Anticholinergic burden in older inpatients on psychotropic medication: do we care?

No Thumbnail Available
File version
Author(s)
Lee, Mei Shiang
Kisely, Steve
Zolotarev, Boris
Warren, Andrew
Henderson, Jack
George, Manoj
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2017
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract

Objectives: This quality activity explored the prescribing patterns in an Older Persons Mental Health Inpatient Unit in order to establish whether the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale (ACB Scale) score on admission was reviewed to minimise anticholinergic cognitive burden (ACB) while maintaining therapeutic effects. Methods: A retrospective electronic chart review of 50 discharged patients for any documented ACB review by the treating team, as well as the ACB Scale scores on admission and discharge. Findings: ACB was rarely considered. On average, the total ACB Scale scores on admission and discharge were high. At the time of discharge, the proportion of patients on at least one anticholinergic medication had significantly increased, and only 10% of patients were on no anticholinergic medication. Approximately 50% of patients had an increased ACB Scale score by discharge as opposed to only 8% who had reduced scores. Conclusions: Anticholinergic polypharmacy should be minimised when prescribing to the elderly population to reduce potential anticholinergic burden.

Journal Title

Australasian Psychiatry

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume

25

Issue

6

Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Biomedical and clinical sciences

Psychology

Science & Technology

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Psychiatry

anticholinergic burden

ACB

Persistent link to this record
Citation

Lee, MS; Kisely, S; Zolotarev, B; Warren, A; Henderson, J; George, M, Anticholinergic burden in older inpatients on psychotropic medication: do we care?, Australasian Psychiatry, 2017, 25 (6), pp. 566-570

Collections