title: Polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medication and cognitive status in Austrian nursing home residents: results from the OSiA study.
abstract: There is little research investigating polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) in connection with cognitive status in residents of Austrian nursing homes. Our findings result from a cross-sectional survey of 425 residents (315 women, 110 men, mean 83.6 years) from 12 Austrian nursing homes. The number of systemically administered permanent prescription drugs was 8.99 ± 3.9 and decreased significantly with increasing cognitive impairment. Irrespective of cognitive status, polypharmacy (> 5 individual substances) was present in approximately 75% of the residents. Hyper-polypharmacy (> 10 individual substances) was present among almost 50% of the cognitively intact residents, and hence, significantly more frequent as compared with the group with the lowest cognitive performance (23.4%). At least one PIM was found in 72.4% of residents regardless of cognitive status. Predominantly, PIMs consisted of tranquilizers, antipsychotics, osmotic laxatives, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and anticholinergics, where only the number of NSAIDs decreased significantly with increasing cognitive impairment. In summary, our study shows a continued high prevalence of polypharmacy and PIM in long-term care institutions in Austria.
authors: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Salzburger Landeskliniken Betriebs-GesmbH, Christian-Doppler-Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University, Ignaz Harrer-Straße 79, 5020, Salzburg, Austria. r.alzner@salk.at.
authors: Reinhard
authors: R
authors: Alzner
authors: Institute of Nursing Science and Practice, Paracelsus Medical University, Strubergasse 21, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Ulrike
authors: U
authors: Bauer
authors: Institute of Nursing Science and Practice, Paracelsus Medical University, Strubergasse 21, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Pitzer
authors: Institute of Nursing Science and Practice, Paracelsus Medical University, Strubergasse 21, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Maria Magdalena
authors: MM
authors: Schreier
authors: Institute of Nursing Science and Practice, Paracelsus Medical University, Strubergasse 21, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Osterbrink
authors: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Salzburger Landeskliniken Betriebs-GesmbH, Christian-Doppler-Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University, Ignaz Harrer-Straße 79, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
authors: Bernhard
authors: B
authors: Iglseder
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001317:Austria; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D019338:Polypharmacy
keywords: Cognitive impairment; Inappropriate prescribing; Nursing homes; Older adults; Polypharmacy