Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2025
06:52
Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
9.5K
Medication use patterns among older patients in temporary stays in Denmark
Hanin Harbi1,2, Carina Lundby1,2, Peter Bjødstrup Jensen1
1Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark.
European Geriatric Medicine
|May 7, 2025
Summary
Patients in temporary stays use many medications, with a significant increase in new prescriptions, including high-risk drugs, after moving into these facilities. This highlights a critical need for medication management in this population.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric pharmacology
- Health services research
- Medication safety
Background:
- Temporary stay units serve older adults with frailty and multiple health conditions.
- Understanding medication use patterns in this population is crucial but limited.
- This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding prescription drug utilization in Danish temporary stays.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe prescription drug use among patients admitted to temporary stay units in Denmark.
- To identify patterns of medication initiation and changes around the time of transfer to temporary care.
Main Methods:
- A drug utilization study involving 11,424 patients in temporary stay units across 14 Danish municipalities (2016-2023).
- Utilized prescription data from the Danish National Prescription Registry.
- Analyzed medication use in the four months prior to and following admission to temporary stay.
Main Results:
- Patients used a median of six drug classes pre-admission, with 68% using five or more.
- Medication use intensified post-admission, with a sharp increase in new drug initiations, particularly laxatives, analgesics, and antibiotics.
- High-risk drug use rose from 70% to 83%, with 49% initiating new high-risk medications like opioids and anticoagulants.
Conclusions:
- Patients in Danish temporary stays exhibit substantial medication burdens, including high-risk drugs.
- A notable increase in medication initiation occurs around the transition to temporary care.
- Findings underscore the importance of comprehensive medication review and management for this vulnerable patient group.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Drug Therapy
26
The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
Antianxiety Medications
Antianxiety Medications
26
01:15Chronopharmacokinetics: Circadian Rhythms and Influence on Drug Response
31
Circadian rhythms are cyclic changes that are crucial in plasma drug concentrations. Various standard circadian parameters, including core body temperature, heart rate, and other cardiovascular factors, directly impact disease states and the therapeutic response to drug therapy.
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
The time of drug administration is an important factor to consider, as it can influence the toxic dose of a drug. For example, a study conducted by Prins et al. in 1997 examined the effects of the timing of...
31
01:29Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
813
Documentation in long-term care facilities and home healthcare settings is crucial for ensuring continuous, coordinated, and comprehensive care for patients. Each setting has its specific documentation processes and tools:
Long-Term Care Facilities
Long-Term Care Facilities
813
01:15Drug Dosage Regimen: Overview
3.3K
A drug dosage regimen describes the specific instructions and schedule for administering a drug to a patient. It considers factors such as drug dosage, frequency, route of administration, and duration of treatment. Designing an appropriate dosage regimen for a patient aims to achieve a target drug concentration at the site of action.
Typically, the starting dose and dosing interval are guided by the manufacturer's recommendations based on clinical trials conducted during and after drug...
Typically, the starting dose and dosing interval are guided by the manufacturer's recommendations based on clinical trials conducted during and after drug...
3.3K
01:01Dosage Regimen: Fixed Dose
1.8K
Fixed-dose regimens are a common approach to administer drugs to achieve and maintain desired levels of the drug in the body. In this dosing strategy, a specific amount of medication is given at regular intervals, often multiple times a day, to ensure a consistent drug concentration in the bloodstream.
Fixed-dose regimens can be used for various routes of administration, including intravenous (IV) injections and oral medications. For IV administration, a predetermined amount of the drug is...
Fixed-dose regimens can be used for various routes of administration, including intravenous (IV) injections and oral medications. For IV administration, a predetermined amount of the drug is...
1.8K
01:21Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview
1.6K
When it comes to infants and young children, they are typically administered smaller doses of medication in comparison to adults. This is primarily because their organ functions still need to fully develop, meaning their bodies are not as efficient at metabolizing or eliminating drugs. Additionally, their blood-brain barrier is more permeable than in adults. As a result, high concentrations of drugs can easily penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), potentially leading to neurological...
1.6K