ArticleAnnals of medicine2024
Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate prescribing of benzodiazepines in older nursing home residents.
Article in Annals of medicine, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Development of the Japanese Anticholinergic Risk Scale: English translation of the Japanese article.Geriatrics & gerontology international · 2025Pooled it
- Identifying observable medication use time in administrative databases: a tutorial using nursing home residents.American journal of epidemiology · 2026Article
- Observational
- Potentially inappropriate medication use by TIME criteria in nursing home residents and its relationship with common geriatric syndromes.European geriatric medicine · 2025Observational
- Observational
- Proactive Geriatric Medication Management and Deprescribing Efforts in Swiss Nursing Home Residents.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Identification of the Potential Pharmacotherapeutic Risk in Hospitalized Geriatric Patients.Cureus · 2025Article
- Development and validation of a machine-learning model for the risk of potentially inappropriate medications in elderly stroke patients.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionPrevious research has raised concerns about high prevalence of drug-related problems, polypharmacy and inappropriate benzodiazepine prescribing in nursing homes (NHs) and confirmed lack of studies from Central and South-Eastern Europe. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of polypharmacy, hyperpolypharmacy and inappropriate benzodiazepine prescribing in NH residents in Croatia.
methodsData from 226 older NH residents from five Croatian NHs were collected using the InterRAI Long-Term Care Facilities assessment form. The prevalence and determinants of polypharmacy/hyperpolypharmacy and patterns of inappropriate benzodiazepine prescribing were documented.
resultsThe prevalence of polypharmacy (49.6%) and hyperpolypharmacy (25.7%) among NH residents was high. In our study, 72.1% of NH residents were prescribed at least one psychotropic agent, 36.7% used 2-3 psychotropics and 6.6% used 4+ psychotropics. Among benzodiazepine users (55.8%), 28% of residents were prescribed benzodiazepines in higher than recommended geriatric doses, 75% used them for the long term and 48% were prescribed concomitant interacting medications. The odds of being prescribed polypharmacy/hyperpolypharmacy were significantly higher for older patients with polymorbidity (6+ disorders, proportional odds ratio (POR) = 19.8), type II diabetes (POR = 5.2), ischemic heart disease (POR = 4.6), higher frailty (Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS ≥5); POR = 4.3) and gastrointestinal problems (POR = 4.8).
conclusionsOur research underscores the persistent challenge of inappropriate medication use and drug-related harms among older NH residents, despite existing evidence and professional campaigns. Effective regulatory and policy interventions, including the implementation of geriatrician and clinical pharmacy services, are essential to address this critical issue and ensure optimal medication management for vulnerable NH populations.
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