Anticholinergic burden and frailty in older inpatients: insights from analysis of admission and discharge medicines using four anticholinergic scales.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Exposure to high anticholinergic burden is associated with adverse outcomes in older adults. Older adults with frailty have greater vulnerability to adverse anticholinergic effects. There is limited data on anticholinergic burden in hospitalised older adults with frailty particularly, in New Zealand. This study aimed to (i) examine exposure to anticholinergic medicines in older inpatients using multiple scales, and (ii) describe the association of patient factors such as frailty with anticholinergic exposure.

Methods

We reviewed admission and discharge medicines of 222 older patients (≥ 65 years) in a New Zealand hospital. Sociodemographic, diagnostic and medication data were collected from electronic health records. Anticholinergic burden was quantified using the

SUBMITTER: Mohammed MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11660849 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature