Prevalence of concurrent use of anticholinergic drugs in a geriatric pharmaceutical assistance program

R. Kruzelock, D. Lago, V. Rabatin, J. Roberts, F. Ahern

Research output: Contribution to journalShort surveypeer-review

Abstract

The elderly may run a special risk of anticholinergic drug toxicity due to polypharmacy. A 30% sample of the prescription records of 330,000 elderly individuals enrolled in the Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE) Program during the 1985-86 year were analyzed for the prevalence of concurrent use of anticholinergic drugs by residential status, age, sex, and medicine use. A total of 393 generic drugs and generic drug compounds with anticholinergic properties were identified in 31 therapeutic categories (AHFS) accounting for 547 drug product names. Anticholinergic drugs constitute 8.8% of PACE claims volume. There were 6,703 persons, 8.7% of the community sample and 20% of the nursing home sample, that used two or more anticholinergic drugs. Total medicine use was the strongest predictor of concurrent anticholinergic use.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)41-54
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Geriatric Drug Therapy
Volume5
Issue number2
StatePublished - 1990

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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