Impact of pharmacist interventions provided in the emergency department on quality use of medicines: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacists have an increasing role as part of the emergency department (ED) team. However, the impact of ED-based pharmacy interventions on the quality use of medicines has not been well characterised. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to synthesise evidence from studies examining the impact of interventions provided by pharmacists on the quality use of medicines in adults presenting to ED. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL. Two independent reviewers screened titles/abstracts and reviewed full texts. Studies that compared the impact of interventions provided by pharmacists with usual care in ED and reported medication-related primary outcomes were included. Cochrane Risk of Bias-2 and Newcastle-Ottawa tools were used to assess the risk of bias. Summary estimates were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis, along with sensitivity and sub-group analyses. RESULTS: Thirty-one studies involving 13 242 participants were included. Pharmacists were predominantly involved in comprehensive medication review, advanced pharmacotherapy assessment, staff and patient education, identification of medication discrepancies and drug-related problems, medication prescribing and co-prescribing, and medication preparation and administration. The activities reduced the number of medication errors by a mean of 0.33 per patient (95% CI -0.42 to -0.23, I2=51%) and the proportion of patients with at least one error by 73% (risk ratio (RR)=0.27, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.40, I2=85.3%). The interventions were also associated with more complete and accurate medication histories, increased appropriateness of prescribed medications by 58% (RR=1.58, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.06, I2=95%) and quicker initiation of time-critical medications. CONCLUSION: The evidence indicates improved quality use of medicines when pharmacists are included in ED care teams. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020165234.

A Systematic Review Evaluating the Use of the interRAI Home Care Instrument in Research for Older People.

Objective: To summarize studies that used the international Resident Assessment home care instrument (interRAI HC) to examine study outcomes for older people. Methods: A comprehensive systematic search was performed to identify relevant studies, using five databases from 1990 until October 2016. The Cochrane Risk-Bias assessment tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of RCTs and non-RCTs, respectively. Results: Based on the full-text analysis, 40 studies met the inclusion criteria out of 506 total records. The review included 6 RCTs, 2 quasi-experimental, 17 prospective and retrospective studies, 13 cross-sectional and 2 longitudinal studies. A series of interventions and/or applications were identified from this review that employed the use of interRAI HC instrument: (a) in health services, (b) as a new integrated care model and for implementing machine learning algorithm, (c) as a comprehensive geriatric assessment tool, (d) in case management, (e) for care planning and screening, (f) in drug therapy assessment, (g) to assess caregiver burden, and (h) for various risk assessments. Studies that employed the interRAI HC instrument reported an array of health-outcome measures mostly related to functional, cognition, hospitalization and mortality. Conclusions: Application of the interRAI HC tool varied markedly across all studies, and the outcomes measures were heterogeneous. Future research directions are discussed. Clinical Implications: The results from this study facilitate the use of interRAI HC as a tool to measure an intervention's effect that leads to improvements in specific geriatric-related health outcome measures emphasizes on functional status and quality of life and ascertain its utility as a quality indicator for the care of older individuals.

An overview of pharmacodynamic modelling, ligand-binding approach and its application in clinical practice.

The study of the magnitude and variation of drug response is defined as pharmacodynamics (PDs). PD models examine plasma concentration and effect relationship. It can predict the archetypal effect ([Formula: see text]) of a drug as a function of the drug concentration ([Formula: see text]) and estimate an unknown PD parameter ([Formula: see text]). The PD models have been described as fixed, linear, log-linear, [Formula: see text], sigmoid [Formula: see text], and indirect PD response. Ligand binding model is an example of a PD model that works on the underpinning PD principle of a drug, eliciting its pharmacological effect at the receptor site. The pharmacological effect is produced by the drug binding to the receptor to either activate or antagonise the receptor. Ligand binding models describe a system of interacting components, i.e. the interaction of one or more ligands with one or more binding sites. The [Formula: see text] model is the central method that provides an empirical justification for the concentration/dose-effect relationship. However, for ligand binding models justification is provided by theory of receptor occupancy. In essence, for ligand binding models, the term [Formula: see text] is best used to describe the fraction of receptors occupied at a particular ligand concentration. It is stated that the [Formula: see text], which means the effect of a drug should depend on the fraction of receptors that are occupied. In the future, network-based systems pharmacology models using ligand binding principles could be an effective way of understanding drug-related adverse effects. This will facilitate and strengthen the development of rational drug therapy in clinical practice.

Temporal Trends in Polypharmacy and Hyperpolypharmacy in Older New Zealanders over a 9-Year Period: 2005­2013.

BACKGROUND: Polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy are proxy indicators for inappropriate medicine use. Inappropriate medicine use in older people leads to adverse clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence and trends of polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy in older people in New Zealand from 2005 to 2013, analyzing the pharmaceutical collections maintained by the Ministry of Health. METHODS: A repeated cross-sectional analysis of population-level dispensing data was conducted from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2013. Polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy in individuals were defined as the use of 5-9 medicines and ≥10 medicines, respectively, dispensed concurrently for a period of ≥90 days. Differences in polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy between 2005 and 2013 were examined. A multinomial regression model was used to predict sociodemographic characteristics associated with polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy. RESULTS: Polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy were found to be higher in 2013 compared to 2005 (polypharmacy: 29.5 vs. 23.4%, p<0.001; hyperpolypharmacy: 2.1 vs. 1.3%, p<0.001). The risk of polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy was higher in females, in those aged 80-84 years, in the Maori population (for polypharmacy) and the Middle Eastern, Latin American, or African population (for hyperpolypharmacy), in people living in the Southern-district health board, and in individuals with increasing deprivation. CONCLUSION: The population of New Zealand is aging and the number of older people with multiple chronic conditions is increasing. The proportion of older people exposed to polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy has increased in 2013 compared to 2005. Our study provides important information to alert health policy makers, researchers, and clinicians about the dire need to reduce the medication burden in older New Zealanders.

Anticholinergic burden quantified by anticholinergic risk scales and adverse outcomes in older people: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The cumulative effect of taking multiple medicines with anticholinergic properties termed as anticholinergic burden can adversely impact cognition, physical function and increase the risk of mortality. Expert opinion derived risk scales are routinely used in research and clinical practice to quantify anticholinergic burden. These scales rank the anticholinergic activity of medicines into four categories, ranging from no anticholinergic activity (= 0) to definite/high anticholinergic activity (= 3). The aim of this systematic review was to compare anticholinergic burden quantified by the anticholinergic risk scales and evaluate associations with adverse outcomes in older people. METHODS: We conducted a literature search in Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO from 1984-2014 to identify expert opinion derived anticholinergic risk scales. In addition to this, a citation analysis was performed in Web of Science and Google Scholar to track prospective citing of references of selected articles for assessment of individual scales for adverse anticholinergic outcomes. The primary outcomes of interest were functional and cognitive outcomes associated with anticholinergic burden in older people. The critical appraisals of the included studies were performed by two independent reviewers and the data were extracted onto standardised forms. RESULTS: The primary electronic literature search identified a total of 1250 records in the 3 different databases. On the basis of full-text analysis, we identified 7 expert-based anticholinergic rating scales that met the inclusion criteria. The rating of anticholinergic activity for medicines among these rating scales was inconsistent. For example, quetiapine was rated as having high anticholinergic activity in one scale (n = 1), moderate in another scale (n = 1) and low in two other scales (n = 2). Citation analysis of the individual scales showed that the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) scale was the most frequently validated expert based anticholinergic scale for adverse outcomes (N = 13). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, there is not one standardised tool for measuring anticholinergic burden. Cohort studies have shown that higher anticholinergic burden is associated with negative brain effects, poorer cognitive and functional outcomes.

Study on the Classification, Causality, Preventability and Severity of Adverse Drug Reaction Using Spontaneous Reporting System in Hospitalized Patients.

Hospital-based adverse drug reaction (ADR) monitoring and reporting programs intend to identify and quantify the risks associated with the use of medicines. To examine the causality, preventability and severity of ADR in a hospital setting; a prospective cohort study on spontaneous ADR reporting was conducted from December 2015 to May 2016. Incidence of ADRs, causality, type, severity and preventability were assessed using necessary assessment scales. The study included 3157 hospitalized individuals, in whom 51 ADRs were detected among 49 patients. The overall incidence of suspected ADRs was found to be 1.6%. According to the causality assessment, most of the ADRs reported were probable (n = 26, 51.0%), and type A (augmented/pharmacological) reactions (n = 39, 76%) were the most common type of ADR found. The majority of ADRs were moderate to severe (n = 35, 68.6%), of which 37.3% were found to be potentially preventable. Predictability was observed in 28 (54.9%) reported ADRs. The prescribed medicines most frequently associated with ADRs were antibiotics, antiepileptics and antihypertensives. This feasibility study was able to highlight the clinical pharmacist's role in ADR monitoring service and create awareness about the way it could be done to promote safer medication use. Similar ADR reporting programs are necessary to educate and to improve awareness among healthcare professionals in some countries.

Temporal trends in the use of antidiabetic medicines: a nationwide 9-year study in older people living in New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: The global burden of diabetes is increasing worldwide. The aim of the study was to investigate the trends in use of antidiabetic medicines among older New Zealanders between 2005 and 2013, and to perform a separate analysis by age, sex, ethnicity, district health board domicile and socioeconomic deprivation index. METHODS: The study population included individuals' aged 65 years and older living in New Zealand (NZ) captured in the pharmaceutical collections. Repeated cross-sectional analysis of population-level dispensing data was conducted from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2013. Linear regression model using a gamma link function was used to estimate prevalence ratios and trends between 2005 and 2013. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of antidiabetic medicines in older New Zealanders. RESULTS: The prevalence of antidiabetic medicines in older New Zealanders increased by 17.6% between 2005 and 2013. Individuals in the 70-74 age group had the highest utilization of each of the classes of antidiabetic medicines and those aged ⩾85 had the lowest utilization. Among the antidiabetic class of medicines, utilization of sulfonylureas was highest and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors the least. The utilization of thiazolidinediones increased over the study period. In 2013, insulin isophane and insulin glargine were the most common insulin analogues used. Insulin use was high in those aged ⩾85 years across the entire study period. The utilization of metformin increased gradually throughout the study period (by 43.9% in 2013 compared with 2005). CONCLUSION: This population-level study showed an increase in utilization of antidiabetic medicines in older people in NZ from 2005 to 2013; however, the increase does not seem to parallel the proportional increase in prevalence of diabetes for the study period. Improving access to newer antidiabetic medicines in line with emerging evidence should be a consideration for decision makers.

Examination and Estimation of Anticholinergic Burden: Current Trends and Implications for Future Research.

It is postulated that minimizing anticholinergic burden in older people may result in improved short-term memory and behavior, reduced confusion and delirium, and enhanced quality of life and daily functioning. The purpose of this opinion article was to investigate the current trends and future implications relating to the examination and estimation of anticholinergic burden in older people. Current evidence linking medicines with anticholinergic activity and cognitive impairment is derived mostly from observational data. Further research with larger trials or cohort studies with adequate power and appropriate follow-up periods is required to confirm associations between anticholinergic burden and adverse outcomes. This article provides insights into different approaches for the estimation of anticholinergic burden. Network-based systems pharmacology models could be an effective way of understanding anticholinergic drug-induced adverse effects. The emphasis on mechanistic models may open new opportunities for researchers to understand adverse drug effects in clinical practice. In the interim, medicines with high anticholinergic activity should be avoided in older people, unless considered clinically essential. In this instance, they should be used at a low/titrated dose and for the shortest duration possible. It is therefore important to reinforce the clinical significance of reviewing anticholinergic medicines in older people.

Serum Anticholinergic Activity and Cognitive and Functional Adverse Outcomes in Older People: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Studies have reported associations between serum anticholinergic activity (SAA) and decline in cognitive performance, delirium, and functional impairment. The aim of this meta-analysis was to explore and quantify associations between SAA and adverse cognitive and functional outcomes in older people. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search in Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and IPA from 1946-2014 was completed. The primary outcomes of interest were cognitive and functional adverse outcomes associated with SAA in older people aged 55 years and above. The Cochrane Risk-Bias assessment tool was used to assess bias in randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of non-RCTs. Meta-analyses were conducted for RCTs and cohort studies separately. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 tests. RESULTS: The primary electronic literature search identified a total of 1559 records in the 4 different databases. On the basis of full-text analysis, 33 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The review included 4 RCTs, 5 prospective cohort studies, 3 longitudinal cohort studies, 17 cross-sectional studies, and 4 case-control studies. Twenty-four of the retrieved studies examined an association between SAA and cognitive outcomes, 2 studies examined an association with SAA and functional outcomes and 8 studies examined associations between SAA and both cognitive, and functional outcomes. The meta-analysis on 4 RCTs showed no association with higher SAA and cognitive performance (I2 = 89.38%, H2 = 25.53 and p-value = <0.05) however, the pooled data from 4 observational studies showed elevated SAA was associated with reduced cognitive performance (I2 = 0.00%, H2 = 3.37 and p-value = 0.34). CONCLUSION: This systematic review summarises the limitations of the SAA on predicting cognitive and functional outcomes in older people. SAA measured by receptor bioassay is flawed and its use in older people with multimorbidity and polypharmacy is questionable.

Anticholinergics: theoretical and clinical overview.

INTRODUCTION: Anticholinergics are a class of medicines that block the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, in the brain and peripheral tissues. Medicines with anticholinergic activity are widely prescribed for and used by older people for various medical conditions. One-third to one-half of the medicines commonly prescribed for older people have anticholinergic activity. Several studies have reported anticholinergic burden to be a predictor of cognitive and functional impairments in older people. AREAS COVERED: This article exemplifies the theoretical and clinical aspects of medicines with anticholinergic activity, including pharmacology (definition of medicines that possess anticholinergic activity, antimuscarinic receptors, therapeutic and adverse effects), epidemiology, measures and effects of cumulative anticholinergic burden in older adults, and clinical recommendations. In addition, the gaps in the literature have been identified for future research. EXPERT OPINION: Many medicines that are commonly prescribed to older people have a degree of anticholinergic activity that can contribute to anticholinergic burden. Anticholinergic burden, measured in several ways that consider number, dose and/or degree of anticholinergic activity of medicines, has shown to be a predictor of adverse health and functional outcomes. The anticholinergic burden on older people should be minimised by avoiding, reducing dose and deprescribing medicines with anticholinergic activity where clinically possible.

Credentials for a PharmD graduate: The voyage never ends.

Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) is a professional pharmacy degree qualification offered by universities world-wide. While the graduates from the West are familiar with scope and job opportunities that present on completion of a PharmD degree, graduates from Asia and the Middle-East are coming to grips with the future of PharmD program and the role that it could play in career advancement. Through this review, we would like to highlight that numerous credential programs are available which can be added to the armory of PharmD graduates for advancement of their professional careers. The credentials detailed in this review are designed for PharmD graduates to optimize pharmaceutical care in specialized clinical settings such as geriatrics and ambulatory medicine. We have assembled an extensive list of post-PharmD educational opportunities to enhance professional practice for pharmacy graduates.

The Influence of Patient Characteristics on Anticholinergic Events in Older People.

AIMS: To examine patient characteristics that predict adverse anticholinergic-type events in older people. METHODS: This retrospective population-level study included 2,248 hospitalised patients. Individual data on medicines that are commonly associated with anticholinergic events (delirium, constipation and urinary retention) were identified. Patient characteristics examined were medicines with anticholinergic effects (ACh burden), age, sex, non-anticholinergic medicines (non-ACM), Charlson comorbidity index scores and ethnicity. The Akaike information criterion was used for model selection. The data were analysed using logistic regression models for anticholinergic events using the software NONMEM. RESULTS: ACh burden was found to be a significant independent predictor for developing an anticholinergic event [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 3.21, 95% CI: 1.23-5.81] for those taking an average of 5 anticholinergic medicines compared to those taking 1. Both non-ACM and age were also independent risk factors (aOR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.31-1.51 and aOR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.05-1.10, respectively). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study that has examined population-level data in a nonlinear model framework to predict anticholinergic-type adverse events. This study evaluated the relationship between important patient characteristics and the occurrence of anticholinergic-type events. These findings reinforce the clinical significance of reviewing anticholinergic medicines in older people.

Comparison of anticholinergic risk scales and associations with adverse health outcomes in older people.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether anticholinergic burden scores from nine published anticholinergic scales are associated with adverse health outcomes, including hospital admissions, hospitalizations for falls, hospital length of stay (LOS), and more visits to general practitioners (GPs). DESIGN: Pharmacoepidemiological population-based study. SETTING: New Zealand. PARTICIPANTS: Population aged 65 and older (n = 537,387). MEASUREMENTS: Data were analyzed for 537,387 individuals from the Pharmaceutical Claims Data Mart data set (2011). Anticholinergic medication exposure was calculated using nine published scales. Events information (2012) was extracted from the National Minimum Datasets using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, codes. Predictors of hospital admissions, hospitalizations for falls, LOS, and GP visits were examined using regression models adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, comorbidities, and polypharmacy. RESULTS: Prevalence of exposure to anticholinergic medicines ranged from 22.8% to 55.9% according to the different scales. Multivariate regression analysis showed that anticholinergic burden scores quantified according to all nine scales were significantly associated with hospital admissions, hospitalizations for falls, LOS, and GP visits (P < .001). The strongest predictors of these outcomes were the Drug Burden Index-Anticholinergic component scores, aged 85 and older, female sex, and polypharmacy. CONCLUSION: There are substantial differences in the estimation of anticholinergic burden exposure between the nine scales. Anticholinergic burden scores obtained from each of the scales were associated with adverse clinical outcomes of interest.

Impact of anticholinergic discontinuation on cognitive outcomes in older people: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Medicines with anticholinergic properties increase the risks of functional and cognitive decline, morbidity and mortality, institutionalization and length of hospital stay in older people. It is postulated that minimizing anticholinergic burden should result in improved short-term memory, confusion and delirium, and may improve the quality of life and daily functioning of older people. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review was to investigate the impact of discontinuing medicines with anticholinergic properties on cognitive outcomes in older people. DESIGN: A comprehensive systematic search was performed to identify relevant studies, using Medline, Embase, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA), PsycINFO, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, from 1946 to July 2013. The critical appraisal was performed by two independent reviewers, and the data were extracted onto standardized forms. The primary outcome of interest was evaluation of cognitive changes in older people after anticholinergic discontinuation, measured using cognitive assessment scales. Meta-analysis was not conducted, because of the heterogeneity of the study designs, interventions and outcome measures. RESULTS: The primary electronic literature search identified a total of 475 records in the six different databases. On the basis of full-text analysis, only four studies met the inclusion criteria. The review found two randomized control trials and two prospective cohort studies that met the inclusion criteria. Only the cohort studies demonstrated improvement of cognitive performance after discontinuation of anticholinergic medicines. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of anticholinergic discontinuation on cognitive function remains poorly researched and poorly understood. A larger sample size, longer duration of follow-up and better methods of assessing anticholinergic-induced cognitive impairment are warranted.