Pupillary Light Reflex Detected by Ophthalmic Ultrasonography in Critically Ill Children With Difficult to Assess Pupils.

Direct visualization of the eye can be difficult or impossible when there is significant facial burns, trauma, or edema. We present 4 nonresponsive, critically ill children whose pupils could not be directly visualized. Ophthalmic ultrasound revealed pupillary reactivity at presentation and throughout their recovery. Determining pupillary reactivity in these nonresponsive patients impacted their initial triage, resuscitation, and medical management. We propose that ophthalmic point-of-care ultrasonography can assess the pupillary light reflex in critically ill children whose pupils cannot be directly visualized.

Assessing the association between antibody status and symptoms of long COVID: A multisite study.

The association between SARS-CoV-2 humoral immunity and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (long COVID) remains uncertain. The objective of this population-based cohort study was to assess the association between SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity and symptoms consistent with long COVID. English and Spanish-speaking members ≥ 18 years old with SARS-CoV-2 serologic testing conducted prior to August 2021 were recruited from Kaiser Permanente Southern California and Kaiser Permanente Colorado. Between November 2021 and April 2022, participants completed a survey assessing symptoms, physical health, mental health, and cognitive function consistent with long COVID. Survey results were linked to SARS-CoV-2 antibody (Ab) and viral (RNA) lab results in electronic health records. Weighted descriptive analyses were generated for five mutually exclusive patient groups: (1) +Ab/+RNA; (2) +Ab/- or missing RNA; (3) -Ab/+RNA; (4a) -Ab/-RNA reporting no prior infection; and (4b) -Ab/-RNA reporting prior infection. The proportions reporting symptoms between the +Ab/+RNA and -Ab/+RNA groups were compared, adjusted for covariates. Among 3,946 participants, the mean age was 52.1 years old (SD 15.6), 68.3% were female, 28.4% were Hispanic, and the serologic testing occurred a median of 15 months prior (IQR = 12-18). Three quarters (74.5%) reported having had COVID-19. Among people with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, there was no association between antibody positivity (+Ab/+RNA vs. -Ab/+RNA) and any symptoms, physical health, mental health, or cognitive function. As expected, physical health, cognitive function, and fatigue were worse, and palpitations and headaches limiting the ability to work were more prevalent among people with laboratory-confirmed prior infection and positive serology (+Ab/+RNA) compared to those without reported or confirmed prior infection and negative serology (-Ab/-RNA/no reported COVID-19). Among people with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 serology from practice settings were not associated with long COVID symptoms and health status suggesting limited utility of serology testing for long COVID.

Doses of medial rectus muscle recessions for divergence insufficiency-type esotropia.

We evaluated whether doses of bilateral medial rectus recessions greater than Parks's tables yielded superior outcomes for adult-onset divergence insufficiency. Forty-two patients underwent bilateral medial rectus recessions. Dose was analyzed as the average total per muscle (surgery + suture adjustment if performed) and compared with the standard dose tables (based on preoperative distance esodeviation), as difference between dose performed and dose indicated by Parks's tables. Each participant was classified as having received either Parks's dose (within 0.5 mm) or a dose greater than Parks's dose. Success was defined as "rarely" or "never" diplopia in distance straight-ahead gaze and reading. For patients classified as success, the mean difference between actual surgical dose performed and Parks's dose was calculated. Success was 91% (29/32) in those receiving greater than Parks's dose versus 67% (6/9) with Parks's dose (difference = 24%; 95% CI, -5% to 60%). The mean surgical dose was 1.0 mm greater than Parks's tables for the 35 successes (at 10 weeks) versus 0.7 mm greater for the 6 failures (difference = 0.4 mm; 95% CI, -0.2 to 0.9). For medial rectus recessions in adult-onset divergence insufficiency-type esotropia, a surgical dose 1 mm greater than Parks's tables, for each muscle, is a reasonable strategy.

Isolated ectopia lentis with partial anterior dislocation and pupillary block: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Ectopia lentis is the dislocation of the natural crystalline lens and usually presents in the setting of trauma or other systemic diseases. Herein, we describe a case of an otherwise healthy four-year-old boy with isolated ectopia lentis whose partial lens dislocation was captured on a smartphone by the patient's father several days prior. CASE PRESENTATION: A four-year-old boy with no past medical, developmental, or trauma history presented with bilateral partial anterior lens dislocation with pupillary block. Initial ophthalmic evaluation two months prior was notable for uncorrected visual acuity at 20/100 OD, 20/250 OS, bilateral iridodenesis, and partially dislocated lenses inferonasally OD and inferiorly OS on slit lamp. Genetic testing found no abnormalities. Ten months later, the patient developed sudden onset of left eye pain. A dislocated lens and temporarily dilated left pupil were captured on a smartphone by the patient's father. He was evaluated 3 days later after a second episode and found to have hand motion vision OS, a fixed 8 mm left pupil with the crystalline lens subluxed into the pupil space and accompanying intraocular pressure OS of 40 mmHg. The lens was surgically removed with a limited anterior vitrectomy. Four and a half years after surgery, visual acuity was 20/125 OS with aphakic correction. The right eye eventually underwent prophylactic lensectomy and was 20/30 in aphakic correction. CONCLUSIONS: This report presents a unique presentation of isolated ectopia lentis with anterior lens dislocation and pupillary block and illustrates the role of smartphone photography in assisting in the triage of eye emergencies.

Impact of social determinants of health on follow-up adherence, testing completion, and outcomes among pediatric glaucoma patients at a tertiary care center.

PURPOSE: To identify patient characteristics associated with visit attendance, treatment outcomes, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) testing in pediatric glaucoma patients at an urban tertiary care center. METHODS: The records of patients with childhood glaucoma seen from 2015 to 2021 were reviewed. Primary outcomes were the proportion of scheduled visits completed, visual acuity and intraocular pressure (IOP) at most recent follow-up, and rates of OCT testing. Social determinants of health evaluated included race and ethnicity, distance of residence from clinic, insurance carrier type and residence within Baltimore City County, the latter two serving as proxies for socioeconomic status. RESULTS: A total of 99 patients met inclusion criteria: 61% were male; 47%, White (non-Hispanic); 25%, Black (non-Hispanic); 11%, Hispanic/Latino; and 7% Asian/Pacific Islander. Mean distance from clinic was 45.3 miles. Mean visit completion rate was 90.4%; there was no statistically significant variation in visit completion rates by patient characteristics. IOP outcomes did not vary across patient groups, but visual acuity outcomes in affected eyes were significantly worse among Baltimore City County residents compared with non-residents. Only 22% of the cohort received ≥1 OCT per year, and patients living 0-29.9 miles from clinic had significantly lower odds of reaching the threshold than more distant patients. Patients with state-based insurance had significantly lower odds of being ≥50th percentile for rate of OCTs received compared to patients with commercial insurance. CONCLUSIONS: In children with glaucoma, residence within Baltimore City County was associated with significantly worse visual acuity outcomes, and close proximity to clinic was an independent predictor of lower rates of OCT testing, despite similar visit attendance rates and IOP outcomes across all groups.

Ophthalmologic Findings in Children with Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ophthalmologic findings in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and compare these findings in eyes with and without optic pathway gliomas (OPGs). We carried out a retrospective chart review of children with NF1. We recorded demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations of disease, and ophthalmologic findings including visual acuity, intraocular pressure, cup-to-disc ratio, visual field testing, and optical coherence tomography findings. Ophthalmologic findings were examined for the cohort for initial and final appointments. These findings were also compared between eyes with and without OPGs. The study included 119 participants with 238 total eyes. The most common clinical manifestations of NF1 in this cohort were café au lait macules (98%), axillary or inguinal freckling (91%), Lisch nodules (66%), and cutaneous neurofibromas (57%). Thirty-seven participants had imaging that allowed evaluation for choroidal abnormalities, and 28 (76%) had choroidal lesions. Twenty-seven participants (23%) had OPGs, and 44 eyes were affected. On initial assessment, eyes with OPGs had worse visual acuity. On final examination, eyes with OPGs were more likely to have a worse visual acuity and a thinner generalised retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness, inferior RNFL thickness, and temporal RNFL thickness. This study provides longitudinal follow-up of children affected by NF1 with and without OPGs. Eyes with OPGs were found to be associated with worse visual acuity and thinner RNFLs overall on final testing.

Understanding Experiences of Caregivers of Spouses With Dementia During Caregiver Health Care Emergencies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Caregivers of persons with dementia are frequently spouses. Caregiver hospitalization causes disruption to caregiving. The goal of this research was to understand the preparedness and stress trajectory of peri-caregiver hospitalization. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Mixed methods were used. Caregivers of spouses with dementia (n = 1,000) were surveyed to determine their perceived preparedness for their own hospitalization. Journey mapping interviews (n = 18) were used to map caregivers' experiences during 5 phases: (a) their spouse with dementia (SWD)'s dementia diagnosis; (b) their SWD's dementia progression; (c) their own health event; (d) their own hospitalization; and (e) their own return home from the hospital. RESULTS: Among the 452 (45%) eligible caregiver survey respondents, 75 (17%) had experienced hospitalization in the previous 12 months and 51 (68%) hospitalizations were unexpected. Twenty-three (31%) of hospitalized caregivers indicated they did not have prior plans in place for the care of the SWD. When asked about an unexpected hospitalization in the future, 233 (52%) felt somewhat prepared and 133 (29%) felt not at all prepared. Journey mapping revealed 3 groups of caregivers: Group 1 (n = 7) rated their stress lower during their hospitalization, Group 2 (n = 7) rated their stress highest during their hospitalization, and Group 3 (n = 4) were at a sustained high-stress level. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Many caregivers are not prepared for their own hospitalization. The stress trajectory through important phases of dementia caregiving and a caregiver's own hospitalization is not universal. Meeting the needs of caregivers' peri-hospitalization should be tailored to the individual caregiver.

Micropulse cyclophotocoagulation compared to continuous wave cyclophotocoagulation for the management of refractory pediatric glaucoma.

INTRODUCTION: Micropulse cyclophotocoagulation (MPCPC) has been shown in adults to offer a favorable post-operative safety profile compared to continuous wave transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (CWCPC) in the management of glaucoma. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the long term efficacy, safety, and effectiveness of MPCPC in the management of pediatric glaucoma when compared to CWCPC. METHODS: IRB approved retrospective chart review of patients with pediatric glaucoma that underwent MPCPC and CWCPC at 2 separate institutions. Success was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) between 5 and 21mmHg on any number of topical glaucoma medication without requiring additional surgical intervention or oral IOP lowering medication. RESULTS: Of the 48 patients in the study, 22 (26 eyes) underwent MPCPC and 26 (30 eyes) underwent CWCPC. At 1 year, 7 out of 26 eyes (26.9%) achieved success in the MPCPC group compared to 13 out of 30 eyes (43.3%) in the CWCPC group. Survival analysis unveiled a statistically significant difference in success between the two groups (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: In pediatric glaucoma patients undergoing cyclophotocoagulation procedures, CWCPC outperformed MPCPC using default settings in terms of achieving long-term IOP control. Additional studies are required to evaluated augmented MPCPC settings in pediatric glaucoma patients.

Evaluating the Safety of an Educational Deprescribing Intervention: Lessons from the Optimize Trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients, family members, and clinicians express concerns about potential adverse drug withdrawal events (ADWEs) following medication discontinuation or fears of upsetting a stable medical equilibrium as key barriers to deprescribing. Currently, there are limited methods to pragmatically assess the safety of deprescribing and ascertain ADWEs. We report the methods and results of safety monitoring for the OPTIMIZE trial of deprescribing education for patients, family members, and clinicians. METHODS: This was a pragmatic cluster randomized trial with multivariable Poisson regression comparing outcome rates between study arms. We conducted clinical record review and adjudication of sampled records to assess potential causal relationships between medication discontinuation and outcomes. This study included adults aged 65+ with dementia or mild cognitive impairment, one or more additional chronic conditions, and prescribed 5+ chronic medications. The intervention included an educational brochure on deprescribing that was mailed to patients prior to primary care visits, a clinician notification about individual brochure mailings, and an educational tip sheets was provided monthly to primary care clinicians. The outcomes of the safety monitoring were rates of hospitalizations and mortality during the 4 months following brochure mailings and results of record review and adjudication. The adjudication process was conducted throughout the trial and included classifications: likely, possibly, and unlikely. RESULTS: There was a total of 3012 (1433 intervention and 1579 control) participants. There were 420 total hospitalizations involving 269 (18.8%) people in the intervention versus 517 total hospitalizations involving 317 (20.1%) people in the control groups. Adjusted risk ratios comparing intervention to control groups were 0.92 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72, 1.16] for hospitalization and 1.19 (95% CI 0.67, 2.11) for mortality. Both groups had zero deaths "likely" attributed to a medication change prior to the event. A total of 3 out of 30 (10%) intervention group hospitalizations and 7 out of 35 (20%) control group hospitalizations were considered "likely" due to a medication change. CONCLUSIONS: Population-based deprescribing education is safe in the older adult population with cognitive impairment in our study. Pragmatic methods for safety monitoring are needed to further inform deprescribing interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03984396. Registered on 13 June 2019.

Netarsudil in the management of refractory pediatric glaucoma.

We performed a retrospective review of patients with refractory pediatric glaucoma who were started on netarsudil at the Wilmer Eye Institute. We found minimally sustained IOP lowering over a 6-month period in 29 eyes of 23 patients. Our results suggest that although netarsudil is an alternative medication in the management of pediatric glaucoma, its efficacy may be limited in refractory pediatric glaucoma patients. In addition, careful cornea examination is required to evaluate for signs of corneal decompensation, especially in patient with preexisting cornea disease.

A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial of Base-in Relieving Prism Spectacle Treatment of Intermittent Exotropia.

SIGNIFICANCE: This pilot randomized trial, the first to evaluate a specific base-in relieving prism treatment strategy for childhood intermittent exotropia, did not support proceeding to a full-scale clinical trial. Defining and measuring prism adaptation in children with intermittent exotropia are challenging and need further study. PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine whether to proceed to a full-scale trial of relieving base-in prism spectacles versus refractive correction alone for children with intermittent exotropia. METHODS: Children 3 years old to those younger than 13 years with distance intermittent exotropia control score of ≥2 points on the Intermittent Exotropia Office Control Scale (Strabismus 2006;14:147-150; 0 [phoria] to 5 [constant]), ≥1 episode of spontaneous exotropia, and 16 to 35∆ by prism-and-alternate-cover test, who did not fully prism adapt on a 30-minute in-office prism-adaptation test were randomized to base-in relieving prism (40% of the larger of distance and near exodeviations) or nonprism spectacles for 8 weeks. A priori criteria to conduct a full-scale trial were defined for the adjusted treatment group difference in mean distance control: "proceed" (≥0.75 points favoring prism), "uncertain" (>0 to <0.75 points favoring prism), or "do not proceed" (≥0 points favoring nonprism). RESULTS: Fifty-seven children (mean age, 6.6 ± 2.2 years; mean baseline distance control, 3.5 points) received prism (n = 28) or nonprism (n = 29) spectacles. At 8 weeks, mean control values were 3.6 and 3.3 points in prism (n = 25) and nonprism (n = 25) groups, respectively, with an adjusted difference of 0.3 points (95% confidence interval, -0.5 to 1.1 points) favoring nonprism (meeting our a priori "do not proceed" criterion). CONCLUSIONS: Base-in prism spectacles, equal to 40% of the larger of the exodeviations at distance or near, worn for 8 weeks by 3- to 12-year-old children with intermittent exotropia did not yield better distance control than refractive correction alone, with the confidence interval indicating that a favorable effect of 0.75 points or larger is unlikely. There was insufficient evidence to warrant a full-scale randomized trial.

Application of team science best practices to the project management of a large, multi-site lung cancer screening research consortium.

Research is increasingly conducted through multi-institutional consortia, and best practices for establishing multi-site research collaborations must be employed to ensure efficient, effective, and productive translational research teams. In this manuscript, we describe how the Population-based Research to Optimize the Screening Process Lung Research Center (PROSPR-Lung) utilized evidence-based Science of Team Science (SciTS) best practices to establish the consortium's infrastructure and processes to promote translational research in lung cancer screening. We provide specific, actionable examples of how we: (1) developed and reinforced a shared mission, vision, and goals; (2) maintained a transparent and representative leadership structure; (3) employed strong research support systems; (4) provided efficient and effective data management; (5) promoted interdisciplinary conversations; and (6) built a culture of trust. We offer guidance for managing a multi-site research center and data repository that may be applied to a variety of settings. Finally, we detail specific project management tools and processes used to drive collaboration, efficiency, and scientific productivity.

Conversion to Glaucoma in Pediatric Glaucoma Suspects.

PRCIS: In this retrospective review of pediatric glaucoma suspects, 11.5% of eyes progressed to glaucoma over an average of 6.5 years; eyes with ocular hypertension had an 18-fold increased risk of progression compared with eyes with suspicious disc appearance. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the rate of progression to glaucoma of a large cohort of pediatric glaucoma suspects at a quaternary academic center. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand three hundred seventy-five eyes (824 individuals) followed as pediatric glaucoma suspects at the Wilmer Eye Institute between 2005 and 2016. METHODS: Retrospective study of pediatric patients monitored as glaucoma suspects at the Wilmer Eye Institute between 2005 and 2016. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Progression to glaucoma, defined according to Childhood Glaucoma Research Network criteria or by surgical intervention; initiation of intraocular pressure-lowering therapy. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-eight (11.5%) eyes from 109 unique patients met the criteria for conversion to glaucoma during follow-up; rates of conversion ranged between 34.1% for eyes monitored for ocular hypertension, 16.2% for eyes with prior lensectomy, 12.1% for eyes monitored for other ocular risk factors, 2.4% for eyes with suspicious disc appearance, and 0.4% for eyes monitored for systemic risk factors. The first criterion met for conversion to glaucoma was ocular hypertension in 149 eyes (94.3%) and enlarged cup-to-disc ratio (CDR) in 9 eyes (5.7%); the most common second criterion met was the enlargement of CDR since initial presentation (45 eyes, 28.5%), surgical intervention (33 eyes, 20.9%), visual field changes (21 eyes, 13.3%), and asymmetric CDR change compared with fellow eye (20 eyes, 12.7%). The Kaplan-Meier survival curves across the different indications for being monitored as a glaucoma suspect significantly differed ( P <0.0001). Eyes being monitored for ocular hypertension had an 18-fold increased risk of conversion to glaucoma than those followed for suspicious disc appearance [hazard ratio (HR) 18.33, 95% CI, 10.05-33.41). Eyes monitored for prior lensectomy and for other ocular risk factors had a 6-fold and 5-fold increased risk of conversion to glaucoma than those followed for suspicious disc appearance, respectively (HR: 6.20, 95% CI, 3.66-10.51; HR: 5.43, 95% CI, 3.00-9.84). Eyes followed for ocular hypertension were nearly 4 times more likely to convert to glaucoma than those followed for prior lensectomy (HR: 3.72, 95% CI, 2.28-6.07). CONCLUSIONS: Eyes being followed as pediatric glaucoma suspects for ocular hypertension had higher rates of progression to glaucoma than eyes being monitored for prior lensectomy, other ocular risk factors, suspicious disc appearance, or systemic risk factors.

Maternity and family leave experiences among female ophthalmologists in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate family and maternity leave policies and examine the social and professional impacts on female ophthalmologists. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were recruited through the Women in Ophthalmology online list-serv to complete a survey evaluating maternity leave policies and their impacts. Survey questions were repeated for each birth event after medical school for up to five birth events. RESULTS: The survey was accessed 198 times, and 169 responses were unique. Most participants were practicing ophthalmologists (92%), with a minority in residency (5%), in fellowship (1.2%), on disability/leave (0.6%), or retired (0.6%). Most participants (78%) were within their first ten years of practice. Experiences were recorded for each leave event, with 169 responses for the first leave, 120 for the second, 28 for the third, and 2 for the fourth. Nearly half of participants reported the information they received about maternity leave to be somewhat or extremely inadequate (first: 50%; second: 42%; third: 41%). Many reported a greater sense of burnout after returning to work (first: 61%, second: 58%, third: 46%). A minority of participants received full pay during the first through third maternity leave events, 39%, 27%, and 33%, respectively. About a third of participants reported being somewhat or very dissatisfied with their maternity leave experience (first: 42%, second: 35%; third: 27%). CONCLUSIONS: Female ophthalmologists have varying experiences with maternity leave, but many encounter similar challenges. This study demonstrates that many women receive inadequate information about family leave, desire more weeks of leave, experience a wide variation in pay practices, and lack support for breastfeeding. Understanding the shared experiences of women in ophthalmology identifies areas where improvements are needed in maternity leave practices within the field to create a more supportive environment for physician mothers.

The Ophthalmic Manifestations of Down Syndrome.

Down Syndrome is one of the most common chromosomal conditions in the world, affecting an estimated 1:400-1:500 births. It is a multisystem genetic disorder but has a wide range of ophthalmic findings. These include strabismus, amblyopia, accommodation defects, refractive error, eyelid abnormalities, nasolacrimal duct obstruction, nystagmus, keratoconus, cataracts, retinal abnormalities, optic nerve abnormalities, and glaucoma. These ophthalmic conditions are more prevalent in children with Down Syndrome than the general pediatric population, and without exception, early identification with thoughtful screening in this patient population can drastically improve prognosis and/or quality of life.

What Is Strabismus?

This JAMA Patient Page describes the eye condition of strabismus, its signs and symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment.

Baltimore pediatric ocular trauma study: Health disparities and outcomes in pediatric and adolescent open globe trauma.

Purpose Children represent approximately one-third of patients with serious ocular injuries. Our study evaluates associations between race and socioeconomic status in presentation and outcomes of pediatric and adolescent traumatic open globe injuries. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of traumatic open globe injuries in pediatric and adolescent patients presenting to Johns Hopkins Hospital and University of Maryland Medical Center between 2006 and 2020. Variables assessed included age, gender, parent-identified race, median household income, mechanism of injury, initial and final visual acuity (VA), and length of follow-up. Results Eighty patients ranging from 4 months to 17.7 years (mean 9.3 years) presented with traumatic open globe injury. Identifications were 28 White (35%), 38 Black (48%), and 5 Hispanic (6%). Initial presenting and final VA, pediatric ocular trauma score (POTS), and length of follow-up did not differ significantly among race, gender, or income. Black patients had higher rates of blunt trauma (odds ratio (OR) 3.81; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95-15.24, p = 0.07), uveal prolapse (OR 3.58; 95% CI 1.03-12.43; p = 0.049), and enucleation (OR 10.55; 95% CI 1.26-88.31). Hispanic patients presented at a younger age of 2.8 years mean age vs. 9.9 years (p = 0.004) for others. Conclusion Visual outcomes following traumatic open globe injury were independent of race, gender, or income. However, blunt trauma, uveal prolapse, and enucleation rates were higher in Black patients, and ocular trauma occurred at a younger age in Hispanic patients.

Intervention design in cognitively impaired populations-Lessons learned from the OPTIMIZE deprescribing pragmatic trial.

BACKGROUND: Polypharmacy is common in older adults with cognitive impairment and multiple chronic conditions, increasing risks of adverse drug events, hospitalization, and death. Deprescribing, the process of reducing or stopping potentially inappropriate medications, may improve outcomes. The OPTIMIZE pragmatic trial examined whether educating and activating patients, family members and clinicians about deprescribing reduces number of chronic medications and potentially inappropriate medications. Acceptability and challenges of intervention delivery in cognitively impaired older adults are not well understood. METHODS: We explored mechanisms of intervention implementation through post hoc qualitative interviews and surveys with stakeholder groups of 15 patients, 7 caregivers, and 28 clinicians. We assessed the context in which the intervention was delivered, its implementation, and mechanisms of impact. RESULTS: Acceptance of the intervention was affected by contextual factors including cognition, prior knowledge of deprescribing, communication, and time constraints. All stakeholder groups endorsed the acceptability, importance, and delivery of the intervention. Positive mechanisms of impact included patients scheduling specific appointments to discuss deprescribing and providers being prompted to consider deprescribing. Recollection of intervention materials was inconsistent but most likely shortly after intervention delivery. Short visit times remained the largest provider barrier to deprescribing. CONCLUSIONS: Our work identifies key learnings in intervention delivery that can guide future scaling of deprescribing interventions in this population. We highlight the critical roles of timing and repetition in intervention delivery to cognitively impaired populations and the barrier posed by short consultation times. The acceptability of the intervention to patients and family members highlights the potential to incorporate deprescribing education into routine clinical practice and expand proven interventions to other vulnerable populations.

Deprescribing Education vs Usual Care for Patients With Cognitive Impairment and Primary Care Clinicians: The OPTIMIZE Pragmatic Cluster Randomized Trial.

Background: Individuals with dementia or mild cognitive impairment frequently have multiple chronic conditions (defined as ≥2 chronic medical conditions) and take multiple medications, increasing their risk for adverse outcomes. Deprescribing (reducing or stopping medications for which potential harms outweigh potential benefits) may decrease their risk of adverse outcomes. Objective: To examine the effectiveness of increasing patient and clinician awareness about the potential to deprescribe unnecessary or risky medications among patients with dementia or mild cognitive impairment. Design, Setting, and Participants: This pragmatic, patient-centered, 12-month cluster randomized clinical trial was conducted from April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020, at 18 primary care clinics in a not-for-profit integrated health care delivery system. The study included 3012 adults aged 65 years or older with dementia or mild cognitive impairment who had 1 or more additional chronic medical conditions and were taking 5 or more long-term medications. Interventions: An educational brochure and a questionnaire on attitudes toward deprescribing were mailed to patients prior to a primary care visit, clinicians were notified about the mailing, and deprescribing tip sheets were distributed to clinicians at monthly clinic meetings. Main Outcomes and Measures: The number of prescribed long-term medications and the percentage of individuals prescribed 1 or more potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). Analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat basis. Results: This study comprised 1433 individuals (806 women [56.2%]; mean [SD] age, 80.1 [7.2] years) in 9 intervention clinics and 1579 individuals (874 women [55.4%]; mean [SD] age, 79.9 [7.5] years) in 9 control clinics who met the eligibility criteria. At baseline, both groups were prescribed a similar mean (SD) number of long-term medications (7.0 [2.1] in the intervention group and 7.0 [2.2] in the control group), and a similar proportion of individuals in both groups were taking 1 or more PIMs (437 of 1433 individuals [30.5%] in the intervention group and 467 of 1579 individuals [29.6%] in the control group). At 6 months, the adjusted mean number of long-term medications was similar in the intervention and control groups (6.4 [95% CI, 6.3-6.5] vs 6.5 [95% CI, 6.4-6.6]; P = .14). The estimated percentages of patients in the intervention and control groups taking 1 or more PIMs were similar (17.8% [95% CI, 15.4%-20.5%] vs 20.9% [95% CI, 18.4%-23.6%]; P = .08). In preplanned subgroup analyses, adjusted differences between the intervention and control groups were -0.16 (95% CI, -0.34 to 0.01) for individuals prescribed 7 or more long-term medications at baseline (n = 1434) and -0.03 (95% CI, -0.20 to 0.13) for those prescribed 5 to 6 medications (n = 1578) (P = .28 for interaction; P = .19 for subgroup interaction for PIMs). Conclusions and Relevance: This large-scale educational deprescribing intervention for older adults with cognitive impairment taking 5 or more long-term medications and their primary care clinicians demonstrated small effect sizes and did not significantly reduce the number of long-term medications and PIMs. Such interventions should target older adults taking relatively more medications. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03984396.