Ariel R Green1, Liza M Reifler2, Cynthia M Boyd3,4, Linda A Weffald2,5, Elizabeth A Bayliss6,7. 1. Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Mason F. Lord Center Tower, 7th Floor, 5200 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA. ariel@jhmi.edu. 2. Institute for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, 10065 E. Harvard Ave. Suite 300, Denver, CO, 80207, USA. 3. Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Mason F. Lord Center Tower, 7th Floor, 5200 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA. 4. Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. 5. University of Colorado, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aurora, CO, USA. 6. Institute for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, 10065 E. Harvard Ave. Suite 300, Denver, CO, 80207, USA. elizabeth.bayliss@kp.org. 7. Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA. elizabeth.bayliss@kp.org.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Drugs with anticholinergic properties are considered potentially inappropriate in patients with cognitive impairment because harms-including delirium, falls, and fractures-may outweigh benefits. OBJECTIVE: To highlight opportunities to improve clinical decision making and care for patients with cognitive impairment and multiple chronic conditions, we identified distinct subgroups of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia who had high cumulative anticholinergic burden and specific patterns of anticholinergic use. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a not-for-profit, integrated delivery system. Participants included community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older (n = 13,627) with MCI or dementia and at least two other chronic diseases. We calculated the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) score for each participant from pharmacy and electronic health record (EHR) data. Among individuals with a mean 12-month ACB score ≥ 2, we used agglomerative hierarchical clustering to identify groups or clusters of individuals with similar anticholinergic prescription patterns. RESULTS: Twenty-four percent (3257 participants) had high anticholinergic burden, defined as an ACB score ≥ 2. Clinically meaningful clusters based upon anchoring medications or drug classes included a cluster of cardiovascular medications (n = 1497; 46%); two clusters of antidepressant medications (n = 633; 20%); and a cluster based on use of bladder antimuscarinics (n = 431; 13%). Several clusters comprised multiple central nervous system (CNS)-active drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular and CNS-active medications comprise a substantial portion of anticholinergic burden in people with cognitive impairment and multiple chronic conditions. Antidepressants were highly prevalent. Clinical profiles elucidated by these clusters of anticholinergic medications can inform targeted approaches to care.
BACKGROUND: Drugs with anticholinergic properties are considered potentially inappropriate in patients with cognitive impairment because harms-including delirium, falls, and fractures-may outweigh benefits. OBJECTIVE: To highlight opportunities to improve clinical decision making and care for patients with cognitive impairment and multiple chronic conditions, we identified distinct subgroups of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia who had high cumulative anticholinergic burden and specific patterns of anticholinergic use. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a not-for-profit, integrated delivery system. Participants included community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older (n = 13,627) with MCI or dementia and at least two other chronic diseases. We calculated the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) score for each participant from pharmacy and electronic health record (EHR) data. Among individuals with a mean 12-month ACB score ≥ 2, we used agglomerative hierarchical clustering to identify groups or clusters of individuals with similar anticholinergic prescription patterns. RESULTS: Twenty-four percent (3257 participants) had high anticholinergic burden, defined as an ACB score ≥ 2. Clinically meaningful clusters based upon anchoring medications or drug classes included a cluster of cardiovascular medications (n = 1497; 46%); two clusters of antidepressant medications (n = 633; 20%); and a cluster based on use of bladder antimuscarinics (n = 431; 13%). Several clusters comprised multiple central nervous system (CNS)-active drugs. CONCLUSIONS:Cardiovascular and CNS-active medications comprise a substantial portion of anticholinergic burden in people with cognitive impairment and multiple chronic conditions. Antidepressants were highly prevalent. Clinical profiles elucidated by these clusters of anticholinergic medications can inform targeted approaches to care.
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