Drug burden index to define the burden of medicines in older adults with intellectual disabilities: An observational cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

The drug burden index (DBI) is a dose-related measure of anticholinergic and sedative drug exposure. This cross-sectional study described DBI in older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) and the most frequently reported therapeutic classes contributing to DBI and examined associations between higher DBI scores and potential adverse effects as well as physical function.

Methods

This study analysed data from Wave 2 (2013/2014) of the Intellectual Disability Supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IDS-TILDA), a representative study on the ageing of people with ID in Ireland. Self- and objectively-reported data were collected on medication use and physical health, including health conditions. The Barthel index was the physical function measure.

Resul

SUBMITTER: O'Connell J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5809360 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature