Dual use of bladder anticholinergics and cholinesterase inhibitors: long-term functional and cognitive outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the cognitive and functional consequences of dual use of cholinesterase inhibitors (ChIs) and the bladder anticholinergics oxybutynin or tolterodine.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Nursing homes (NHs) in the state of Indiana.


METHODS
Three thousand five hundred thirty-six Medicaid-eligible NH residents aged 65 and older taking a ChI between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2004. Residents were excluded if they were taking an anticholinergic other than oxybutynin or tolterodine.


METHODS
Indiana Medicaid claims data were merged with data from the Minimum Data Set (MDS). Repeated-measures analyses were performed to assess the effects of dual therapy on change in cognitive function measured using the MDS Cognition Scale (MDS-COGS; scored 0-10) and change in activity of daily living (ADL) function using the seven ADL items in the MDS (scored 0-28). Potential covariates included age, sex, race, number of medications, and Charlson Comorbidity Index score.


RESULTS
Three hundred seventy-six (10.6%) residents were prescribed oxybutynin or tolterodine concomitantly with a ChI. In residents in the top quartile of ADL function, ADL function declined an average of 1.08 points per quarter when not taking bladder anticholinergics (ChI alone), compared with 1.62 points per quarter when taking dual therapy, a 50% greater rate in quarterly decline in ADL function (P=.01). There was no excess decline attributable to dual therapy in MDS-COGS scores or in ADL function for residents who started out with lower functioning.


CONCLUSIONS
In higher-functioning NH residents, dual use of ChIs and bladder anticholinergics may result in greater rates of functional decline than use of ChIs alone. The MDS-COGS may not be sensitive enough to detect differences in cognition due to dual use.
Sink
Kaycee M
KM
Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA. kmsink@wfubmc.edu
Thomas
Joseph
J
Xu
Huiping
H
Craig
Bruce
B
Kritchevsky
Steven
S
Sands
Laura P
LP
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003408:Cresols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008333:Mandelic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000068737:Tolterodine Tartrate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000188:drug therapy*
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D003408:Cresols; D008333:Mandelic Acids; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine; D000068737:Tolterodine Tartrate; C005419:oxybutynin