Anticholinergic scales and their relation to polypharmacy, cognition, and functional losses in aged in Brazil

Aged have a high consumption of medications with anticholinergic activity (MAA), being more vulnerable to adverse events. Using the anticholinergic risk scales, we investigated the prevalence and burden of MAA in the aged, the agreement between the scales and the implications of using MAA with a burden of 2 and 3 on the scales in relation to polypharmacy, cognition and functionality. Cross-sectional study with aged, of both sexes, aged ≥ 60 years old. The prevalence and burden of MAA were investigated by scales: anticholinergic drug scale (ADS), anticholinergic risk scale (ARS), anticholinergic cognitive burden scale (ACB), Brazilian scale of medications with anticholinergic activity (BSMAA). We analyzed the agreement of the scales with Kappa coefficient and investigated by logistic regression the association of MAA with: gender, age, polypharmacy; cognitive capacity (MMSE) and functional capacity (BOMFAQ questionnaire). Of those interviewed, 1,143 aged used medication and 53.5% used MAA. A good agreement was found between: ADS/ACB (0.642), ADS/SBMAA (0.669), ACB/SBMAA (0.656). In the multivariate analysis: gender and polypharmacy were statistically significant.