Short-term prognosis of polypharmacy in elderly patients treated in emergency departments : results from the EDEN project
Ruiz Ramos, Jesús (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Alquézar-Arbé, A. (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Juanes-Borrego, Ana (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
Burillo-Putze, Guillermo (Universidad Europea de Canarias)
Aguiló, Sira (Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer)
Jacob, Javier (Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge)
Fernández, C. (Hospital Clínico San Carlos (Madrid))
Llorens Soriano, Pere (Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biómedica de Alicante (ISABIAL))
Quero Espinosa, F.d.B. (Hospital Reina Sofia)
Gordo Remartinez, S. (Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón)
Hernando González, R. (Hospital Universitario de Burgos)
Moreno Martín, M. (Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León)
Sánchez Aroca, S. (Hospital General Universitario Morales Meseguer (Múrcia))
Sara Knabe, A. (Hospital Francesc de Borja)
González González, R. (Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa)
Carrión Fernández, M. (Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (El Palmar, Múrcia))
Artieda Larrañaga, A. (Hospital Universitario Lorenzo Guirao)
Adroher Muñoz, M. (Hospital Universitari de Girona Doctor Josep Trueta)
Hong Cho, J.U. (Hospital de Mendaro)
Escolar Martínez Berganza, M.T. (Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet (Saragossa))
Gayoso Martín, S. (Hospital Comarcal El Escorial)
Sánchez Sindín, G. (Hospital Do Salnes)
Silva Penas, M. (Hospital de Barbanza)
Gómez y Gómez, B. (Hospital del Mar (Barcelona, Catalunya))
Arenos Sambro, Roser (Institut de Recerca Sant Pau)
González del Castillo, J. (Hospital Clínico San Carlos (Madrid))
Miró, Oscar (Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2024
Abstract:	Background: Polypharmacy is a growing phenomenon among elderly individuals. However, there is little information about the frequency of polypharmacy among the elderly population treated in emergency departments (EDs) and its prognostic effect. This study aims to determine the prevalence and short-term prognostic effect of polypharmacy in elderly patients treated in EDs. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the Emergency Department Elderly in Needs (EDEN) project's cohort was performed. This registry included all elderly patients who attended 52 Spanish EDs for any condition. Mild and severe polypharmacy was defined as the use of 5-9 drugs and ⩾10 drugs, respectively. The assessed outcomes were ED revisits, hospital readmissions, and mortality 30 days after discharge. Crude and adjusted logistic regression analyses, including the patient's comorbidities, were performed. Results: A total of 25,557 patients were evaluated [mean age: 78 (IQR: 71-84) years]; 10,534 (41. 2%) and 5678 (22. 2%) patients presented with mild and severe polypharmacy, respectively. In the adjusted analysis, mild polypharmacy and severe polypharmacy were associated with an increase in ED revisits [odds ratio (OR) 1. 13 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1. 04-1. 23) and 1. 38 (95% CI: 1. 24-1. 51)] and hospital readmissions [OR 1. 18 (95% CI: 1. 04-1. 35) and 1. 36 (95% CI: 1. 16-1. 60)], respectively, compared to non-polypharmacy. Mild and severe polypharmacy were not associated with increased 30-day mortality [OR 1. 05 (95% CI: 0. 89-2. 26) and OR 0. 89 (95% CI: 0. 72-1. 12)], respectively. Conclusion: Polypharmacy was common among the elderly treated in EDs and associated with increased risks of ED revisits and hospital readmissions ⩽30 days but not with an increased risk of 30-day mortality. Patients with polypharmacy had a higher risk of ED revisits and hospital readmissions ⩽30 days after discharge.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Emergency department ; Frailty ; Geriatrics ; Polypharmacy
Published in:	Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety, Vol. 15 (1-12 2024) , ISSN 2042-0994

DOI: 10.1177/20420986241228129
PMID: 38323189

14 p, 377.5 KB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut de Recerca Sant Pau
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles