Polypharmacy and Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Blacks with Diabetes Mellitus Presenting to the Emergency Department.

Abstract

Background: Medication-related problems in older Blacks with diabetes mellitus (DM) are not well established. Objectives: To describe the frequency of medication-related problems in older Blacks with DM presenting to the emergency department (ED). Methods: The study was a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a randomized controlled trial evaluating Blacks aged ≥60 years of age presenting to the ED. Polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use, and anticholinergic score were evaluated. Results: Of 168 patients (median age = 68, range 60-92), most (n = 164, 98%) were taking ≥5 medications, and 67 (39.9%) were taking a PIM. A majority (n = 124, 74%) were taking a medication with an anticholinergic score ≥1. Number of medications was correlated with number of PIMs (r = .22, p = .004) and anticholinergic score (r = .50, p < .001). Conclusion: Polypharmacy and PIM use was common in older Blacks with DM.

• Authors: Ginah Nightingale, Emily M Scopelliti, Robin Casten, Monica Woloshin, Shu Xiao, Megan Kelley, Anna Marie Chang, Judd E Hollander, Benjamin E Leiby, Andrew M Peterson, Laura T Pizzi, Kristin L Rising, Neva White, Barry Rovner
• Journal: Journal of aging and health (J Aging Health) 2022 Aug-Sep Vol. 34 Issue 4-5 Pg. 499-507 ISSN: 1552-6887 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 34517775 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cholinergic Antagonists

Topics

• Aged
• Cholinergic Antagonists
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Diabetes Mellitus (drug therapy)
• Emergency Service, Hospital
• Humans
• Inappropriate Prescribing
• Polypharmacy
• Potentially Inappropriate Medication List