Medication Assessment in an Older Population during Acute Care Hospitalization and Its Effect on the Anticholinergic Burden: A Prospective Cohort Study.

(1) Background: Anticholinergic and sedative drugs (ASDs) contribute to negative health outcomes, especially in the frail population. In this study, we aimed to assess whether frailty increases with anticholinergic burden and to evaluate the effects of medication reviews (MRs) on ASD regimens among patients attending an acute care for the elderly (ACE) unit. (2) Methods: A cohort study was conducted between June 2019 and October 2020 with 150 consecutive patients admitted to our ACE unit. Demographic, clinical, and pharmacological data were assessed. Frailty score was determined using the Frail-VIG index (FI-VIG), and ASD burden was quantified using the drug burden index (DBI). In addition, the MR was performed using the patient-centered prescription (PCP) model. We used a paired T-test to compare the DBI pre- and post-MR and univariate and multivariate regression to identify the factors associated with frailty. (3) Results: Overall, 85.6% (n = 128) of participants showed some degree of frailty (FI-VIG > 0.20) and 84% (n = 126) of patients received treatment with ASDs upon admission (pre-MR). As the degree of frailty increased, so did the DBI (p < 0.001). After the implementation of the MR through the application of the PCP model, a reduction in the DBI was noted (1.06 ± 0.8 versus 0.95 ± 0.7) (p < 0.001). After adjusting for covariates, the association between frailty and the DBI was apparent (OR: 11.42, 95% (CI: 2.77-47.15)). (4) Conclusions: A higher DBI was positively associated with frailty. The DBI decreased significantly in frail patients after a personalized MR. Thus, MRs focusing on ASDs are crucial for frail older patients.

Potential Risk of Overtreatment in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Aged 75 Years or Older: Data from a Population Database in Catalonia, Spain.

Aim: To assess the potential risk of overtreatment in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) aged 75 years or older in primary care. Methods: Electronic health records retrieved from the SIDIAP database (Catalonia, Spain) in 2016. Variables: age, gender, body mass index, registered hypoglycemia, last HbA1c and glomerular filtration rates, and prescriptions for antidiabetic drugs. Potential overtreatment was defined as having HbA1c < 7% or HbA1c < 6.5% in older patients treated with insulin, sulfonylureas, or glinides. Results: From a total population of 138,374 T2DM patients aged 75 years or older, 123,515 had at least one HbA1c available. An HbA1c below 7.0% was present in 59.1% of patients, and below 6.5% in 37.7%. Overall, 23.0% of patients were treated with insulin, 17.8% with sulfonylureas, and 6.6% with glinides. Potential overtreatment (HbA1c < 7%) was suspected in 26.6% of patients treated with any high-risk drug, 47.8% with sulfonylureas, 43.5% with glinides, and 28.1% with insulin. Using the threshold of HbA1c < 6.5%, these figures were: 21.6%, 24.4%, 17.9%, and 12.3%, respectively. Conclusion: One in four older adults with T2DM treated with antidiabetic drugs associated with a high risk of hypoglycemia might be at risk of overtreatment. This risk is higher in those treated with sulfonylureas or glinides than with insulin.

Improving individualized prescription in patients with multimorbidity through medication review.

BACKGROUND: Older patients tend to have multimorbidity, represented by multiple chronic diseases or geriatric conditions, which leads to a growing number of prescribed medications. As a result, pharmacological prescription has become a major concern because of the increased difficulties to ensure appropriate prescription in older adults. The study's main objectives were to characterize a cohort of older adults with multimorbidity, carry out a medication review and compare the pharmacological data before and after the medication review globally and according to the frailty index. METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental (uncontrolled pre-post) study with a cohort of patients ≥ 65 years old with multimorbidity. Data were collected from June 2019 to October 2020. Variables assessed included demographic, clinical, and pharmacological data, degree of frailty (Frail-VIG index), medication regimen complexity index, anticholinergic and or sedative burden index, and monthly drug expenditure. Finally, a medication review was carried out by an interdisciplinary team (primary care team and a consultant team with a geriatrician and a clinical pharmacist) by applying the Patient-Centered Prescription model to align the treatment with care goals. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty-eight patients were recruited [66.6% women; mean age 85.5 (SD 7.67)]. The mean frail index was 0.39 (SD 0.13), corresponding with moderate frailty. Up to 90% of patients presented at least one inappropriate prescription, and the mean of inappropriate prescriptions per patient was 3.14 (SD 2.27). At the three-month follow-up [mortality of 17.7% (n = 76)], the mean chronic medications per patient decreased by 17.96%, varying from 8.13 (SD 3.87) to 6.67 (SD 3.72) (p < 0.001). The medication regimen complexity index decreased by 19.03%, from 31.0 (SD 16.2) to 25.1 (SD 15.1), and the drug burden index mean decreased by 8.40%, from 1.19 (SD 0.82) to 1.09 (SD 0.82) (p < 0.001). A decrease in polypharmacy, medication regimen complexity index, and drug burden index was more frequent among frail patients, especially those with severe frailty (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: An individualized medication review in frail older patients, applying the Patient-Centered Prescription model, decreases pharmacological parameters related to adverse drug effects, such as polypharmacy, therapeutical complexity, and anticholinergic and, or sedative burden. The benefits are for patients with frailty.

Individualized Medication Review in Older People with Multimorbidity: A Comparative Analysis between Patients Living at Home and in a Nursing Home.

(1) Background: aging is associated with complex and dynamic changes leading to multimorbidity and, therefore, polypharmacy. A periodic medication review (MR) in frail older people leads to optimizing medication use. The aims of the study were to perform a comparative analysis of the impact of place of residence (own home versus nursing home) in a cohort of older patients on the characteristics of the baseline therapeutic plan and characteristics of the therapeutic plan after an MR; (2) Methods: Study with paired pre- and post-MR data based on person-centred prescription, with a follow-up assessment at three months. Patients who lived either in their own home or in a nursing home were recruited. We selected patients of 65 years or more with multimorbidity whose General Practitioner identified difficulties with the prescription management and the need for an MR. Each patient's treatment was analysed by applying the Patient-Centred Prescription (PCP) model; (3) Results: 428 patients. 90% presented at least one inappropriate prescription (IP) in both settings. In nursing homes, a higher number of implemented optimization proposals was detected (81.6% versus 65.7% (p < 0.001)). After the MR, nursing-home patients had a greater decrease in their mean number of medications, polypharmacy prevalence, therapeutic complexity, and monthly drug expenditure (p < 0.001); (4) Conclusions: PCP model detected a high number of IP in both settings. However, after an individualized MR, nursing-home patients presented a greater decrease in some pharmacological parameters related to adverse events, such as polypharmacy and therapeutic complexity, compared to those living at home. Nursing homes may be regarded as a highly suitable scenario to carry out a periodic MR, due to its high prevalence of frail people and its feasibility to apply the recommendations of an MR. Prospective studies with a robust design should be performed to demonstrate this quasi-experimental study along with a longitudinal follow-up on clinical outcomes.

Factors Associated with the Detection of Inappropriate Prescriptions in Older People: A Prospective Cohort.

(1) Background: Ageing is associated with complex and dynamic changes leading to multimorbidity and, therefore, polypharmacy. The main objectives were to study an older community-dwelling cohort, to detect inappropriate prescriptions (IP) applying the Patient-Centred Prescription model, and to evaluate the most associated factors. (2) Methods: This was a prospective, descriptive, and observational study conducted from June 2019 to October 2020 on patients ≥ 65 years with multimorbidity who lived in the community. Demographic, clinical and pharmacological data were assessed. Variables assessed were: degree of frailty, using the Frail-VIG index; therapeutical complexity and anticholinergic and sedative burden; and the number of chronic drugs to determine polypharmacy or excessive polypharmacy. Finally, a medication review was carried out through the application of the Patient-Centred Prescription model. We used univariate and multivariate regression to identify the factors associated with IP. (3) Results: We recruited 428 patients (66.6% women; mean age 85.5, SD 7.67). A total of 50.9% of them lived in a nursing home; the mean Barthel Index was 49.93 (SD 32.14), and 73.8% of patients suffered some degree of cognitive impairment. The prevalence of frailty was 92.5%. Up to 90% of patients had at least one IP. An increase in IP prevalence was detected when the Frail-VIG index increased (p < 0.05). With the multivariate model, the relationship of polypharmacy with IP detection stands out above all. (4) Conclusions: 90% of patients presented one IP or more, and this situation can be detected through the PCP model. Factors with higher association with IP were frailty and polypharmacy.

Factors Associated with Medication Non-Adherence among Patients with Multimorbidity and Polypharmacy Admitted to an Intermediate Care Center.

Identifying determinants of medication non-adherence in patients with multimorbidity would provide a step forward in developing patient-centered strategies to optimize their care. Medication appropriateness has been proposed to play a major role in medication non-adherence, reinforcing the importance of interdisciplinary medication review. This study examines factors associated with medication non-adherence among older patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy. A cross-sectional study of non-institutionalized patients aged ≥65 years with ≥2 chronic conditions and ≥5 long-term medications admitted to an intermediate care center was performed. Ninety-three patients were included (mean age 83.0 ± 6.1 years). The prevalence of non-adherence based on patients' multiple discretized proportion of days covered was 79.6% (n = 74). According to multivariable analyses, individuals with a suboptimal self-report adherence (by using the Spanish-version Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale) were more likely to be non-adherent to medications (OR = 8.99, 95% CI 2.80-28.84, p < 0.001). Having ≥3 potentially inappropriate prescribing (OR = 3.90, 95% CI 0.95-15.99, p = 0.059) was barely below the level of significance. These two factors seem to capture most of the non-adherence determinants identified in bivariate analyses, including medication burden, medication appropriateness and patients' experiences related to medication management. Thus, the relationship between patients' self-reported adherence and medication appropriateness provides a basis to implement targeted strategies to improve effective prescribing in patients with multimorbidity.

Association between anticholinergic burden and oropharyngeal dysphagia among hospitalized older adults.

BACKGROUND: Oropharyngeal dysphagia is an emerging age-related disorder that affects 23% of inpatients leading to malnutrition, dehydration, or aspiration pneumonia. Anticholinergic drugs can cause reduced peristalsis and dry mouth, both related to dysphagia. AIM: To determine the association between anticholinergic burden and oropharyngeal dysphagia in older inpatients. METHODS: Retrospective descriptive observational study. There are 239 patients. Dysphagia diagnosis based on routine volume-viscosity swallow test. Characteristics: age, functional loss (instrumental and basic activities), frailty (Frail-VIG-Index), geriatric syndromes, polypharmacy, and anticholinergic-cognitive-burden scale at admission. RESULTS: 25.5% of elderly patients diagnosed with dysphagia are more dependent and frailer than non-dysphagic patients. 83.6% scored ≥ 3 points on the ACB Scale [odds ratio: 4.46 (2.13-9.33)], which is statistically associated with dysphagia (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with an ACB of ≥ 3 points at admission are more than four times as likely to develop oropharyngeal dysphagia. Evaluating anticholinergic burden routinely should be considered and, whenever possible, reduce it.

Medication regimen complexity on hospital admission in patients with advanced chronic conditions in need of palliative care.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate characteristics of the medication complexity, risk factors associated with high medication complexity and their clinical consequences in patients with advanced chronic conditions. METHODS: A 10-month cross-sectional study was performed in an acute-hospital care Geriatric Unit. Patients with advanced chronic conditions were identified by the NECPAL test. Medication complexity was established using the Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) tool. Demographic, pharmacological and clinical patient data were collected with the objective of determining risk factors related to high medication complexity. Measured clinical outcomes were hospital length of stay, destination on hospital discharge, in-hospital mortality and 2-year survival. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-five patients (mean age 86.8, SD 5.37; 65.5% female) were recruited. MRCI's mean score was 38 points (SD 16.54, rank: 2.00-98.50), with 57.9% of patients with high medication complexity (MRCI >35 points).

Modelo de Prescripción Centrado en la Persona para mejorar la adherencia terapéutica en pacientes con multimorbilidad / Patient-Centered Prescription Model to improve therapeutic adherence in patients with multimorbidity

Según los estudios disponibles, la eficacia de las intervenciones para mejorar la adherencia terapéutica en pacientes con multimorbilidad es limitada e inconsistente; por ello, debemos definir nuevos modelos de intervención que incorporen como elementos clave la atención centrada en la persona, el abordaje interdisciplinar y la orientación a la mejora de la adecuación terapéutica. En este sentido, el Modelo de Prescripción Centrado en la Persona ha demostrado su capacidad para adecuar la prescripción a las necesidades de pacientes con complejidad clínica. Para ello, incorpora cuatro etapas consecutivas: 1) valoración centrada en el paciente; 2) valoración centrada en el diagnóstico; 3) valoración centrada en el fármaco, y 4) propuesta de plan terapéutico. Proponemos, a través de un caso práctico, una adaptación del Modelo de Prescripción Centrado en la Persona como estrategia para mejorar la adherencia terapéutica. Para ello, en la primera etapa del modelo hemos incorporado una herramienta para la valoración multidimensional de la adherencia adaptada transculturalmente al español. Posteriormente, proponemos un conjunto de intervenciones a aplicar en las tres etapas restantes del modelo. Dichas intervenciones han sido identificadas en un resumen de revisiones sistemáticas y posteriormente seleccionadas mediante la metodología Delphi. Todos estos elementos han sido considerados adecuados en pacientes con multimorbilidad por la solidez de su evidencia, su utilidad potencial en la población diana y la factibilidad de su aplicación en la práctica clínica. La aproximación propuesta pretende sentar las bases de un modelo de cambio respecto al abordaje de la adherencia en el paciente con multimorbilidad

To date, interventions to improve medication adherence in patients with multimorbidity have shown modest and inconsistent efficacy among available studies. Thereby, we should define new approaches aimed at improving medication adherence tailored to effective prescribing, with a multidisciplinary approach and patient-centered. In this regard, the Patient-Centered Prescription Model has shown its usefulness on improving appropriateness of drug treatments in patients with clinical complexity. For that, this strategy addresses the following four steps: 1) Patient-Centered assessment; 2) Diagnosis-Centered assessment; 3) Medication-Centered assessment; and 4) Therapeutic Plan. We propose through a clinical case an adaptation of the Patient-Centered Prescription Model to enhance both appropriateness and medication adherence in patients with multimorbidity. To this end, we have included on its first step the Spanish version of a cross-culturally adapted scale for the multidimensional assessment of medication adherence. Furthermore, we suggest a set of interventions to be applied in the three remaining steps of the model. These interventions were firstly identified by an overview of systematic reviews and then selected by a panel of experts based on Delphi methodology. All of these elements have been considered appropriate in patients with multimorbidity according to three criteria: strength of their supporting evidence, usefulness in the target population and feasibility of implementation in clinical practice. The proposed approach intends to lay the foundations for an innovative way in tackling medication adherence in patients with multimorbidity

Patient-Centered Prescription Model to improve therapeutic adherence in patients with multimorbidity.

To date, interventions to improve medication adherence in patients with multimorbidity have shown modest and inconsistent efficacy among  available studies. Thereby, we should define new approaches aimed at improving medication adherence tailored to effective prescribing, with a multidisciplinary approach and patient-centered.In this regard, the Patient-Centered Prescription Model has shown its usefulness on improving appropriateness of drug treatments in patients with clinical complexity. For that, this strategy addresses the following four steps: 1) Patient-Centered assessment; 2) Diagnosis-Centered assessment; 3) Medication-Centered assessment; and 4) Therapeutic Plan.We propose through a clinical case an adaptation of the Patient-Centered Prescription Model to enhance both appropriateness and medication adherence in patients with multimorbidity. To this end, we have  included on its first step the Spanish version of a cross-culturally adapted scale  for the multidimensional assessment of medication adherence. Furthermore, we suggest a set of interventions to be applied in the three remaining steps of  the model. These interventions were firstly identified by an overview of systematic reviews and then selected by a panel of experts based on Delphi methodology.All of these elements have been considered appropriate in patients with multimorbidity according to three criteria: strength of their supporting  evidence, usefulness in the target population and feasibility of implementation in clinical practice.The proposed approach intends to lay the foundations for an innovative way in  tackling medication adherence in patients with multimorbidity.

Según los estudios disponibles, la eficacia de las intervenciones para mejorar la  adherencia terapéutica en pacientes con multimorbilidad es limitada e  inconsistente; por ello, debemos definir nuevos modelos de intervención que  incorporen como elementos clave la atención centrada en la persona, el abordaje interdisciplinar y la orientación a la mejora de la adecuación terapéutica.En este sentido, el Modelo de Prescripción Centrado en la Persona ha  demostrado su capacidad para adecuar la prescripción a las necesidades de  pacientes con complejidad clínica. Para ello, incorpora cuatro etapas consecutivas: 1) valoración centrada en el paciente; 2) valoración  centrada en el diagnóstico; 3) valoración centrada en el fármaco, y 4) propuesta de plan terapéutico.Proponemos, a través de un caso práctico, una adaptación del Modelo de Prescripción Centrado en la Persona como estrategia para mejorar la  adherencia terapéutica. Para ello, en la primera etapa del modelo hemos  incorporado una herramienta para la valoración multidimensional de la  adherencia adaptada transculturalmente al español. Posteriormente,  proponemos un conjunto de intervenciones a aplicar en las tres etapas restantes del modelo. Dichas intervenciones han sido identificadas en un resumen de  revisiones sistemáticas y posteriormente seleccionadas mediante la metodología  Delphi. Todos estos elementos han sido considerados adecuados en pacientes  con multimorbilidad por la solidez de su evidencia, su utilidad potencial en la población diana y la factibilidad de su aplicación en la práctica clínica. La  aproximación propuesta pretende sentar las bases de un modelo de cambio respecto al abordaje de la adherencia en el paciente con multimorbilidad.

Prevalence, risk factors and adverse outcomes of anticholinergic burden in patients with advanced chronic conditions at hospital admission.

AIM: To evaluate the anticholinergic burden (ACB), the risk factors associated with its onset and the clinical consequences for patients with advanced chronic conditions. METHODS: A 10-month cross-sectional study was carried out in an acute hospital care geriatric unit. Patients with advanced chronic conditions were identified by the NECessity of PALliative care (NECPAL) test. The ACB was established using the Anticholinergic Drug Scale and Drug Burden Index (DBI) tools. Demographic, pharmacological and clinical patient data were collected with the objective of determining risk factors related to ACB. Measured clinical outcomes were the presence of acute confusional state, bone fractures, length of stay, mortality and 12-month survival rate. RESULTS: A total of 235 patients were recruited (mean age 86.80 years, SD 5.37 years; 65.50% women), and 82.10% (DBI) and 93.6% (Anticholinergic Drug Scale) of the patients were treated with anticholinergic medications. Excessive polypharmacy (≥10 drugs) was identified as a risk factor for the presence of anticholinergic medication (Anticholinergic Drug Scale: OR 6.26, 95% CI 1.38-28.42; DBI: OR 3.44, 95% CI 1.60-7.38). High anticholinergic burden (by DBI >2 points) was an independent risk factor for the presence of acute confusional state on hospital admission (OR 2.98, 95% CI 1.04-8.50). However, ACB was not related to bone fractures on admission, length of stay, mortality or survival. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with advanced chronic conditions are frequently treated with anticholinergic drugs, with excessive polypharmacy as a risk factor. Anticholinergic drugs are a risk factor for the presence of acute confusional state on hospital admission, but have no other effect in terms of morbimortality. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1159-1165.

Frail-VIG index: a concise frailty evaluation tool for rapid geriatric assessment.

BACKGROUND: Demographic changes have led to an increase in the number of elderly frail persons and, consequently, systematic geriatric assessment is more important than ever. Frailty Indexes (FI) may be particularly useful to discriminate between various degrees of frailty but are not routinely assessed due, at least in part, to the large number of deficits assessed (from 30 to 70). Therefore, we have developed a new, more concise FI for rapid geriatric assessment (RGA)-the Frail-VIG index ("VIG" is the Spanish/Catalan abbreviation for Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment), which contains 22 simple questions that assess 25 different deficits. Here we describe this FI and report its ability to predict mortality at 24 months. METHODS: Prospective, observational, longitudinal study of geriatric patients followed for 24 months or until death. The study participants were patients (n = 590) admitted to the Acute Geriatric Unit at the at the University Hospital of Vic (Barcelona) during the year 2014. Participants were classified into one of seven groups based on their Frail-VIG score (0-0.15; 0.16-0.25; 0.26-0.35; 0.36-0.45; 0.46-0.55; 0.56-0.65; and 0.66-1). Survival curves for these groups were compared using the log-rank test. ROC curves were used to assess the index's capacity to predict mortality at 24 months. RESULTS: Mean (standard deviation) patient age was 86.4 (5.6) years. The 24-month mortality rate was 57.3% for the whole sample. Significant between-group (deceased vs. living) differences (p < 0.05) were observed for most index variables. Survival curves for the seven Frail-VIG groups differed significantly (X2 = 433.4, p < 0.001), with an area under the ROC curve (confidence interval) of 0.90 (0.88-0.92) at 12 months and 0.85 (0.82-0.88) at 24 months. Administration time for the Frail-VIG index ranged from 5 to 10 min. CONCLUSIONS: The Frail-VIG index, which requires less time to administer than previously validated FIs, presents a good discriminative capacity for the degree of frailty and a high predictive capacity for mortality in the present cohort. Although more research is needed to confirm the validity of this instrument in other populations and settings, the Frail-VIG may provide clinicians with a RGA method and also a reliable tool to assess frailty in routine practice.

Potentially inappropriate medication in palliative care patients according to STOPP-Frail criteria.

BACKGROUND: Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are common in palliative care patients, but no specific tools have been used to determine these PIMs. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of PIMs according to specific tool 'STOPP-Frail', related factors with its existence and clinical consequences. METHODS: This is a post hoc analysis from a 10-month prospective cross-sectional study. Upon hospital admission in an acute geriatric unit (AGU), demographic and pharmacological data were collected to determine related associated factors. The main outcome was prevalence and type of PIMs (by STOPP-Frail criteria). Measured clinical outcomes were adverse drug events, length of stay, location upon discharge, in-hospital mortality and 1-year survival. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-five patients (mean age 86.80; 65.50% women) were recruited. Overall, 67.2% of patients had ≥ 1 criterion (mainly 'drugs without clinical indication' due to alimentary tract and metabolism drugs). Related factors associated with PIMs according to STOPP-Frail criteria were moderate polypharmacy (OR 7.16 CI 95% 2.27-22.52) and excessive polypharmacy (OR 7.30 CI 95% 2.34-22.73), but not advanced age (OR 0.26 CI 95% 0.12-0.53) or previous hospitalisations (OR 0.61 CI 95% 0.48-0.79). There were no differences in clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: PIMs according to STOPP-Frail are often used in palliative care patients. PIMs were associated with polypharmacy, but no related morbidity or mortality effects have been observed.

Modelo de prescripción centrado en la persona para mejorar la adecuación y adherencia terapéutica en los pacientes con multimorbilidad / Patient-centred prescription model to improve adequate prescription and therapeutic adherence in patients with multiple disorders

Las personas con multimorbilidad y polifarmacia se asocian con frecuencia a la complejidad clínica, entendida como aquella situación de incertidumbre condicionada por las dificultades en establecer un diagnóstico situacional y la toma de decisiones. En este grupo poblacional, la atención centrada en la persona se propone como uno de los mejores enfoques terapéuticos. En este contexto, el elemento práctico más relevante es la elaboración de un plan terapéutico individualizado, donde el plan farmacológico mantiene un rol relevante. En estos últimos años se ha observado un incremento importante del conocimiento en el ámbito de la adecuación de la prescripción y de la adherencia. Dadas estas circunstancias, es necesario encontrar un modelo que facilite a los profesionales la incorporación de este conocimiento a la práctica clínica. La prescripción centrada en la persona es un modelo de revisión de la medicación que engloba diferentes estrategias en una misma intervención. Se realiza por un equipo multidisciplinar y permite adecuar el plan farmacológico de pacientes con complejidad clínica (AU)

Patients with multiple disorders and on multiple medication are often associated with clinical complexity, defined as a situation of uncertainty conditioned by difficulties in establishing a situational diagnosis and decision-making. The patient-centred care approach in this population group seems to be one of the best therapeutic options. In this context, the preparation of an individualised therapeutic plan is the most relevant practical element, where the pharmacological plan maintains an important role. There has recently been a significant increase in knowledge in the area of adequacy of prescription and adherence. In this context, we must find a model must be found that incorporates this knowledge into clinical practice by the professionals. Person-centred prescription is a medication review model that includes different strategies in a single intervention. It is performed by a multidisciplinary team, and allows them to adapt the pharmacological plan of patients with clinical complexity (AU)

Potentially inappropriate medication at hospital admission in patients with palliative care needs.

Background Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are common in older patients with polypharmacy, and are related to negative clinical results. Little information is available on the characteristics and consequences of PIMs in patients with advanced chronic conditions and palliative care needs. Objective To evaluate, for this population: (i) the prevalence of PIMs; (ii) the possible risk factors associated with its onset; and (iii) the related clinical consequences. Setting Acute-hospital care Geriatric Unit (AGU) in County of Osona, Spain. Method Ten-month prospective cross-sectional study. Patients with palliative care needs were identified according to the NECPAL CCOMS-ICO® test. Upon hospital admission, a multidisciplinary team consisting of a pharmacist and two AGU physicians determined the PIMs of the routine chronic medication of the patients. Sociodemographic and pharmacological data were collected with the objective of determining possible risk factors related to the existence of PIMs. Main outcome measure Prevalence and type of PIMs according to STOPP version 2 and MAI criteria at the time of hospital admission. Furthermore, days of hospital admission, destination at hospital discharge and survival analysis at 12 months related to PIMs were evaluated. Results Two hundred thirty-five patients (mean age 86.80, SD 5.37; 65.50% women) were recruited. According to the STOPP criteria, 88.50% of patients had ≥1 criterion (mainly 'indication of medication', followed by those that affect the nervous system and psychotropic drugs and risk drugs in people suffering from falls), and according to the MAI tool, 97.40% of the patients had some criterion related to inappropriate medication (mainly, duration of therapy). The following conditions were identified as risk factors for the existence of PIMs: insomnia, anxiety-depressive disorder, falls, pain, excessive polypharmacy and therapeutic complexity. There were no differences among patients in days of hospital stay, discharge's destination or survival at 12 months, regardless of the tool used. Conclusion The presence of PIMs is high in patients requiring palliative care. Some potentially modifiable risk factors such as the pharmacological ones are associated with a greater presence of inappropriate medication. The presence of PIMs does not affect this population in terms of mortality.

Índice frágil-VIG: diseño y evaluación de un índice de fragilidad basado en la Valoración Integral Geriátrica / Frail-VIG index: design and evaluation of a new frailty index based on the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment

Introducción. La fragilidad es una condición crónica íntimamente relacionada con resultados de salud. Los índices de fragilidad (IF) -que comparten con la valoración integral geriátrica (VIG) su naturaleza multidimensional- son herramientas diseñadas para medir cuantitativamente el grado de fragilidad. Aunque los IF han demostrado excelente correlación con mortalidad, su uso en la práctica clínica es aún limitado. Ante la necesidad de nuevos IF más sintéticos y pragmáticos, se ha diseñado y evaluado un nuevo IF, basado en la VIG (IF-VIG). Material y métodos. Estudio observacional longitudinal prospectivo de una cohorte de pacientes que ingresaron en la Unidad Geriátrica de Agudos del Hospital Universitari de Vic a lo largo del año 2014. Se ha efectuado seguimiento hasta 12 meses o constar defunción, realizando contraste de hipótesis log-rank para las curvas de supervivencia según IF-VIG y análisis de curvas ROC para determinar la capacidad pronóstica. Resultados. Se incluyeron 590 pacientes (edad media 86,39 años), con una mortalidad al año del 46,4%. En el análisis comparativo se constatan diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p<0,05) para casi la totalidad de variables incluidas en el IF-VIG. Para las distintas puntuaciones del IF-VIG, las curvas de supervivencia también muestran diferencias significativas (X2=445, p<0,001). El área bajo la curva ROC a 12 meses es de 0,9 (0,88-0,92). Se estima un tiempo de administración inferior a 10min. Conclusiones. Los resultados avalan el IF-VIG como una herramienta sencilla (respecto al contenido), rápida (en el tiempo de administración), con capacidad discriminativa (en el diagnóstico situacional) y predictiva (con elevada correlación con mortalidad) (AU)

Introduction. Frailty is closely linked to health results. Frailty indexes (FI) and the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) are multidimensional tools. FI serve to quantitatively measure frailty levels. They have shown to have an excellent correlation with mortality. However, they are infrequently used in clinical practice. Given the need for new, more concise, and pragmatic FI, a new FI is proposed based on a CGA (Frail-VIG Index). Material and methods. A prospective, observational, longitudinal study was conducted, with cohort follow up at 12 months or death. Participants were patients admitted in the Geriatric Unit of the University Hospital of Vic (Barcelona, Spain) during 2014. Contrast of hypothesis log-rank for survival curves according to Frail-VIG index, and analysis of ROC curves were performed to assess prognostic capacity. Results. A total of 590 patients were included (mean age=86.39). Mortality rate at 12 months was 46.4%. The comparative analysis showed statistically significant differences (P<.05) for almost all variables included in the Frail-VIG index. Survival curves also show significant differences (X2=445, P<.001) for the different Frail-VIG index scores. The area under the ROC curve at 12 months was 0.9 (0.88-0.92). An administration time of the Index is estimated at less than 10minutes. Conclusions. Results endorse the Frail-VIG index as a simple (as for contents), rapid (for administration time) tool, with discriminative (for situational diagnosis) and predictive capacity (high correlation with mortality) (AU)

[Patient-centred prescription model to improve adequate prescription and therapeutic adherence in patients with multiple disorders]. / Modelo de prescripción centrado en la persona para mejorar la adecuación y adherencia terapéutica en los pacientes con multimorbilidad.

Patients with multiple disorders and on multiple medication are often associated with clinical complexity, defined as a situation of uncertainty conditioned by difficulties in establishing a situational diagnosis and decision-making. The patient-centred care approach in this population group seems to be one of the best therapeutic options. In this context, the preparation of an individualised therapeutic plan is the most relevant practical element, where the pharmacological plan maintains an important role. There has recently been a significant increase in knowledge in the area of adequacy of prescription and adherence. In this context, we must find a model must be found that incorporates this knowledge into clinical practice by the professionals. Person-centred prescription is a medication review model that includes different strategies in a single intervention. It is performed by a multidisciplinary team, and allows them to adapt the pharmacological plan of patients with clinical complexity.

Adverse drug events in patients with advanced chronic conditions who have a prognosis of limited life expectancy at hospital admission.

PURPOSE: Adverse drug events (ADEs) lead to adverse clinical outcomes such as hospitalization. There is little information about the characteristics of ADEs in patients with advanced chronic conditions and have a prognosis of limited life expectancy. This study aimed to evaluate (i) the prevalence of ADEs at the time of admission to hospital, (ii) the causality, severity, and preventability of the ADEs, and (iii) the clinical and pharmacological characteristics associated with the ADEs. METHODS: This is a prospective cross-sectional study (county of Osona, Catalonia, Spain). We included patients who required palliative care as identified by the NECPAL CCOMS-ICO tool who were hospitalized in an acute geriatric unit (AGU). A system of alerts (trigger tool) was used together with a multidisciplinary review for the detection of the ADEs. RESULTS: Over the course of 10 months, 235 patients were recruited. Seventy-six ADEs affecting 24.68 % of the sample were identified, and of these, 23 (30.26 % of the ADEs; 8.51 % of the sample) were directly related to hospitalization. The multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the following risk factors: presence of extreme polypharmacy (≥10 medications) (OR = 3.02; 95 % CI = 1.48-6.19), anticholinergic burden according to the Anticholinergic Drug Scale (ADS) (OR = 2.32; 95 % CI = 1.13-4.78), and treatment complexity according to the Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) scale (OR = 2.90; 95 % CI = 1.44-5.83). The vast majority (94.45 %) of the ADEs were considered to be preventable. There were no differences in the survival of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: ADEs are common, largely preventable, and implicated in the hospitalization of patients who require palliative care.

[Frail-VIG index: Design and evaluation of a new frailty index based on the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment]. / Índice frágil-VIG: diseño y evaluación de un índice de fragilidad basado en la Valoración Integral Geriátrica.

INTRODUCTION: Frailty is closely linked to health results. Frailty indexes (FI) and the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) are multidimensional tools. FI serve to quantitatively measure frailty levels. They have shown to have an excellent correlation with mortality. However, they are infrequently used in clinical practice. Given the need for new, more concise, and pragmatic FI, a new FI is proposed based on a CGA (Frail-VIG Index). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective, observational, longitudinal study was conducted, with cohort follow up at 12 months or death. Participants were patients admitted in the Geriatric Unit of the University Hospital of Vic (Barcelona, Spain) during 2014. Contrast of hypothesis log-rank for survival curves according to Frail-VIG index, and analysis of ROC curves were performed to assess prognostic capacity. RESULTS: A total of 590 patients were included (mean age=86.39). Mortality rate at 12 months was 46.4%. The comparative analysis showed statistically significant differences (P<.05) for almost all variables included in the Frail-VIG index. Survival curves also show significant differences (X2=445, P<.001) for the different Frail-VIG index scores. The area under the ROC curve at 12 months was 0.9 (0.88-0.92). An administration time of the Index is estimated at less than 10minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Results endorse the Frail-VIG index as a simple (as for contents), rapid (for administration time) tool, with discriminative (for situational diagnosis) and predictive capacity (high correlation with mortality).

Esclerosis lateral amiotrófica y disfagia en el anciano / Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and dysphagia in the elderly

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