Stephen P Fitzgerald1, Nigel G Bean. 1. Internal Medicine, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia. Stephen.Fitzgerald@health.sa.gov.au
Abstract
BACKGROUND: With aging there is an increase in frailty and chronic disease leading to a potential increase in medication use. Most clinical trials have excluded old, frail individuals and have failed to take into account the effects of outcome interaction. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this article we provide a mathematical model demonstrating that comorbidities, including old age, interact with therapies, reducing their effectiveness. CONCLUSION: These findings question the validity of single disease guidelines in old persons or in persons with multiple chronic diseases. Copyright 2010 American Medical Directors Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
BACKGROUND: With aging there is an increase in frailty and chronic disease leading to a potential increase in medication use. Most clinical trials have excluded old, frail individuals and have failed to take into account the effects of outcome interaction. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this article we provide a mathematical model demonstrating that comorbidities, including old age, interact with therapies, reducing their effectiveness. CONCLUSION: These findings question the validity of single disease guidelines in old persons or in persons with multiple chronic diseases. Copyright 2010 American Medical Directors Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Authors: Jeremy K Nicholson; Elaine Holmes; James M Kinross; Ara W Darzi; Zoltan Takats; John C Lindon Journal: Nature Date: 2012-11-15 Impact factor: 49.962