Retrospective multi-centre cohort study of polypharmacy, the Drug Burden Index and associations with outcomes in older surgical inpatients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Comprehensive medication utilisation and its association with outcomes are not well described in older surgical inpatients.

Objectives

Investigate medication utilisation and the associations of the number of medications and exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications measured using the Drug Burden Index (DBI exposure) with outcomes in older surgical inpatients.

Methods

A multi-centre retrospective cohort study of surgical patients ≥65 years at five Australian hospitals admitted for ≥48 hours, from 4 January 2022 to 3 January 2023. The number of regular medications was counted on admission and discharge. DBI exposure throughout admission was calculated using the area under the curve for DBI/days of admission (AUC DBI/days). Multilevel regression was

SUBMITTER: Liu BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12459249 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature