The use of medicines with anticholinergic effects in older people: a population study in an urban area of Sweden.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the use of medicines with anticholinergic properties among older people in an urban population in Sweden.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Ordinary homes, sheltered accommodations, nursing homes, and geriatric departments.


METHODS
All residents aged 75 and older in a district of Stockholm, Sweden.


METHODS
Structured interviews with older persons, their relatives and/or health care personnel; prescription forms; medical records.


RESULTS
The overall use of medicines with anticholinergic effects was comparatively low. Doses of these medicines were also generally low. Concurrent use of several such medicines was uncommon. The most prevalent therapeutic/pharmacological group was neuroleptics. In contrast, antidepressants were used by few older people. The prevalence of medicines with anticholinergic effects was highest at institutions, where neuroleptics were frequent and use of low-potency neuroleptics was not uncommon.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that the risk of anticholinergic side effects may be quite low in the present population as a whole. However, there may be grounds for revising the therapy in institutions, where the use of neuroleptics was shown to be high and low-potency neuroleptics, known to have a higher incidence of anticholinergic side effects, were not avoided.
Fastbom
J
J
Stockholm Gerontology Research Centre, Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
Claesson
C B
CB
Cornelius
C
C
Thorslund
M
M
Winblad
B
B
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D014504:Urban Health
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists