Current and Future Cost Burden of Ischemic Stroke in Australia: Dynamic Model.

BACKGROUND: Stroke remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Australia. The objective of this study was to estimate the current and future cost burden of ischemic stroke (IS) in Australia. METHOD: First, chronic management costs following IS were derived for all people aged ≥ 30 years discharged from a public or private hospital in Victoria, Australia between July 2012 and June 2017 (n = 34 471). These costs were then used to project total costs following IS (combination of acute event and chronic management cost) over a 20-year period (2019-2038) for people aged between 30 and 99 years in Australia using a dynamic multistate lifetable model. Data for the dynamic model were sourced from the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset (VAED) and supplemented with other published data. RESULT: The estimated annual total chronic management cost following IS was 13 525 Australian dollars (AUD) per person (95%CI: AUD 13 380, AUD 13 670) for cohorts in the VAED between July 2012 and June 2017. The annual chronic management cost was estimated to decline following IS. The highest cost was incurred in the first year of follow-up post-IS (AUD 14 309 per person) and declined to AUD 9 776 in the sixth year of follow-up post-IS. The total healthcare cost for people aged 30-99 years was projected to be AUD 47.7 billion (95% UI: AUD 44.6 billion, AUD 51.0 billion) over the 20-year period (2019-2038) Australia-wide, of which 91.3% (AUD 43.6 billion) was attributed to chronic management costs and the remaining 8.7% (AUD 4.2 billion) were due to acute IS events. CONCLUSION: IS has and will continue to have a considerable financial impact in the next two decades on the Australian healthcare system. Our estimated and projected cost burden following IS provides important information for decision making in relation to IS.

Cross-Regional Data Initiative for the Assessment and Development of Treatment for Neurological and Mental Disorders.

Purpose: To describe and categorize detailed components of databases in the Neurological and Mental Health Global Epidemiology Network (NeuroGEN). Methods: An online 132-item questionnaire was sent to key researchers and data custodians of NeuroGEN in North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. From the responses, we assessed data characteristics including population coverage, data follow-up, clinical information, validity of diagnoses, medication use and data latency. We also evaluated the possibility of conversion into a common data model (CDM) to implement a federated network approach. Moreover, we used radar charts to visualize the data capacity assessments, based on different perspectives. Results: The results indicated that the 15 databases covered approximately 320 million individuals, included in 7 nationwide claims databases from Australia, Finland, South Korea, Taiwan and the US, 6 population-based electronic health record databases from Hong Kong, Scotland, Taiwan, the Netherlands and the UK, and 2 biomedical databases from Taiwan and the UK. Conclusion: The 15 databases showed good potential for a federated network approach using a common data model. Our study provided publicly accessible information on these databases for those seeking to employ real-world data to facilitate current assessment and future development of treatments for neurological and mental disorders.

Cohort profile: Using primary care data to understand Opioid Prescribing, Policy Impacts and Clinical Outcomes (OPPICO) in Victoria, Australia.

PURPOSE: The OPPICO cohort is a population-based cohort based on non-identifiable electronic health records routinely collected from 464 general practices in Victoria, Australia, created with the aim of understanding opioid prescribing, policy impacts and clinical outcomes. The aim of this paper is to provide a profile of the study cohort by summarising available demographic, clinical and prescribing characteristics. PARTICIPANTS: The cohort described in this paper comprises people who were aged at least 14 years at cohort entry, and who were prescribed an opioid analgesic at least once at participating practices for a total of 1 137 728 person-years from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2020. The cohort was formed using the data collected from electronic health records through the Population Level Analysis and Reporting (POLAR) system. The POLAR data primarily consist of patient demographics, clinical measurements, Australian Medicare Benefits Scheme item numbers, diagnoses, pathology testing and prescribed medications. FINDING TO DATE: In total, the cohort consists of 676 970 participants with 4 389 185 opioid prescription records from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2020. Approximately half (48.7%) received a single opioid prescription, and 0.9% received more than 100 opioid prescriptions. The mean number of opioid prescriptions per patient was 6.5 (SD=20.9); prescriptions for strong opioids accounted for 55.6% of all opioid prescriptions. FUTURE PLANS: The OPPICO cohort data will be used for various types of pharmacoepidemiological research, including examining the impact of policy changes on coprescription of opioids with benzodiazepines and gabapentin, and monitoring trends and patterns of other medication utilisation. Through data-linkage between our OPPICO cohort and hospital outcome data, we will examine whether policy changes for opioid prescribing lead to changes in prescription opioid-related harms, and other drug and mental health-related outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: EU PAS Register (EUPAS43218, prospectively registered).

Medication Management in Frail Older People: Consensus Principles for Clinical Practice, Research, and Education.

Frailty is a geriatric condition associated with increased vulnerability to adverse drug events and medication-related harm. Existing clinical practice guidelines rarely provide medication management recommendations specific to frail older people. This report presents international consensus principles, generated by the Optimizing Geriatric Pharmacotherapy through Pharmacoepidemiology Network, related to medication management in frail older people. This consensus comprises 7 principles for clinical practice, 6 principles for research, and 4 principles for education. Principles for clinical practice include (1) perform medication reconciliation and maintain an up-to-date medication list; (2) assess and plan based on individual's capacity to self-manage medications; (3) ensure appropriate prescribing and deprescribing; (4) simplify medication regimens when appropriate to reduce unnecessary burden; (5) be alert to the contribution of medications to geriatric syndromes; (6) regularly review medication regimens to align with changing goals of care; and (7) facilitate multidisciplinary communication among patients, caregivers, and healthcare teams. Principles for research include (1) include frail older people in randomized controlled trials; (2) consider frailty status as an effect modifier; (3) ensure collection and reporting of outcome measures important in frailty; (4) assess impact of frailty on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; (5) encourage frailty research in under-researched settings; and (6) utilize routinely collected linked health data. Principles for education include (1) provide undergraduate and postgraduate education on frailty; (2) minimize low-value care related to medication management; (3) improve health and medication literacy; and (4) incorporate evidence in relation to frailty into clinical practice guidelines. These principles for clinical practice, research and education highlight different considerations for optimizing medication management in frail older people. These principles can be used in conjunction with existing best practice guidelines to help achieve optimal health outcomes for this vulnerable population. Implementation of the principles will require multidisciplinary collaboration between healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, organizational leaders, and policymakers.

Strategies to promote access to medications during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, vulnerable and older people with chronic and complex conditions have self-isolated in their homes, potentially limiting opportunities for consultations to have medications prescribed and dispensed. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to describe initiatives to ensure ongoing access to medications during the COVID-19 pandemic. DISCUSSION: Cooperation between wholesalers and purchase limits in pharmacies have helped to ensure supply of essential medications. Therapeutic substitution by pharmacists is permitted for specific products authorised by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Prescribers are permitted to issue digital image prescriptions, and implementation of electronic prescribing has been fast-tracked. Expanded continued dispensing arrangements introduced during the bushfire crises have been temporarily extended. Pharmacists are permitted to provide medication management reviews via telehealth. A Home Medicines Service has been introduced to facilitate delivery of medications to people who are vulnerable or elderly. Anticipatory prescribing and medication imprest systems are valuable for access to end-of-life medications within residential aged care.

Application of Healthcare 'Big Data' in CNS Drug Research: The Example of the Neurological and mental health Global Epidemiology Network (NeuroGEN).

Neurological and psychiatric (mental health) disorders have a large impact on health burden globally. Cognitive disorders (including dementia) and stroke are leading causes of disability. Mental health disorders, including depression, contribute up to one-third of total years lived with disability. The Neurological and mental health Global Epidemiology Network (NeuroGEN) is an international multi-database network that harnesses administrative and electronic medical records from Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. Using these databases NeuroGEN will investigate medication use and health outcomes in neurological and mental health disorders. A key objective of NeuroGEN is to facilitate high-quality observational studies to address evidence-practice gaps where randomized controlled trials do not provide sufficient information on medication benefits and risks that is specific to vulnerable population groups. International multi-database research facilitates comparisons across geographical areas and jurisdictions, increases statistical power to investigate small subpopulations or rare outcomes, permits early post-approval assessment of safety and effectiveness, and increases generalisability of results. Through bringing together international researchers in pharmacoepidemiology, NeuroGEN has the potential to be paradigm-changing for observational research to inform evidence-based prescribing. The first focus of NeuroGEN will be to address evidence-gaps in the treatment of chronic comorbidities in people with dementia.

Trends in the Dispensing and Costs of Glucose-Lowering Medications Among Older Australians: Findings from National Claims Data.

BACKGROUND: Temporal changes in the dispensing of glucose-lowering drugs (GLD) and their associated costs among elderly populations is unclear. This information is especially relevant to countries in which medications are partly or fully government subsidized. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to estimate the trends in prevalence, incidence and costs associated with GLD dispensed to older Australians. METHODS: We analysed Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data for 76,906 people aged ≥ 65 years dispensed diabetes medications over the period 2013-2016. RESULTS: Older males were dispensed more GLD than were older females, with the marginal difference increasing from 3.2% in 2013 (age-sex adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] 1.032; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.024-1.041; p < 0.001) to 3.9% in 2016 (aIRR 1.039; 95% CI 1.030-1.047; p < 0.001). The number of GLD dispensed per person was consistently lower in those aged ≥ 75 years than in those aged 65-74 years, with the gap widening over the years. More patients were initiated with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors over the study period, at the expense of older GLD. The proportion of users and attributed costs associated with the use of metformin, sulfonylureas, α-glucosidase inhibitors and thiazolidinediones decreased over time. The total subsidized costs of GLD is forecast to increase to $A395 million by 2020. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment landscape for diabetes in Australia is undergoing dynamic change. More patients were initiated with the newer but costlier GLD over the study period.

Process, impact and outcomes of medication review in Australian residential aged care facilities: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review literature reporting processes, impact and outcomes of medication review and reconciliation in Australian residential aged care facilities (RACFs). METHODS: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Informit Health and grey literature were searched from 1995 to July 2018. Studies reporting outcomes of a stand-alone medication review or reconciliation interventions in Australian RACFs were included. RESULTS: Thirteen studies investigated medication review, eight of which studied Residential Medication Management Reviews (RMMRs). Five studies reported that medication reviews identified an average of 2.7-3.9 medication-related problems (MRPs) per resident. One study reported medication reviews had no impact on quality of life, hospitalisation or mortality, but was not powered to assess these. Three studies reported general practitioners' acceptance of pharmacists' recommendations to resolve MRPs, ranging between 45 and 84%. CONCLUSIONS: Medication review may be a useful strategy to identify and prompt resolution of MRPs. However, the impact on clinical and resident-centred outcomes remains unclear.

Protocol for a non-randomised pilot and feasibility study evaluating a multicomponent intervention to simplify medication regimens for people receiving community-based home care services.

INTRODUCTION: Managing medication regimens is one of the most complex and burdensome tasks performed by older people, and can be prone to errors. People living with dementia may require medication administration assistance from formal and informal caregivers. Simplified medication regimens maintain the same therapeutic intent, but have less complex instructions and administration schedules. This protocol paper outlines a study to determine the feasibility of a multicomponent intervention to simplify medication regimens for people receiving community-based home care services. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a non-randomised pilot and feasibility study. Research nurses will recruit 50 people receiving community-based home care services. All participants will receive the intervention from a clinical pharmacist, who will undertake medication reconciliation, assess each participant's capacity to self-manage their medication regimen and apply a structured tool to identify opportunities for medication simplification. The pharmacist will communicate recommendations regarding medication simplification to registered nurses at the community-based home care provider organisation. The primary outcome will be a description of study feasibility (recruitment and retention rates, protocol adherence and stakeholder acceptability). Secondary outcomes include the change in number of medication administration times per day, medication adherence, quality of life, participant satisfaction, medication incidents, falls and healthcare utilisation at 4 months. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was obtained from the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee and the community-based home care provider organisation's ethical review panel. Research findings will be disseminated to consumers and caregivers, health professionals, researchers and healthcare providers through the National Health and Medical Research Council Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre and through conference presentations, lay summaries and peer-reviewed publications. This study will enable an improved understanding of medication management and administration among people receiving community-based home care services. This study will inform the decision to proceed with a randomised controlled trial to assess the effect of this intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12618001130257; Pre-results.

Chronic pain medication management of older populations: Key points from a national conference and innovative opportunities for pharmacy practice.

OBJECTIVE: Inappropriate use of pain medication has serious consequences for older populations. Experts in the field have noted an increase in opioid prescriptions, and opioid-related hospitalisations and deaths among this vulnerable population. In the pursuit of educating pharmacists, physicians, allied healthcare professionals, researchers, academics and the public facing the challenges of chronic pain medication management, 'The Inaugural Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (SPHPM) Best Practice in Chronic Pain Medication Management Day Conference' was held in December 2016 at the Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct (Melbourne, Australia). METHODS: Fifteen experts presented on aspects of chronic pain epidemiology and current analgesic use in older Australians, and discussed current practice and associated challenges. RESULTS: Presenters highlighted the dramatic increase in opioid prescribing, development of tolerance and withdrawal symptoms, problems with abuse and addiction, increased risk of death from overdose or suicide, potentiation of sedative effects with concurrent use of anxiolytics/hypnotics, and medication diversion. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacists are very accessible to patients and are crucial members of medication management teams. They have the necessary medication expertise to review medication regimens and provide patient education. Towards addressing chronic pain medication management of older populations, pharmacists can contribute in several ways, such as being aware of relevant guidelines and completing further training, contributing to policy and guideline development, participating in multidisciplinary panels, working groups and pain management teams, collaborating on research projects, and educating the community. With regards to opioid medication management, pharmacists are in an ideal position to: monitor prescription dispensing and potential misuse, provide education about overuse, and, if appropriate, provide access to naloxone. In order to fulfil these roles and responsibilities, allied healthcare professionals should be educated and informed, and opportunities for continuing professional education should be available and utilised. Pharmacists should have the necessary knowledge and skills to optimise chronic pain management, and to both deliver and inform policies and guidelines on pharmacological management of chronic pain in older people.

Predictors of statin use among older adults: A nationwide cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Statins comprise a key strategy for the prevention and treatment of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, but prescribing remains suboptimal. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to characterize the predictors of statin use among adults aged ≥65 years. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) data on reimbursed prescriptions for a 10% random sample of the Australian population in 2016 was performed. Predictors of statin use were identified via multivariable logistic regression. Analyses were performed separately for people who were concessional beneficiaries (with a low, capped copayment) and other ("general") people. RESULTS: Among 351,471 (concessional = 295,875 and general = 55,596) older adults, 44.2% were dispensed statins (concessional = 46.4% and general = 32.2%). Among the concessional beneficiaries, people aged 75 to 84 years were more likely to use statins (odds ratio [OR] 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-1.10), whereas those aged ≥85 years were less likely to use statins (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.69-0.72), compared with people aged 65 to 74 years. Men were more likely to use statins than women (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.12-1.16). Diabetes was associated with over 2-fold (OR 2.48, 95% CI 2.43-2.53) increased likelihood of statin use. People with cardiovascular-related conditions including hypertension, angina, and congestive heart failure experienced increased likelihood of statin use as was being dispensed anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication. Having malignancy, psychotic illness, or pain were associated with lower likelihood of statin use. Similar predictors of statin use were noted for the general population. CONCLUSION: More than 40% of older adults in Australia used statins in 2016 with uptake dependent on individual-level factors such as demographics and comorbidities. Future research should examine the extent to which provider and/or health system-level factors contribute to the variable uptake of statin therapy.

Predictors of first-year nonadherence and discontinuation of statins among older adults: a retrospective cohort study.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to examine the level of and predictors of statin nonadherence and discontinuation among older adults. METHODS: Among 22 340 Australians aged ≥65 years who initiated statin therapy from January 2014 to December 2015, we estimated the first-year nonadherence (proportion of days covered [PDC] <0.80) and discontinuation (≥90 days without statin coverage) rates. Predictors of nonadherence and discontinuation were examined via multivariable logistic regression. Analyses were performed separately for general beneficiaries (with a higher co-payment; n = 4841) and concessional beneficiaries (with a lower co-payment; n = 17 499). RESULTS: During the one-year follow-up, 55.1% were nonadherent (concessional 52.6%; general beneficiaries 64.2%) and 44.7% discontinued statins (concessional 43.1%; general beneficiaries 50.4%). Among concessional beneficiaries, those aged 75-84 years and ≥85 years were more likely to discontinue than people aged 65-74 years (odds ratio 1.11, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.19 and 1.38, 1.23-1.54, respectively). Diabetes was associated with an increased likelihood of nonadherence and discontinuation, while hypertension, angina and congestive heart failure were associated with a lower likelihood of nonadherence and discontinuation. Anxiety was associated with an increased likelihood of discontinuation, but polypharmacy (concurrent use of five or more drugs) was associated with a lower likelihood of nonadherence and discontinuation. Statin initiation by a general medical practitioner was associated with both increased likelihood of nonadherence and discontinuation. Similar predictors of nonadherence and discontinuation were identified for the general beneficiaries. CONCLUSIONS: Among older adults prescribed statins, first-year nonadherence and discontinuation are high. Specific population subgroups such as people aged ≥85 years, those with diabetes or anxiety may require additional attention to improve statin adherence.

Development and validation of the Medication Regimen Simplification Guide for Residential Aged CarE (MRS GRACE).

BACKGROUND: Residents of aged care facilities use increasingly complex medication regimens. Reducing unnecessary medication regimen complexity (eg, by consolidating the number of administration times or using alternative formulations) may benefit residents and staff. OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate an implicit tool to facilitate medication regimen simplification in aged care facilities. METHOD: A purposively selected multidisciplinary expert panel used modified nominal group technique to identify and prioritize factors important in determining whether a medication regimen can be simplified. The five prioritized factors were formulated as questions, pilot-tested using non-identifiable medication charts and refined by panel members. The final tool was validated by two clinical pharmacists who independently applied the tool to a random sample of 50 residents of aged care facilities to identify opportunities for medication regimen simplification. Inter-rater agreement was calculated using Cohen's kappa. RESULTS: The Medication Regimen Simplification Guide for Residential Aged CarE (MRS GRACE) was developed as an implicit tool comprising of five questions about 1) the resident; 2) regulatory and safety requirements; 3) drug interactions; 4) formulation; and 5) facility and follow-up considerations. Using MRS GRACE, two pharmacists independently simplified medication regimens for 29/50 and 30/50 residents (Cohen's kappa=0.38, 95% CI 0.12-0.64), respectively. Simplification was possible for all residents with five or more administration times. Changing an administration time comprised 75% of the two pharmacists' recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Using MRS GRACE, two clinical pharmacists independently simplified over half of residents' medication regimens with fair agreement. MRS GRACE is a promising new tool to guide medication regimen simplification in aged care.

SImplification of Medications Prescribed to Long-tErm care Residents (SIMPLER): study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Complex medication regimens are highly prevalent in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Strategies to reduce unnecessary complexity may be valuable because complex medication regimens can be burdensome for residents and are costly in terms of nursing time. The aim of this study is to investigate application of a structured process to simplify medication administration in RACFs. METHODS: SImplification of Medications Prescribed to Long-tErm care Residents (SIMPLER) is a non-blinded, matched-pair, cluster randomised controlled trial of a single multidisciplinary intervention to simplify medication regimens. Trained study nurses will recruit English-speaking, permanent residents from eight South Australian RACFs. Medications taken by residents in the intervention arm will be assessed once using a structured tool (the Medication Regimen Simplification Guide for Residential Aged CarE) to identify opportunities to reduce medication regimen complexity (e.g. by administering medications at the same time, or through the use of longer-acting or combination formulations). Residents in the comparison group will receive routine care. Participants will be followed for up to 36 months after study entry. The primary outcome measure will be the total number of charted medication administration times at 4 months after study entry. Secondary outcome measures will include time spent administering medications, medication incidents, resident satisfaction, quality of life, falls, hospitalisation and mortality. Individual-level analyses that account for clustering will be undertaken to determine the impact of the intervention on the study outcomes. DISCUSSION: Ethical approval has been obtained from the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee and the aged care provider organisation. Research findings will be disseminated through conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications. SIMPLER will enable an improved understanding of the burden of medication use in RACFs and quantify the impact of regimen simplification on a range of outcomes important to residents and care providers. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12617001060336 . Retrospectively registered on 20 July 2017.

Medication management of type 2 diabetes in residential aged care

BACKGROUND: Medication management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) requires consideration of the residents' goals of care and susceptibility to adverse drug events (ADEs). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to review best practice medication management for residents diagnosed with T2DM. DISCUSSION: Management of T2DM in RACFs is often focused on maintaining residents' quality of life rather than intensive glycaemic management to reduce chronic complications, because the risks of intensive glycaemic management typically outweigh the potential benefits. Australian RACF guidelines recommend individualised glycated haemoglobin targets of 7­8.5% (53­69 mmol/mol). Strategies to reduce the risk of preventable ADEs may include education for residents, carers and staff; assessment of hypoglycaemic risk and renal function; medication review and regimen simplification; de-intensification of glucose-lowering medications; and appropriate end-of-life medication management. Use of a resident-centred multidisciplinary approach and resources tailored to the RACF setting will support residents to achieve best possible health outcomes and quality of life.

Adherence Tradeoff to Multiple Preventive Therapies and All-Cause Mortality After Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB), beta-blockers and statins are recommended after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Patients may adhere to some, but not all, therapies. OBJECTIVES: The authors investigated the effect of tradeoffs in adherence to ACE inhibitors/ARBs, beta-blockers, and statins on survival among older people after AMI. METHODS: The authors identified 90,869 Medicare beneficiaries ≥65 years of age who had prescriptions for ACE inhibitors/ARBs, beta-blockers, and statins, and survived ≥180 days after AMI hospitalization in 2008 to 2010. Adherence was measured by proportion of days covered (PDC) during 180 days following hospital discharge. Mortality follow-up extended up to 18 months after this period. The authors used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios of mortality for groups adherent to 2, 1, or none of the therapies versus group adherent to all 3 therapies. RESULTS: Only 49% of the patients adhered (PDC ≥80%) to all 3 therapies. Compared with being adherent to all 3 therapies, multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for mortality were 1.12 (95% CI: 1.04 to 1.21) for being adherent to ACE inhibitors/ARBs and beta-blockers only, 0.98 (95% CI: 0.91 to 1.07) for ACEI/ARBs and statins only, 1.17 (95% CI: 1.10 to 1.25) beta-blockers and statins only, 1.19 (95% CI: 1.07 to 1.32) for ACE inhibitors/ARBs only, 1.32 (95% CI: 1.21 to 1.44) for beta-blockers only, 1.26 (95% CI: 1.15 to 1.38) statins only, and 1.65 (95% CI: 1.54 to 1.76) for being nonadherent (PDC <80%) to all 3 therapies. CONCLUSIONS: Patients adherent to ACE inhibitors/ARBs and statins only had similar mortality rates as those adherent to all 3 therapies, suggesting limited additional benefit for beta-blockers in patients who were adherent to statins and ACE inhibitors/ARBs. Nonadherence to ACE inhibitors/ARBs and/or statins was associated with higher mortality.

Prioritizing interventions to manage polypharmacy in Australian aged care facilities.

BACKGROUND: Polypharmacy is highly prevalent in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Although polypharmacy is sometimes unavoidable, polypharmacy has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To identify and prioritize a range of potential interventions to manage polypharmacy in RACFs from the perspectives of health care professionals, health policy and consumer representatives. METHODS: Two nominal group technique (NGT) sessions were convened in August 2015. A purposive sample (n = 19) of clinicians, researchers, managers and representatives of consumer, professional and health policy organizations were asked to nominate interventions to address the prevalence and appropriateness of medication use. Participants were then asked to prioritize five interventions suitable for possible implementation at the system level. RESULTS: Six of 16 potential interventions were prioritized highest for possible implementation in clinical practice, with two interventions prioritized as second highest. The top interventions in rank order were 'implementation of a pharmacist-led medication reconciliation service for new residents,' 'conduct facility-level audits and feedback to staff and health care professionals,' 'develop deprescribing scripts to assist clinician-resident discussion,' 'develop or revise prescribing guidelines specific to older people with multimorbidity in RACFs,' 'implement electronic medication charts and records' and 'better support Medication Advisory Committees (MACs) to address medication appropriateness.' CONCLUSION: This study prioritized a range of potential interventions that may be used to assist clinicians and policy makers develop a comprehensive strategy to manage polypharmacy in RACFs.