18,693 (60.1%) and 6897 (22.2%) participants developed cancer and dementia during follow-up. The hazard ratio (HR) of dementia associated with cancer was 1.13 (95% CI = 1.07, 1.20) and dropped to 0.85 (95% CI = 0.80, 0.91) when 449 participants who developed dementia within 2 years were excluded. The diagnosis of cancer seems to facilitate the early detection of dementia cases. Older participants who survive cancer for 2 or more years have lower risk of receiving the diagnosis of dementia over time. The factors that mediate this association remain unclear.

Deprescribing for older people living in residential aged care facilities: Pharmacist recommendations, doctor acceptance and implementation.

BACKGROUND: Deprescribing is an intervention to address the high prevalence of inappropriate polypharmacy in older people living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Many deprescribing interventions are complex and involve several stages including initial pharmacist recommendation, subsequent acceptance of the recommendations by a prescriber and the patient, and then actual implementation. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate pharmacist deprescribing recommendations for residents within RACFs, general practitioner (GP) acceptance, and the actual implementation of the accepted recommendations at 12-month. METHODS: The intervention occurred as part of a randomised controlled trial and comprised a pharmacist-led medication review using an evidence-based algorithm, with the focus on identifying medications to potentially deprescribe. Consent to participate was obtained from residents (or surrogate decision-makers), RACF nursing staff and the resident's GP. Deprescribing recommendations were reviewed by GPs before implementation as part of the intervention and control arms of the trial, although control group participants continued to receive their usual medications in a blinded manner. RESULTS: There were 303 participants enrolled in the study, and 77% (941/1222) of deprescribing recommendations suggested by the pharmacists were accepted by GPs. Of the recommendations accepted by GPs, 74% (692/ 941) were successfully implemented at the end of the follow-up visit at 12 months. The most common reason for deprescribing was because medications were no longer needed (42%, 513/ 1231). CONCLUSION: Pharmacist-led deprescribing recommendations arising from an algorithm-based medication review are acceptable to doctors and can have a significant impact on reducing the number of inappropriate medications consumed by older people in RACFs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12613001204730.

Polypharmacy and medicine regimens in older adults in residential aged care.

OBJECTIVE: To describe medicines regimens used by older people living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study presents baseline data from a randomised controlled trial in seventeen Australian RACFs that recruited residents aged 65 years and older at the participating facilities. The main outcome measures were to evaluation of medicines utilisation, including the number of medicines, medicine regimen complexity, potential under-prescribing and high-risk prescribing (prescribing cascades, anticholinergic or sedative medicines or other potentially inappropriate medicines) with data analysed descriptively. RESULTS: Medicines regimens were analysed for 303 residents (76% female) with a mean age of 85.0 ± 7.5 years, of whom the majority were living with dementia (72%). Residents were prescribed an average of 10.3 ± 4.5 regular medicines daily. Most participants (85%) had highly complex regimens. Most residents (92%) were exposed to polypharmacy (five or more medicines). Nearly all, 302 (98%) residents had at least one marker of potentially suboptimal prescribing. At least one instance of potential under-prescribing was identified in 86% of residents. At least one instance of high-risk prescribing was identified in 81% of residents including 16% of participants with at least one potential prescribing cascade. CONCLUSION(S): Potentially suboptimal prescribing affected almost all residents in this study, and most had highly complex medicines regimens. If generalisable, these findings indicate most older people in RACFs may be at risk of medicines-related harm from suboptimal prescribing, in addition to the burden of administration of complex medicines regimens for facility staff and residents.

Ambient air pollution and risk of incident dementia in older men living in a region with relatively low concentrations of pollutants: The Health in Men Study.

BACKGROUND: In areas with moderate to severe air pollution, pollutant concentrations are associated with dementia risk. It is unclear whether the same relationship is present in regions with lower ambient air pollution. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether exposure to air pollution is associated with risk of incident dementia in general, and Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia in particular, in older men living in a relatively low ambient air pollution region. METHODS: The cohort comprised 11,243 men residing in Perth, Australia. Participants were aged ≥65 years and free of a dementia diagnosis at time of recruitment in 1996-1999. Incident dementia was identified from recruitment to 2018 via ICD diagnosis codes and subsequent study waves. Concentrations for three air pollutants, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), fine particulate matter less than 2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5), and black carbon (BC) were estimated at participants' home addresses using land-use regression models. We used Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusting for smoking status, physical activity, BMI, education, and socio-economic status. RESULTS: Of 3053 (27.2%) incident cases of dementia, 1670 (54.7%) and 355 (11.6%) had documented Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. The average concentration of NO2 was 13.5 (SD 4.4) µg/m3, of PM2.5 was 4.54 (SD 1.6) µg/m3 and of BC was 0.97 (SD 0.29) ×10-5 m-1. None of the air pollutants were associated with incident dementia or Alzheimer's disease. In the unadjusted model, increased exposure to PM2.5 was associated with an increased risk of vascular dementia (for a 5 µg/m3 increase: HR 1.62, 95% CI 1.13, 2.31). However, this association was attenuated following adjustment for confounders (HR 1.39, 95% CI 0.93, 2.08). NO2 and BC were not associated with vascular dementia incidence. DISCUSSION: Exposure to air pollution is not associated with increased risk of incident dementia in older men living in a region with relatively low ambient air pollution.

The patterns and implications of potentially suboptimal medicine regimens among older adults: a narrative review.

In the context of an ageing population, the burden of disease and medicine use is also expected to increase. As such, medicine safety and preventing avoidable medicine-related harm are major public health concerns, requiring further research. Potentially suboptimal medicine regimens is an umbrella term that captures a range of indicators that may increase the risk of medicine-related harm, including polypharmacy, underprescribing and high-risk prescribing, such as prescribing potentially inappropriate medicines. This narrative review aims to provide a background and broad overview of the patterns and implications of potentially suboptimal medicine regimens among older adults. Original research published between 1990 and 2021 was searched for in MEDLINE, using key search terms including polypharmacy, inappropriate prescribing, potentially inappropriate medication lists, medication errors, drug interactions and drug prescriptions, along with manual checking of reference lists. The review summarizes the prevalence, risk factors and clinical outcomes of polypharmacy, underprescribing and potentially inappropriate medicines. A synthesis of the evidence regarding the longitudinal patterns of polypharmacy is also provided. With an overview of the existing literature, we highlight a number of key gaps in the literature. Directions for future research may include a longitudinal investigation into the risk factors and outcomes of extended polypharmacy, research focusing on the patterns and implications of underprescribing and studies that evaluate the applicability of tools measuring potentially inappropriate medicines to study settings. Plain Language Summary: A review on potentially inappropriate medicine regimens Medicine use in older age is common. Older adults with more than one chronic condition are likely to use multiple medicines to manage their health. However, there are times when taking multiple medicines may be unsafe and the number of medicines, or the combination of medicines used, may increase the risk of poor health outcomes. The term medicine regimens is used to describe all the medicines an individual takes. There are several ways to measure when a medicine regimen may be inappropriate and, therefore, potentially harmful. Much research has been published looking into potentially inappropriate medicine regimens. To bring together the current research, this review provides a background on the different measures of potentially inappropriate medicine regimens. It also summarizes how many people may experience potentially inappropriate medicine regimens, the impact it is having on their health and who may be at greater risk. In doing so, we found a number of gaps in the existing evidence, indicating that our understanding of potentially inappropriate medicine regimens is incomplete. This review highlights gaps in knowledge that can be addressed by future research. With an improved understanding of potentially inappropriate medicine regimens, we may be able to better identify those at greater risk to prevent or minimize the impact of poorer health outcomes related to unsafe medicine use.

Developing PHarmacie-R: A bedside risk prediction tool with a medicines management focus to identify risk of hospital readmission.

BACKGROUND: The imperative to identify patients at risk of medication-related harm has never been greater. Hospital clinicians cannot easily predict risk of readmission or harm. Candidate variables associated with medication-related harm derived from the literature or significantly represented in a complex patient cohort have been previously described by PHarmacie-4. With a focus on polypharmacy and high-risk medicines in vulnerable patient cohorts, PHarmacie-4 was easy to use and highlighted risks. However it over-estimated risk, reducing its usefulness in stratifying risk of readmission. OBJECTIVE: Develop a risk prediction tool built into a smart phone app, enabling clinicians to identify and refer high-risk patients for an early post-discharge medicines review. Demonstrate usability, real world application and validity in an independent dataset. METHODS: A retrospective, observational study was conducted with 1201 randomly selected patients admitted to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital between June 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016. Patient characteristics and outcomes of interest were reported, including unplanned hospital utilisation at 30, 60 and 90 days post-discharge. Using multivariable logistic regression modelling, an algorithm was developed, built into a smart phone app and used and validated in an independent dataset. RESULTS: 738 patients (61%) were included in the derivation sample. The best predictive performance was achieved by PHarmacie-R (C-statistic 0.72, 95% CI 0.68-0.75) which included PHarmacie-4 risk variables, a non-linear effect of age, unplanned hospital utilisation in the preceding six months and gender. The independent validation dataset had a C-statistic of 0.64 (95% CI 0.56-0.72). CONCLUSION: PHarmacie-R is the first readmission risk prediction tool, built into a smart phone app, focussing on polypharmacy and high-risk medicines in vulnerable patients. It can assist clinical pharmacists to identify medical inpatients who may benefit from early post-discharge medication management services. External validation is needed to enable application in other clinical settings.

Incidence and Associated Risk Factors for Falls in Older Adults After Elective Total Knee Replacement Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and associated risk factors for falls in older adults in the 12 mos after elective, primary total knee replacement surgery. DESIGN: A prospective observational cohort of older adults undergoing total knee replacement were followed. Baseline measurements included risk factors of history of falls, using a gait aid and number of medications. Falls data were recorded after discharge for 12 mos alongside patient reported outcomes (Oxford Knee Score). Analyses used logistic and negative binomial regression modeling. RESULTS: There were 267 participants (mean age = 70 [6.7] yrs) enrolled. Participants who fell (n = 102 [40.6%]) reported 200 falls in the 12 mos after surgery. The incidence of falls was 2.4 falls per 1000 patient days in the 12 mos after surgery, with the highest incidence (2.6 falls per 1000 patient days) in month 1. Risk factors for falling were a history of falls (adjusted odds ratio = 2.41, 95% confidence interval = 1.35-4.31) and number of central nervous system acting medications taken before surgery (adjusted odds ratio = 1.66, 95% confidence interval = 1.25-2.21). Using a walking aid at baseline was associated with falls after discharge (adjusted incident rate ratio = 2.38, 95% confidence interval = 1.57-3.60). CONCLUSIONS: Older adults experience a high incidence of falls after elective total knee replacement. Further research that investigates falls prevention after total knee replacement is required.

Attitudes to Drug Use in Residential Aged Care Facilities: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Nurses and Care Staff.

BACKGROUND: Residential aged care facility (RACF) staff are well placed to identify opportunities for more appropriate prescribing. However, little is known about their views of polypharmacy, deprescribing and specific medications. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to establish the beliefs and attitudes of RACF staff towards polypharmacy and medication use in residents. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on RACF staff in metropolitan New South Wales, Australia using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was drafted based on the available literature and research team expertise and then piloted by a mixed group of 13 RACF staff. The final version of the questionnaire consisted of 28 questions. A total of 38 RACFs were contacted about the study. The questionnaire was distributed to eligible RACF staff between October 2017 and October 2019. The RACF staff were eligible if they provided direct patient care to residents or worked as a facility manager. Participants were excluded if they had insufficient English language skills. The results were presented in two groups, the nursing and care staff, using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 176 individuals from nine RACFs completed the questionnaire of whom 160 were eligible for study inclusion. Most considered polypharmacy to be five or more different tablets and capsules per day (95% nursing and 82% care staff respectively). A wide range of beliefs about medication use and deprescribing that centred on what constitutes appropriate polypharmacy was identified. Most thought that preventive medications were essential for residents. Most nurses agreed that sleeping tablets and pharmacological management of verbal aggression and wandering behaviours should be used less frequently whilst most care staff agreed that medications should be used more frequently to manage physical aggression. CONCLUSIONS: To successfully and sustainably optimise medication use in RACF residents, it is important to consider the variation in views of nurses and care staff.

Prevalence of frailty and pain in hospitalised adult patients in an acute hospital: a protocol for a point prevalence observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Frailty and pain are associated with adverse patient clinical outcomes and healthcare system costs. Frailty and pain can interact, such that symptoms of frailty can make pain assessment difficult and pain can exacerbate the progression of frailty. The prevalence of frailty and pain and their concurrence in hospital settings are not well understood, and patients with cognitive impairment are often excluded from pain prevalence studies due to difficulties assessing their pain. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of frailty and pain in adult inpatients, including those with cognitive impairment, in an acute care private metropolitan hospital in Western Australia. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A prospective, observational, single-day point prevalence, cross-sectional study of frailty and pain intensity of all inpatients (excluding day surgery and critical care units) will be undertaken. Frailty will be assessed using the modified Reported Edmonton Frail Scale. Current pain intensity will be assessed using the PainChek smart-device application enabling pain assessment in people unable to report pain due to cognitive impairment. Participants will also provide a numerical rating of the intensity of current pain and the worst pain experienced in the previous 24 hours. Demographic and clinical information will be collected from patient files. The overall response rate of the survey will be reported, as well as the percentage prevalence of frailty and of pain in the sample (separately for PainChek scores and numerical ratings). Additional statistical modelling will be conducted comparing frailty scores with pain scores, adjusting for covariates including age, gender, ward type and reason for admission. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been granted by Ramsay Health Care Human Research Ethics Committee WA/SA (reference: 2038) and Edith Cowan University Human Research Ethics Committee (reference: 2020-02008-SAUNDERS). Findings will be widely disseminated through conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications and social media. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12620000904976.

Incidence and Associated Risk Factors for Falls in Older Adults Postdischarge Who Undergo Elective Total Hip Replacement Surgery-A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Hip replacement surgery improves health-related quality of life; however, it has been suggested that falls rates increase after hospital discharge. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and associated risk factors for falls in older adults in the 12 months after undergoing elective total hip replacement surgery. METHODS: A prospective observational cohort study was conducted. Participants were adults aged 60 years or older who underwent primary elective total hip replacement surgery in a private tertiary hospital in Perth, Australia. Baseline data collected immediately prior to discharge included use of walking aids, medications, and functional level of independence (using Katz and Lawton scales). Falls data were collected for 12 months using calendars and monthly phone calls. Data were analyzed using logistic and negative binomial regression modeling. RESULTS: Participants' ([n = 167], 54.4% female) mean age was 71.2 (±6.9) years. There were 51 (31%) participants who used a walking aid prior to surgery. There were 140 falls reported over 12 months by 67 (42%) participants, of which 90 (64.3%) were injurious (n = 9 fractures). The fall rate was 2.6 per 1000 patient-days. Age (adjusted odds ratio 1.10, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.20) and hospital length of stay (adjusted odds ratio 1.24, 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.54).were significantly associated with sustaining multiple falls. CONCLUSIONS: More than 40% of older adults fell in the 12 months after elective hip replacement surgery although the cohort had low fall risk prior to surgery. Rehabilitation after hip replacement surgery should consider fall prevention.