Prevalence of anticholinergic use among older home health patients

Source: Journal of Clinical Nursing Area: Evidence > Medicines Management > References Anticholinergic usage patterns for patients in the USA aged 65 years and older who received home health (HH) services were examined using the 2007 National Home and Hospice Care Survey (NHHCS) data. Slightly over 80% (80.30; 95% CI, 77.5 to 83.25) of older HH patients received at least one anticholinergic drug. High prevalence of the use of higher level anticholinergics was found.  Almost 30% (29.62; 95% CI, 26.90 to 32.33) took either a level 2 (5.42%; 95% CI, 4.00 to 6.85) or level 3 (25.99%; 95% CI, 23.54 to 28.44) drug.  Among the level 2 drugs, ranitidine was the most prescribed (3.78%), followed by carbamazepine (1.03%).  Among the level 3 drugs, tolterodine (4.19%), oxybutynin (3.91%) and meclizine (3.73%) were the top three most prescribed drugs. The high prevalence of these clinically significant anticholinergic medications is particularly concerning, given their potential to cause severe anticholinergic-induced adverse events in HH patients with ...
Source: NeLM - Care of Older People - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: news