Quantification of anticholinergic and sedative drug load with the Drug Burden Index: a review of outcomes and methodological quality of studies.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The Drug Burden Index (DBI) is a non-invasive method to quantify patients' anticholinergic and sedative drug burden from their prescriptions. This systematic review aimed to summarise the evidence on the associations between the DBI and clinical outcomes and methodological quality of studies.

Methods

A search in PubMed and Embase (search terms: 'drug', 'burden', and 'index') was performed and experts were contacted. We excluded publications that did not report empirical results or clinical outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Potential omissions of relevant clinical outcomes and populations were studied.

Results

Of the 2998 identified publications, 21 were eligible. Overall, methodological quality of studies was good.

SUBMITTER: Wouters H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5306241 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature