Kaeshaelya Thiruchelvam1,2, Julie Byles3,4, Syed Shahzad Hasan3,5, Nicholas Egan3,4, Dominic Cavenagh3,4, Therese Kairuz3,6. 1. University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia. kaeshaelyathiruchelvam@uon.edu.au. 2. International Medical University, 126 Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. kaeshaelyathiruchelvam@uon.edu.au. 3. University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia. 4. Priority Research Centre for Generational Health and Ageing, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia. 5. University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, UK. 6. International Medical University, 126 Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Older people use many medications, but combinations of medications used among the oldest old (≥ 80 years) are not commonly reported. AIMS: This study aimed to determine common combinations of medications used among women aged 77-96 years and to describe characteristics associated with these combinations. METHODS: A cohort study of older women enroled in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health over a 15-year period was used to determine combinations of medications using latent class analysis. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine characteristics associated with these combinations. RESULTS: The highest medication users during the study were for the cardiovascular (2003: 80.28%; 2017: 85.63%) and nervous (2003: 66.03%; 2017: 75.41%) systems. A 3-class latent model described medication use combinations: class 1: 'Cardiovascular & neurology anatomical group' (27.25%) included participants using medications of the cardiovascular and nervous systems in their later years; class 2: 'Multiple anatomical group' (16.49%) and class 3: 'Antiinfectives & multiple anatomical group' (56.27%). When compared to the reference class (class 1), the risk of participants being in class 3 was slightly higher than being in class 2 if they had > 4 general practitioner visits (RRR 2.37; 95% CI 2.08, 2.71), Department of Veterans Affairs' coverage (RRR 1.59; 95% CI 1.36, 1.86), ≥ 4 chronic diseases (RRR 3.16; 95% CI 2.56, 3.90) and were frail (RRR 1.47; 95% CI 1.27, 1.69). CONCLUSION: Identification of combinations of medication use may provide opportunities to develop multimorbidity guidelines and target medication reviews, and may help reduce medication load for older individuals.
BACKGROUND: Older people use many medications, but combinations of medications used among the oldest old (≥ 80 years) are not commonly reported. AIMS: This study aimed to determine common combinations of medications used among women aged 77-96 years and to describe characteristics associated with these combinations. METHODS: A cohort study of older women enroled in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health over a 15-year period was used to determine combinations of medications using latent class analysis. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine characteristics associated with these combinations. RESULTS: The highest medication users during the study were for the cardiovascular (2003: 80.28%; 2017: 85.63%) and nervous (2003: 66.03%; 2017: 75.41%) systems. A 3-class latent model described medication use combinations: class 1: 'Cardiovascular & neurology anatomical group' (27.25%) included participants using medications of the cardiovascular and nervous systems in their later years; class 2: 'Multiple anatomical group' (16.49%) and class 3: 'Antiinfectives & multiple anatomical group' (56.27%). When compared to the reference class (class 1), the risk of participants being in class 3 was slightly higher than being in class 2 if they had > 4 general practitioner visits (RRR 2.37; 95% CI 2.08, 2.71), Department of Veterans Affairs' coverage (RRR 1.59; 95% CI 1.36, 1.86), ≥ 4 chronic diseases (RRR 3.16; 95% CI 2.56, 3.90) and were frail (RRR 1.47; 95% CI 1.27, 1.69). CONCLUSION: Identification of combinations of medication use may provide opportunities to develop multimorbidity guidelines and target medication reviews, and may help reduce medication load for older individuals.
Entities:
Keywords:
Ageing; Medication combinations; Medication pattern; Medication use; Older people
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