Racial differences in anticholinergic use among community-dwelling elders.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Pharmacology
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use is a concern in older adults.
• Racial differences in PIM use, specifically anticholinergics, are understudied.
• Anticholinergic medications are associated with adverse health outcomes in the elderly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate racial disparities in the use of prescription and/or nonprescription anticholinergic medications among older adults over a 10-year period.
• To determine if demographic factors, health status, or access to care explain observed racial differences in anticholinergic use.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study using data from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study (years 1, 5, and 10).
• Included 3,055 community-dwelling Black and White older adults at baseline.
• Assessed highly anticholinergic medication use based on the 2012 American Geriatrics Society Updated Beers Criteria.

Main Results:

• At baseline, 13.4% of Black participants used anticholinergics compared to 17.8% of White participants, a difference that persisted over 10 years.
• Black participants were 24% to 45% less likely to use any anticholinergics than White participants (P < 0.05).
• Diphenhydramine and meclizine were common anticholinergic medications identified in both racial groups.

Conclusions:

• Older Black adults used anticholinergic medications less frequently than older White adults over a decade.
• This racial disparity in anticholinergic use remained unexplained by demographic factors, health status, or access to care.
• Findings highlight a significant racial difference in potentially inappropriate medication use among older adults.