Use and Deprescribing of Potentially Inappropriate Medications in Frail Nursing Home Residents

The STOPPFrail criteria were developed to assist physicians in deprescribing medications among frail patients approaching end of life. We aimed to measure the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and to describe changes over time, using STOPPFrail, in frail nursing home residents (NHRs) with limited life expectancy included in a medication review trial.

We conducted a post-hoc analysis of the COME-ON study, a cluster-controlled trial that evaluated the effect of a complex intervention on appropriateness of prescribing in Belgian nursing homes. We identified NHRs eligible for the application of STOPPFrail based on functional status, comorbidities, level of care and survival. PIM use was measured at baseline and at 8 months. Changes over time were compared in the control group (CG) and intervention group (IG).

At baseline, 308 NHRs met the STOPPFrail eligibility criteria, of whom 196 (64.1%) had one or more PIM. At 8 months, among the 218 NHRs who were alive, there was an absolute reduction in the prevalence of PIMs of 9.1% in the CG (p < 0.05) and 10.2% in the IG (p < 0.05). We found large reductions for some medications (e.g. proton pump inhibitors) but no reduction for others (e.g. calcium). The percentage of NHRs with one or more PIM discontinued without a new PIM initiated was higher in the IG than the CG but the difference was not significant (35.1% vs 23.6%, p = 0.127).

Among frail NHRs with poor survival prognosis, a significant and encouraging decrease in PIM prevalence over time was observed, probably facilitated by medication reviews. The overall prevalence of PIMs remained high, however.