Teddy Novais1,2, Christelle Prudent3, Amélie Cransac3,4, Frederic Gervais5, Julien Jouglen6,7, Mickael Gigan8, Véronique Cahoreau7,8, Valérie Chamouard7,9,10. 1. Pharmaceutical Unit, Charpennes Hospital, University Hospital of Lyon, 27 rue Gabriel Péri, FR-69100 Villeurbanne, Lyon, France. teddy.novais@chu-lyon.fr. 2. Research on Healthcare Performance (RESHAPE), University Lyon 1, INSERM U1290, Lyon, France. teddy.novais@chu-lyon.fr. 3. Pharmaceutical Unit, F. University Hospital of Dijon, Dijon, France. 4. LNC-UMR1231, University of Burgundy and Franche Comté, Dijon, France. 5. Pharmaceutical Unit, Charpennes Hospital, University Hospital of Lyon, 27 rue Gabriel Péri, FR-69100 Villeurbanne, Lyon, France. 6. Pharmaceutical Unit, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France. 7. PERMEDES Group « Plateforme d'Echange et de Recherche sur les MEdicaments DErivés du Sang », Société française de pharmacie clinique, Toulouse, France. 8. Pharmaceutical Unit, Pellegrin Hospital, University Hospital of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France. 9. Pharmaceutical Unit, Louis Pradel Hospital, University Hospital of Lyon, Lyon, France. 10. Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, University Hospital of Lyon, Lyon, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In older patients, multiple chronic conditions lead topolypharmacy which is associated with a higher risk of adverse drug events. Nowadays, the medication exposure of older patients with bleeding disorders has been poorly explored. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of polypharmacy and the medication regimen complexity in older community-dwelling patients with hemophilia or von Willebrand Disease (VWD). METHOD: The M'HEMORRH-AGE study (Medication in AGEd patients with HEMORRHagic disease) is a multicenter prospective observational study. Community-dwelling patients over 65 years with hemophilia or VWD were included in the study. The rate of polypharmacy (use of 5 to 9 drugs daily) and excessive polypharmacy (use of 10 or more medications daily) was assessed. The complexity of prescribed medication regimens was assessed using the Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI). RESULTS: Overall, 142 older community-dwelling patients with hemophilia (n = 89) or VWD (n = 53) were included (mean age: 72.8 (5.8) years). Prevalence of polypharmacy and excessive polypharmacy were 40.8% and 17.6%, respectively. The mean MRCI score was 16.9 (6.1). The mean MRCI score related to bleeding disorders medications was 6.9 (1.1). There was no significant difference between older hemophilia patients and VWD patients. CONCLUSION: The M'HEMORRH-AGE study showed that more than half of older community-dwelling patients were affected by polypharmacy. In addition, the high medication regimen complexity in this older population suggests that interventions focusing on medication review and deprescribing should be conducted to reduce polypharmacy with its negative health-related outcomes.
BACKGROUND: In older patients, multiple chronic conditions lead topolypharmacy which is associated with a higher risk of adverse drug events. Nowadays, the medication exposure of older patients with bleeding disorders has been poorly explored. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of polypharmacy and the medication regimen complexity in older community-dwelling patients with hemophilia or von Willebrand Disease (VWD). METHOD: The M'HEMORRH-AGE study (Medication in AGEd patients with HEMORRHagic disease) is a multicenter prospective observational study. Community-dwelling patients over 65 years with hemophilia or VWD were included in the study. The rate of polypharmacy (use of 5 to 9 drugs daily) and excessive polypharmacy (use of 10 or more medications daily) was assessed. The complexity of prescribed medication regimens was assessed using the Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI). RESULTS: Overall, 142 older community-dwelling patients with hemophilia (n = 89) or VWD (n = 53) were included (mean age: 72.8 (5.8) years). Prevalence of polypharmacy and excessive polypharmacy were 40.8% and 17.6%, respectively. The mean MRCI score was 16.9 (6.1). The mean MRCI score related to bleeding disorders medications was 6.9 (1.1). There was no significant difference between older hemophilia patients and VWD patients. CONCLUSION: The M'HEMORRH-AGE study showed that more than half of older community-dwelling patients were affected by polypharmacy. In addition, the high medication regimen complexity in this older population suggests that interventions focusing on medication review and deprescribing should be conducted to reduce polypharmacy with its negative health-related outcomes.