Prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication use in older population : comparison of the Finnish Meds75+database with eight published criteria

BackgroundThere are several national and international criteria available for identifying potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) for older people. The prevalence of PIM use may vary depending on the criteria used. The aim is to examine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication use in Finland according to the Meds75+ database, developed to support clinical decision-making in Finland, and to compare it with eight other PIM criteria.MethodsThis nationwide register study consisted of Finnish people aged 75 years or older (n = 497,663) who during 2017-2019 purchased at least one prescribed medicine considered as a PIM, based on any of the included criteria. The data on purchased prescription medicines was collected from the Prescription Centre of Finland.ResultsThe annual prevalence of 10.7-57.0% was observed for PIM use depending on which criteria was used. The highest prevalence was detected with the Beers and lowest with the Laroche criteria. According to the Meds75+ database, annually every third person had used PIMs. Regardless of the applied criteria, the prevalence of PIM use decreased during the follow-up. The differences in the prevalence of medicine classes of PIMs explain the variance of the overall prevalence between the criteria, but they identify the most commonly used PIMs quite similarly.ConclusionPIM use is common among older people in Finland according to the national Meds75+ database, but the prevalence is dependent on the applied criteria. The results indicate that different PIM criteria emphasize different medicine classes, and clinicians should consider this issue when applying PIM criteria in their daily practice.Peer reviewe

Risk factors of short-term survival in the aged in elective colon cancer surgery : a population-based study

Purpose Patients aged > 80 years represent an increasing proportion of colon cancer diagnoses. Selecting patients for elective surgery is challenging because of possibly compromised health status and functional decline. The aim of this retrospective, population-based study was to identify risk factors and health measures that predict short-term mortality after elective colon cancer surgery in the aged. Methods All patients > 80 years operated electively for stages I-III colon cancer from 2005 to 2016 in four Finnish hospitals were included. The prospectively collected data included comorbidities, functional status, postoperative surgical and medical outcomes as well as mortality data. Results A total of 386 patients (mean 84.0 years, range 80-96, 56% female) were included. Male gender (46% vs 35%, p = 0.03), higher BMI (51% vs 37%, p = 0.02), diabetes mellitus (51% vs 37%, p = 0.02), coronary artery disease (52% vs 36%, p = 0.003) and rheumatic diseases (67% vs 39%, p = 0.03) were related to higher risk of complications. The severe complications were more common in patients with increased preoperative hospitalizations (31% vs 15%, p = 0.05) and who lived in nursing homes (30% vs 17%, p = 0.05). The 30-day and 1-year mortality rates were 6.0% and 15% for all the patients compared with 30% and 45% in patients with severe postoperative complications (p <0.001). Severe postoperative complications were the only significant patient-related variable affecting 1-year mortality (OR 9.60, 95% CI 2.33-39.55, p = 0.002). Conclusions The ability to identify preoperatively patients at high risk of decreased survival and thus prevent severe postoperative complications could improve overall outcome of aged colon cancer patients.Peer reviewe

Surgical and functional outcomes and survival following Colon Cancer surgery in the aged : a study protocol for a prospective, observational multicentre study

BackgroundThe number of colorectal cancer patients increases with age. The decision to go through major surgery can be challenging for the aged patient and the surgeon because of the heterogeneity within the older population. Differences in preoperative physical and cognitive status can affect postoperative outcomes and functional recovery, and impact on patients' quality of life.Methods / designA prospective, observational, multicentre study including nine hospitals to analyse the impact of colon cancer surgery on functional ability, short-term outcomes (complications and mortality), and their predictors in patients aged >= 80years. The catchment area of the study hospitals is 3.88 million people, representing 70% of the population of Finland. The data will be gathered from patient baseline characteristics, surgical interventional data, and pre- and postoperative patient-questionnaires, to an electronic database (REDCap) especially dedicated to the study.DiscussionThis multicentre study provides information about colon cancer surgery's operative and functional outcomes on older patients. A further aim is to find prognostic factors which could help to predict adverse outcomes of surgery.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03904121). Registered on 1 April 2019.Peer reviewe