AIMS: This study evaluated the associations of physical performance and functional status measures with the Drug Burden Index in older Australian men. The Drug Burden Index is a measure of total exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications that incorporates the principles of dose-response and maximal effect. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was performed on community-dwelling older men enrolled in The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project, Sydney, Australia. Outcomes included chair stands, walking speed over 6 m, 20-cm narrow walk speed, balance, grip strength and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living score (IADLs). RESULTS: The study population consisted of 1705 men (age 76.9 +/- 5.5 years). Of the 1527 (90%) participants who reported taking medications, 21% were exposed to anticholinergic and 13% to sedative drugs. The average Drug Burden Index in the study population was 0.18 +/- 0.35. After adjusting for confounders (sociodemographics, comorbidities, cognitive impairment, depression), Drug Burden Index was associated with slower walking speed (P < 0.05), slower narrow walk speed (P < 0.05), balance difficulty (P < 0.01), grip weakness (P < 0.01) and poorer performance on IADLs (P < 0.05). Associations with physical performance and function were stronger for the sedative than for the anticholinergic component of the Drug Burden Index. CONCLUSIONS: Higher Drug Burden Index is associated with poorer physical performance and functional status in community-dwelling older Australian men. The Drug Burden Index has broad applicability as a tool for assessing the impact of medications on functions that determine independence in older people.
AIMS: This study evaluated the associations of physical performance and functional status measures with the Drug Burden Index in older Australian men. The Drug Burden Index is a measure of total exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications that incorporates the principles of dose-response and maximal effect. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was performed on community-dwelling older men enrolled in The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project, Sydney, Australia. Outcomes included chair stands, walking speed over 6 m, 20-cm narrow walk speed, balance, grip strength and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living score (IADLs). RESULTS: The study population consisted of 1705 men (age 76.9 +/- 5.5 years). Of the 1527 (90%) participants who reported taking medications, 21% were exposed to anticholinergic and 13% to sedative drugs. The average Drug Burden Index in the study population was 0.18 +/- 0.35. After adjusting for confounders (sociodemographics, comorbidities, cognitive impairment, depression), Drug Burden Index was associated with slower walking speed (P < 0.05), slower narrow walk speed (P < 0.05), balance difficulty (P < 0.01), grip weakness (P < 0.01) and poorer performance on IADLs (P < 0.05). Associations with physical performance and function were stronger for the sedative than for the anticholinergic component of the Drug Burden Index. CONCLUSIONS: Higher Drug Burden Index is associated with poorer physical performance and functional status in community-dwelling older Australian men. The Drug Burden Index has broad applicability as a tool for assessing the impact of medications on functions that determine independence in older people.
Authors: B W Penninx; L Ferrucci; S G Leveille; T Rantanen; M Pahor; J M Guralnik Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2000-11 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Joseph T Hanlon; Gerda G Fillenbaum; Maggie Kuchibhatla; Margaret B Artz; Chad Boult; Cynthia R Gross; Judith Garrard; Kenneth E Schmader Journal: Med Care Date: 2002-02 Impact factor: 2.983
Authors: E M Simonsick; A B Newman; M C Nevitt; S B Kritchevsky; L Ferrucci; J M Guralnik; T Harris Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2001-10 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Y-J Cao; D E Mager; E M Simonsick; S N Hilmer; S M Ling; B G Windham; V Crentsil; S Yasar; L P Fried; D R Abernethy Journal: Clin Pharmacol Ther Date: 2007-08-22 Impact factor: 6.875
Authors: Nicholas M Wilson; Sarah N Hilmer; Lyn M March; Jian Sheng Chen; Danijela Gnjidic; Rebecca S Mason; Ian D Cameron; Philip N Sambrook Journal: Drugs Aging Date: 2012-02-01 Impact factor: 3.923
Authors: Eija Lönnroos; Danijela Gnjidic; Sarah N Hilmer; J Simon Bell; Hannu Kautiainen; Raimo Sulkava; Sirpa Hartikainen Journal: Drugs Aging Date: 2012-05-01 Impact factor: 3.923
Authors: Eric Anson; Elizabeth Thompson; Brian L Odle; John Jeka; Zachary F Walls; Peter C Panus Journal: J Geriatr Phys Ther Date: 2018 Oct/Dec Impact factor: 3.381
Authors: Justin P Turner; Sepehr Shakib; Nimit Singhal; Jonathon Hogan-Doran; Robert Prowse; Sally Johns; J Simon Bell Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2014-03-02 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Marta Lavrador; Ana C Cabral; Isabel V Figueiredo; Manuel T Veríssimo; M Margarida Castel-Branco; Fernando Fernandez-Llimos Journal: Int J Clin Pharm Date: 2020-08-29
Authors: Gail McAvay; Heather G Allore; Andrew B Cohen; Danijela Gnjidic; Terrence E Murphy; Mary E Tinetti Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2017-09-14 Impact factor: 5.562