Medication use patterns among older patients in temporary stays in Denmark

Patients in temporary stays are typically older individuals with frailty and multimorbidity. However, limited knowledge exists about their medication use. This study aimed to describe prescription drug use among patients in temporary stays in Denmark.

We conducted a drug utilisation study on 11,424 patients in public healthcare-operated temporary stay units across 14 Danish municipalities between 2016 and 2023 (median age 81 years; 54% women). Prescription data were sourced from the Danish National Prescription Registry.

Patients used a median of six drug classes (interquartile range [IQR] 4-10) in the four months before moving into a temporary stay facility; 68% used ≥ 5 drug classes, and 26% used ≥ 10. The most commonly used drug classes were paracetamol (49%), statins (30%), and proton pump inhibitors (29%). The monthly rate of new drug use increased from 23/100 patients six months before move-in to a peak of 262/100 patients in the first month after move-in, driven primarily by laxatives, analgesics, and antibiotics. High-risk drug use increased from 70 to 83% following move-in, with 49% of patients initiating at least one new high-risk drug, most commonly opioids (28%), potassium (17%), and anticoagulants and platelet inhibitors (15%). General practitioners initiated 60-70% of treatments and maintained 80-90%. Hospital physician prescriptions increased around move-in, peaking at 55% for initiation and 25% for maintenance in the first month after move-in.

Patients in temporary stays in Denmark demonstrate high medication use, including high-risk drugs, with a notable increase in treatment initiations around the time of move-in.