Development and Pilot Testing of an Algorithm-Based Approach to Anticholinergic Deprescribing in Older Patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Adverse anticholinergic drug reactions are common, yet evidence on how to reduce exposure to anticholinergic activity and reliably measure successful deprescribing is still scant. This study proposes an algorithm-based approach to evaluate and reduce anticholinergic load, and reports the results of its pilot testing.

Methods

Based on published evidence and expert opinion, a list of 85 anticholinergic drugs and 21 algorithms for reducing anticholinergic load, e.g., by recommending alternative drugs with lower risk, were developed. An accompanying test battery was assembled by focusing on instruments that sensitively reflect anticholinergic load and may be sensitive to depict changes (Neuropsychological Assessment Battery to measure memory and attention, validated a

SUBMITTER: Wehran T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10869417 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature