Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
-
As originally defined, the term "prescribing cascade" describes a sequence of events that begins when an adverse drug event (ADE) occurs, is misinterpreted as a new medical condition, and a subsequent drug is then inadvertently prescribed to treat the new condition. We refine the definition to encompass both recognized and unrecognized ADEs because they can both contribute to problematic prescribing practices. In addition, we discuss that although prescribing cascades are most commonly viewed as problematic, they may be appropriate and therapeutically beneficial in certain clinical situations. ⋯ Practical considerations are also presented to aid clinicians in preventing the propagation of problematic prescribing cascades within their clinical practice. Providing new perspectives on the scope and appropriateness of the prescribing cascade concept is an important step in describing clinically relevant cascades and in encouraging safe prescribing practices. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:1023-1026, 2019.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Deprescribing in the Pharmacologic Management of Delirium: A Randomized Trial in the Intensive Care Unit.
Benzodiazepines and anticholinergics are risk factors for delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). We tested the impact of a deprescribing intervention on short-term delirium outcomes. ⋯ When added to state-of-the-art clinical services, this deprescribing intervention had no impact on medication use in ICU participants. Given the age of the population, results of clinical outcomes may not be easily extrapolated to older adults. Nonetheless, improved approaches for deprescribing or preventing anticholinergics and benzodiazepines should be developed to determine the impact on delirium outcomes. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:695-702, 2019.
-
Observational Study
The INTUIT Study: Investigating Neuroinflammation Underlying Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction.
Every year, up to 40% of the more than 16 million older Americans who undergo anesthesia/surgery develop postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) or delirium. Each of these distinct syndromes is associated with decreased quality of life, increased mortality, and a possible increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. One pathologic process hypothesized to underlie both delirium and POCD is neuroinflammation. The INTUIT study described here will determine the extent to which postoperative increases in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) levels and monocyte numbers are associated with delirium and/or POCD and their underlying brain connectivity changes. ⋯ INTUIT will use a transdisciplinary approach to study the role of neuroinflammation in postoperative delirium and cognitive dysfunction and their associated functional brain connectivity changes, and it may identify novel targets for treating and/or preventing delirium and POCD and their sequelae. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:794-798, 2019.
-
To describe the frequency and risk of return visit to the emergency department (ED) by older adults after prescription of any of four potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) classes included in the 2015 Beers Criteria commonly used for the relief of acute pain in the ED. ⋯ These results are consistent with recommendations to limit benzodiazepine prescriptions for older adults and that among older adults with severe pain, opioid prescribing is associated with less frequent ED visits within 9 days of discharge. However, this study was not designed to evaluate safety, adverse events, or other important patient-centered outcomes. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:719-725, 2019.
-
New or worsened disabilities in functional, cognitive, or mental health following an intensive care unit (ICU) stay are referred to as post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). PICS has not been described in older adults receiving home care. Our aim was to examine the relationship between length of ICU stay and PICS among older adults receiving home care. We expected that patients in the ICU for 3 days or longer would demonstrate significantly more disability in all three domains on follow-up than those not in the ICU. A secondary aim was to identify patient characteristics increasing the odds of disability. ⋯ Older adults receiving home care who develop sepsis and are in an ICU for 3 days or longer are likely to develop new or worsened physical disabilities. Whether these disabilities remain after the early postdischarge phase requires further study. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:520-526, 2019.