A 12-Year Retrospective Study of the Prevalence of Anticholinergic Polypharmacy and Associated Outcomes Among Medicare Patients with Overactive Bladder in the USA.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objective

Antimuscarinics, drugs with anticholinergic properties, are frequently prescribed for overactive bladder, and anticholinergic burden is associated with adverse events. The "Polypharmacy: Use of Multiple Anticholinergic Medications in Older Adults" (Poly-ACH) measure was developed by the Pharmacy Quality Alliance and is used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Using the Poly-ACH measure, we assessed the prevalence of anticholinergic polypharmacy among Medicare patients in the USA with overactive bladder and determined associations between polypharmacy and medical conditions, care, and spending.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries with overactive bladder (coverage period: 2006-2017). Anticholinergic po

SUBMITTER: Campbell NL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8651576 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature