Reducing polypharmacy through deprescribing in the emergency department

Area of Science:

• Geriatrics
• Clinical Pharmacy
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Polypharmacy, the use of multiple medications, is a global issue increasing healthcare costs and organ burden.
• Older adults are particularly susceptible to polypharmacy, leading to complex medication management challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To deprescribe and prevent polypharmacy within an emergency department setting.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary intervention for polypharmacy management.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records from August 1, 2023, to October 31, 2023.
• Pharmacist-led medication education using the Team Resource Management Polypharmacy Interview Guide.
• Social worker-led patient outreach for deprescribing follow-up visits.

Main Results:

• Patients with polypharmacy were significantly older (79.8 vs 67.3 years, P=.002).
• Intervention reduced the average medication count for polypharmacy patients from 9.2 to 3.3.
• The incidence of polypharmacy decreased by 8.4% in the emergency department.

Conclusions:

• A multidisciplinary approach effectively reduces polypharmacy in the emergency department.
• Deprescribing interventions are crucial for managing complex medication regimens in older adults.
• Targeted interventions can mitigate the risks and costs associated with polypharmacy.