Medication in older hip fracture patients. Falls, fractures, and mortality.

Background and aim: Due to an increasingly ageing population, the number of hip fracture patients, often with multiple chronic diseases and multiple pharmacotherapy, is set to rise. The high risk of adverse outcomes that hip fractures lead to in older individuals is well described, including high first-year mortality. This thesis aim to improve our knowledge of older hip fracture patients’ treatment with drugs that potentially increases the risk of falls, fractures, bleeding, and death, in order to identify potentially effective interventions for preventing adverse outcome from the medication. Methods and results: Three general population-based cohort studies and one observational cohort study, on medication in hip fracture patients, are included. National registry data for 2,043 patients (I, II, III) and medical journals for 255 patients (IV) were analysed. Paper I aimed to describe the use of fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRID) and to analyse whether there were any changes in the prescribing six months after a hip fracture, compared to six months before. A majority was exposed to FRID prior to the fracture and an increase of thirty percentage-points in post-fracture prescribing was found. Anti-osteoporosis treatment increased only marginally, but in hospitals offering geriatric support the prescribing of anti-osteoporosis drugs increased significantly compared to hospitals without this support. In Paper II, first-year mortality was shown to be significantly higher in patients exposed to ≥4 FRID, polypharmacy, psychotropic and cardiovascular drugs. Regression analyses of treatment with FRID, adjusted for age, sex and any ≥ 4 drugs, showed higher mortality in patients exposed to ≥4 FRID compared to ≤3 FRID. In Paper III, exposure to potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) was found in 81% of the patients. Logistic regression, data adjusted for age, sex, and use of ≥5 drugs, indicated that exposure to any PIM and analgesic-PIM (tramadole, dextropropoxyphene) increased six months’ mortality significantly. Exposure to other categories of opioids did not indicate higher mortality, Patients with a length of in-hospital stay (LOS) ≥10 days had a higher six months’ mortality than patients with a LOS of ≤ 9 days. In Paper IV, regression analysis of hip fracture patients’ exposure to low-dose acetylsalicylic acid (LdAA), adjusted for multiple confounders, showed higher first-year mortality and that more blood transfusions were given to patients treated with LdAA compared to non-users. Levels of coagulation factors were also significantly higher in the blood of patients treated with LdAA compared to unexposed patients. Conclusions: The thesis proposes that older hip fracture patients are frequently exposed to FRID and PIM, that exposure to ≥ 4 FRID, any PIM, analgesic-PIM, LdAA, polypharmacy, and a LOS of ≥ 10 days are factors associated with higher mortality. Additionally was found that exposure to FRID increases significantly after the fracture and that anti-osteoporosis treatment is more frequently prescribed to orthopaedic patients when geriatric support is available. The overall conclusion lies in the identification of plausible ways to reduce adverse outcome and improve the care of hip fracture patients. Further studies on ways of improving the care of hip fracture patients should be explored by evaluating methods of preventing drug-related adverse outcome, as well as of strengthening the collaboration between orthopaedic and geriatric professionals

In-hospital medication reviews reduce unidentified drug-related problems

Purpose To examine the impact of a new model of care, in which a clinical pharmacist conducts structured medication reviews and a multi-professional team collates systematic medication care plans, on the number of unidentified DRPs in a hospital setting. Methods In a prospective two-period study, patients admitted to an internal medicine ward at the University Hospital of Lund, Sweden, were included if they were >= 65 years old, used >= 3 medications on a regular basis and had stayed on the ward for >= 5 weekdays. Intervention patients were given the new model of care and control patients received conventional care. DRPs were then retrospectively identified after study completion from blinded patient records for both intervention and control patients. Two pairs of evaluators independently evaluated and classified these DRPs as having been identified/unidentified during the hospital stay and according to type and clinical significance. The primary endpoint was the number of unidentified DRPs, and the secondary endpoints were the numbers of unidentified DRPs within each type and clinical significance category. Results The study included a total of 141 (70 intervention and 71 control) patients. The intervention group benefited from a reduction in the total number of unidentified DRPs per patient during the hospital stay: intervention group median 1 (1st-3rd quartile 0-2), control group 9 (6-13.5) (p < 0.001), and also in the number of medications associated with unidentified DRPs per patient: intervention group 1 (0-2), control group 8 (5-10) (p < 0.001). All sub-categories of DRPs that were frequent in the control group were significantly reduced in the intervention group. Similarly, the DRPs were less clinically significant in the intervention group. Conclusions A multi-professional team, including a clinical pharmacist, conducting structured medication reviews and collating systematic medication care plans proved very effective in reducing the number of unidentified DRPs for elderly in-patients

Do fall-risk-increasing drugs have an impact on mortality in older hip fracture patients? A population-based cohort study

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the mortality in hip fracture patients with regard to use of fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs), by comparing survival in exposed and nonexposed individuals. Design: This was a general population-based cohort study. Settings: Data on hip fracture patients were retrieved from three national databases. Participants: All hip fracture patients aged 60 years or older in a Swedish county in 2006 participated in this study. Measurements: We studied the mortality in hip fracture patients by comparing those exposed to FRIDs, combinations of FRIDs, and polypharmacy to nonexposed patients, adjusting for age and sex. For survival estimates in patients using four or more FRIDs, a Cox regression analysis was used, adjusting for age, sex, and use of any four or more drugs. Results: First-year all-cause mortality was 24.6% (N=503) in 2,043 hip fracture patients aged 60 years or older, including 170 males (33.8%) and 333 females (66.2%). Patients prescribed four or more FRIDs, five or more drugs (polypharmacy), psychotropic drugs, and cardiovascular drugs showed significantly increased first-year mortality. Exposure to four or more FRIDs (518 patients, 25.4%) was associated with an increased mortality at 30 days with odds ratios (ORs) 2.01 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.44-2.79), 90 days with OR 1.56 (95% CI 1.19-2.04), 180 days with OR 1.54 (95% CI 1.20-1.97), and 365 days with OR 1.43 (95% CI 1.13-1.80). Cox regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, and use of any four or more drugs showed a significantly higher mortality in patients treated with four or more FRIDs at 90 days (P=0.015) and 180 days (P=0.012) compared to patients treated with three or less FRIDs. Conclusion: First-year all-cause mortality was significantly higher in older hip fracture patients exposed before the fracture to FRIDs, in particular to four or more FRIDs, polypharmacy, psychotropic, and cardiovascular drugs. Interventions aiming to optimize both safety and benefit of drug treatment for older people should include limiting the use of FRIDs

Impaired oral health in older orthopaedic in-care patients : The influence of medication and morbidity

Introduction: Fall-related injuries are prevalent in older patients and often lead to increased morbidity, medication, and impaired functions. We studied older trauma patients with the aim to describe their oral health in comparison to morbidity and medication. Material and Methods: The study included 198 patients, ≥65 years, admitted with an orthopedic trauma. Oral examinations included number of natural teeth, dental implants, missing, decayed and restored teeth, root remnants, and pocket depth. Data on comorbidities and medication were assembled. Statistical analyses were carried out with logistic regression models, adjusted for age, gender, comorbidity, and polypharmacy. Results: Overall, 198 patients participated, 71% women, mean age 81 years (±7.9), 85% resided in their own homes, 86% had hip fractures. Chronic diseases and drug use were present in 98.9%, a mean of 6.67 in Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), 40% heart diseases, 17% diabetes, and 14% dementia. Ninety-one percent were dentate (181), mean number of teeth 19.2 (±6.5), 24% had decayed teeth, 97% filled teeth, 44% &lt;20 teeth, and 26% oral dryness. DFT (decayed, filled teeth) over mean were identified in patients with diabetes (p=0.037), COPD (p=0.048), polypharmacy (p=0.011), diuretics (p=0.007), and inhalation drugs (p=0.032). Use of ≥2 strong anticholinergic drugs were observed in patients with &lt;20 teeth and DFT over mean (p=0.004, 0.003). Adjusted for age, gender, CCI, and polypharmacy. Conclusion: The study showed that impaired oral health was prevalent in older trauma patients and that negative effects on oral health were significantly associated with chronic diseases and drug use. The results emphasize the importance of identifying orthogeriatric patients with oral health problems and to stress the necessity to uphold good oral care during a period when functional decline can be expected.This study was supported by grants from the Odontological Research Funds in Region Skåne (OFRS), the Research Platform for Collaboration for Health Kristianstad University and Swedish Dental Hygienists Association. The grants had no role in the design or other parts of the research or preparation and submission of the article.</p

Older Adults' Medication Use 6 Months Before and After Hip Fracture: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To study changes in use of fall-risk increasing drugs (FRIDs) and bone density-related medication in participants with hip fracture before and after the fracture and to analyze differences between five healthcare districts. DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. SETTING: Data retrieved from two national databases PARTICIPANTS: All 2,043 people with hip fracture aged 60 and older in a Swedish county in 2006. MEASUREMENTS: Changes in FRIDs and bone-active medications prescribed within 6 months before and 6 months after hip fracture and differences between health care districts. RESULTS: Before hip fracture, 1,308 participants (67.7%) received any FRIDs or combinations; after fracture, 97.7% were treated. Polypharmacy (≥5 drugs) increased 39.3%, excessive polypharmacy (≥10 drugs) increased 36.4%, and use of three or more psychotropic drugs increased 8.6%. After fracture, the use of all analyzed drugs including psychotropic, cardiovascular, opioid, and anticholinergic drugs increased significantly (P<.001). Treatment with calcium and vitamin D increased from 9% before to 27.7% after and with bisphosphonates from 3.5% to 7.6%. Variations in postfracture prescribing between the five health care districts were observed regarding opioids (range 85-64%), bisphosphonates (range 20-4%), and calcium and vitamin D (72-13%) (P<.001, for all comparisons). CONCLUSION: Two-thirds of participants with hip fracture were prescribed FRIDs before fracture, and the number increased significantly after fracture. Significant variations between healthcare districts in treating osteoporosis and pain were evident; geriatric support could be a contributing factor to the greater treatment in two districts

Obstacles and Opportunities in Information Transfer Regarding Medications at Discharge - A Focus Group Study with Hospital Physicians

Purpose: This qualitative study aimed to investigate experiences and perceptions of hospital physicians regarding the discharging process, focusing on information transfer regarding medications.Methods: By purposive sampling three focus groups were formed. To facilitate discussions and maintain consistency, a semi-structured interview guide was used. Discussions were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the anonymized data. A confirmatory analysis concluded that the main findings were supported by data.Results: Identified obstacles were divided into three categories with two sub-categories each: Infrastructure; IT-systems currently used are suboptimal and complex. Hospital and primary care use different electronic medical records, complicating matters. The work organization is not helping with time scarcity and lack of continuity. Distinct routines could help create continuity but are not always in place, known, and/or followed. Physician: knowledge and education in the systems is not always provided nor prioritized. Understanding the consequences of not following routines and taking responsibility regarding the medications list is important. Not everyone has the self-reliance or willingness to do so. Patient/next of kin: For patients to provide information on medications used is not always easy when hospitalized. Understanding information provided can be hard, especially when medical jargon is used and there is no one available to provide support. A central theme, " We're only human", encompasses how physicians do their best despite difficult conditions. Conclusion: There are several obstacles in transferring information regarding medications at discharge. Issues regarding infrastructure are seldom possible for the individual physician to influence. However, several issues raised by the participating physicians are possible to act upon. In doing so medication errors in care transitions might decrease and information transfer at discharge might improve

Identifying older adults at increased risk of medication-related readmission to hospital within 30 days of discharge : development and validation of a risk assessment tool

Objective: Developing and validating a risk assessment tool aiming to identify older adults (&amp; GE;65 years) at increased risk of possibly medication-related readmission to hospital within 30 days of discharge. Design: Retrospective cohort study. SettingThe risk score was developed using data from a hospital in southern Sweden and validated using data from four hospitals in the mid-eastern part of Sweden. Participants: The development cohort (n=720) was admitted to hospital during 2017, whereas the validation cohort (n=892) was admitted during 2017-2018. Measures: The risk assessment tool aims to predict possibly medication-related readmission to hospital within 30 days of discharge. Variables known at first admission and individually associated with possibly medication-related readmission were used in development. The included variables were assigned points, and Youden's index was used to decide a threshold score. The risk score was calculated for all individuals in both cohorts. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (c-index) was used to measure the discrimination of the developed risk score. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were calculated using cross-tabulation. Results: The developed risk assessment tool, the Hospitalisations, Own home, Medications, and Emergency admission (HOME) Score, had a c-index of 0.69 in the development cohort and 0.65 in the validation cohort. It showed sensitivity 76%, specificity 54%, positive predictive value 29% and negative predictive value 90% at the threshold score in the development cohort. Conclusion: The HOME Score can be used to identify older adults at increased risk of possibly medication-related readmission within 30 days of discharge. The tool is easy to use and includes variables available in electronic health records at admission, thus making it possible to implement risk-reducing activities during the hospital stay as well as at discharge and in transitions of care. Further studies are needed to investigate the clinical usefulness of the HOME Score as well as the benefits of implemented activities

Medication-related hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge : A retrospective study of risk factors in older adults

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that approximately 20% of hospital readmissions can be medication-related and 70% of these readmissions are possibly preventable. This retrospective medical records study aimed to find risk factors associated with medication-related readmissions to hospital within 30 days of discharge in older adults (≥65 years).METHODS: 30-day readmissions (n = 360) were assessed as being either possibly or unlikely medication-related after which selected variables were used to individually compare the two groups to a comparison group (n = 360). The aim was to find individual risk factors of possibly medication-related readmissions focusing on living arrangements, polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medication therapy, and changes made to medication regimens at initial discharge.RESULTS: A total of 143 of the 360 readmissions (40%) were assessed as being possibly medication-related. Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR 1.15, 95%CI 1.5-1.25), excessive polypharmacy (OR 1.74, 95%CI 1.07-2.81), having adjustments made to medication dosages at initial discharge (OR 1.63, 95%CI 1.03-2.58) and living in your own home, alone, were variables identified as risk factors of such readmissions. Living in your own home, alone, increased the odds of a possibly medication-related readmission 1.69 times compared to living in your own home with someone (p-value 0.025) and 2.22 times compared to living in a nursing home (p-value 0.037).CONCLUSION: Possibly medication-related readmissions within 30 days of discharge, in patients 65 years and older, are common. The odds of such readmissions increase in comorbid, highly medicated patients living in their own home, alone, and if having medication dosages adjusted at initial discharge. These results indicate that care planning before discharge and the provision of help with, for example, managing medications after discharge, are factors especially important if aiming to reduce the amount of medication-related readmissions among this population. Further research is needed to confirm this hypothesis

Risk factors for hospital readmission in older adults within 30 days of discharge - a comparative retrospective study

BACKGROUND: The area of hospital readmission in older adults within 30 days of discharge is extensively researched but few studies look at the whole process. In this study we investigated risk factors related, not only to patient characteristics prior to and events during initial hospitalisation, but also to the processes of discharge, transition of care and follow-up. We aimed to identify patients at most risk of being readmitted as well as processes in greatest need of improvement, the goal being to find tools to help reduce early readmissions in this population.METHODS: This comparative retrospective study included 720 patients in total. Medical records were reviewed and variables concerning patient characteristics prior to and events during initial hospital stay, as well as those related to the processes of discharge, transition of care and follow-up, were collected in a standardised manner. Either a Student's t-test, χ2-test or Fishers' exact test was used for comparisons between groups. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify variables associated with readmission.RESULTS: The final model showed increased odds of readmission in patients with a higher Charlson Co-morbidity Index (OR 1.12, p-value 0.002), excessive polypharmacy (OR 1.66, p-value 0.007) and living in the community with home care (OR 1.61, p-value 0.025). The odds of being readmitted within 30 days increased if the length of stay was 5 days or longer (OR 1.72, p-value 0.005) as well as if being discharged on a Friday (OR 1.88, p-value 0.003) or from a surgical unit (OR 2.09, p-value 0.001).CONCLUSION: Patients of poor health, using 10 medications or more regularly and living in the community with home care, are at greater risk of being readmitted to hospital within 30 days of discharge. Readmissions occur more often after being discharged on a Friday or from a surgical unit. Our findings indicate patients at most risk of being readmitted as well as discharging routines in most need of improvement thus laying the ground for further studies as well as targeted actions to take in order to reduce hospital readmissions within 30 days in this population