Changes in medication regimen complexity index following medication-related hospital admissions: A retrospective single-centre study

BackgroundMedication-related hospitalisations present an opportunity for de-prescribing and simplification of medication regimens. The Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) is a tool for measuring the complexity of medication regimens.ObjectivesTo evaluate whether MRCI changes following medication-related hospitalisations, and to evaluate the relationship between MRCI, length of stay (LOS) in hospital, and patient characteristics.MethodsA retrospective medical record review of patients admitted to a tertiary referral hospital in Australia for medication-related problems, January 2019 to August 2020. MRCI was calculated using pre-admission medication lists and discharge medication lists.ResultsThere were 125 patients who met inclusion criteria. The median (IQR) age was 64.0 years (45.0–75.0) and 46.4% were female. Median MRCI decreased by 2.0 following hospitalisation: from median (IQR) 17.0 (7.0–34.5) on admission vs 15.0 (3.0–29.0) on discharge (p < 0.001). Admission MRCI predicted LOS ≥2 days (OR 1.03, 95%CI 1.00–1.05, p = 0.022). Allergic reaction-related hospitalisations were associated with lower admission MRCI.ConclusionsThere was a decrease in MRCI following medication-related hospitalisation. Targeted medication reviews for high-risk patients (e.g., those with medication-related hospitalisations) could further reduce the burden of medication complexity following discharge from hospital and possibly prevent readmissions.     

药学干预对老年住院患者用药复杂性和安全性的影响

目的 评价药学干预对老年住院患者用药复杂性和安全性的影响。方法 对65岁以上的老年住院患者进行1项干预前后的对照研究,干预组由临床药师主导药学干预过程,采用药物治疗方案复杂性指数（medication regimencomplexity index,MRCI）、Beers标准2015分别评估老年患者在入院和出院时长期用药方案的用药复杂程度（medication regimen complexity,MRC）和潜在不适当用药（potentially inappropriate medicines,PIMs）,并向临床医师提出简化用药方案的建议。比较2组患者在药学干预前后MRCI评分、PIMs发生率、药品不良事件（adverse drugevents,ADEs）发生率、用药依从性和患者对药学服务满意度的差异。结果 未干预组和干预组患者住院后的MRCI与入院时相比均有明显增加（P<0.01或P<0.05）,但干预组入院至出院时MRCI评分的平均增加幅度明显小于未干预组[（5.4±5.9）分vs（2.3±5.6）分,P<0.01];与未干预组相比,干预组出院时的PIMs发生率由入院时的57.0%下降至42.9%（P<0.01）;药学干预使患者的用药依从性和药学服务满意度显著提高,ADEs发生率显著降低（P<0.01）,但对平均住院天数的影响差异无显著性。结论 对老年住院患者实施一项以用药方案的简化为主要内容的药学干预,有效降低了住院对MRC和PIMs的影响,提高了老年患者用药的安全性、经济性和合理性。     

Polypharmacy and medication regimen complexity in older patients with hemophilia or von willebrand disease: the M’HEMORRH-AGE study

Background

In older patients, multiple chronic conditions lead topolypharmacy which is associated with a higher risk of adverse drug events. Nowadays, the medication exposure of older patients with bleeding disorders has been poorly explored.

Aim

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of polypharmacy and the medication regimen complexity in older community-dwelling patients with hemophilia or von Willebrand Disease (VWD).

Method

The M’HEMORRH-AGE study (Medication in AGEd patients with HEMORRHagic disease) is a multicenter prospective observational study. Community-dwelling patients over 65 years with hemophilia or VWD were included in the study. The rate of polypharmacy (use of 5 to 9 drugs daily) and excessive polypharmacy (use of 10 or more medications daily) was assessed. The complexity of prescribed medication regimens was assessed using the Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI).

Results

Overall, 142 older community-dwelling patients with hemophilia (n?=?89) or VWD (n?=?53) were included (mean age: 72.8 (5.8) years). Prevalence of polypharmacy and excessive polypharmacy were 40.8% and 17.6%, respectively. The mean MRCI score was 16.9 (6.1). The mean MRCI score related to bleeding disorders medications was 6.9 (1.1). There was no significant difference between older hemophilia patients and VWD patients.

Conclusion

The M’HEMORRH-AGE study showed that more than half of older community-dwelling patients were affected by polypharmacy. In addition, the high medication regimen complexity in this older population suggests that interventions focusing on medication review and deprescribing should be conducted to reduce polypharmacy with its negative health-related outcomes.

     

Impact of an intervention to reduce medication regimen complexity for older hospital inpatients

Background Hospitalisation often leads to increased medication regimen complexity for older patients; increased complexity is associated with medication non-adherence. There has been little research into strategies for reducing the impact of hospitalisation on medication regimen complexity. Objective To investigate the impact of pharmacist medication review, together with an educational intervention targeting clinical pharmacists and junior medical officers, on the increase in medication regimen complexity that occurs during hospitalisation. Setting Two acute general medicine wards and two subacute aged care (geriatric assessment and rehabilitation) wards at a major metropolitan public hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Methods A before-after study involving patients aged 60 years and over was undertaken over two 5-week periods. During the pre-intervention period patients received usual care. During the intervention period, clinical pharmacists were encouraged to review patients’ medication regimen complexity prior to discharge, and make recommendations to hospital medical officers to simplify regimens. Prior to the intervention period, pharmacists attended an interactive case-based education session about medication regimen simplification, and completed an assessment task. A similar, but briefer, education session was delivered to junior medical officers. Main outcome measure The primary endpoint was change in medication regimen complexity index (MRCI) score (a validated measure of regimen complexity) between admission and discharge for regularly scheduled long-term medications, adjusted for age, length of hospital stay, number of medications and regimen complexity prior to admission. Results Three hundred ninety-one patients were included (mean age 80.6 years, mean 7.4 regularly scheduled long-term medications on admission). The mean increase in MRCI score between admission and discharge was significantly smaller in the 205 intervention patients than in the 186 usual care patients (2.5 vs. 4.0, p = 0.02; adjusted difference 1.6, 95 %CI 0.3, 2.9). The intervention had greatest impact in patients discharged from subacute wards (mean adjusted difference: 2.7), not using a dose administration aid after discharge (mean adjusted difference: 2.6), and not discharged to a residential care facility (mean adjusted difference: 1.9). Mean differences in MRCI scores were equivalent to ceasing one to two medications. Conclusion An educational intervention and clinical pharmacist medication review reduced the impact of hospitalisation on the complexity of older patients’ medication regimens.     

Development of medication regimen complexity index: Japanese version and application in elderly patients

Background Medication regimen complexity includes various aspects of a regimen, including the dosage form, number of medications and need for additional information for use. Complicated medication regimens cause non-adherence to prescribed medications, making it essential to evaluate medication regimen complexity in older adults to improve adherence to prescribed medications and clinical outcomes. The medication regimen complexity index is currently the most widely used scale for quantifying regimen complexity; however, it has yet to be adopted in Japan. Objective This study aimed to translate the medication regimen complexity index to Japanese and assess its reliability and validity for application in elderly patients in Japan. Setting This study was conducted in a clinic that provides home medical care to patients in the southern part of Ibaraki prefecture, Japan. Method The validation process consisted of translation of the original English version of the medication regimen complexity index to Japanese followed by back-translation to English, comparison of the back-translated and original versions, pilot testing, and assessment of the Japanese version by two raters using the medication regimens of 72 patients with chronic diseases. Main outcome measure The psychometric properties of the index were evaluated according to inter-rater and test-retest reliability, and convergent and discriminant validity. Results The mean age of the 72 patients was 84.3 years. The scale showed high inter-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.946) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.991) for total scores. The number of medications was positively correlated with total medication regimen complexity index score (r_s = 0.930, P?<?0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between age, sex and Charlson Comorbidity Index and medication regimen complexity index score (P?>?0.05). Conclusions The Japanese version of the medication regimen complexity index is a reliable and valid tool for assessing the complexity of medication regimen in Japanese elderly patients.

     

Identifying opportunities for pediatric medication therapy management in children with medical complexity

BackgroundDespite potential benefits of medication therapy management (MTM) for complex pediatric patients, implementation of pediatric MTM services is rare.ObjectivesTo describe how a standardized pediatric MTM model identifies potential interventions and their impact on medication regimen complexity index (MRCI) scores in children with medical complexity (CMC) and polypharmacy.MethodsThis retrospective proof-of-concept study included pediatric patients receiving primary care in a large outpatient primary care medical home for CMC within a tertiary freestanding children’s hospital from August 2020 to July 2021. Medication profiles of established patients aged 0-18 years with at least 5 active medications at the time of the index visit were assessed for medication-related concerns, potential interventions, and potential impact of proposed interventions on MRCI scores.ResultsAmong 100 patients, an average of 3.4 ± 2.6 medication-related concerns was identified using the pediatric MTM model. Common medication-related concerns (>25% of patients) included inappropriate or unnecessary therapy, suboptimal therapy, undertreated symptom, adverse effect, clinically impactful drug-drug interaction, or duplication of therapy. A total of 97% had opportunities for 5.0 ± 2.9 potential interventions. Most common proposed interventions included drug discontinuation trial (69%), patient or caregiver education (55%), dosage form modification (51%), dose modification (49%), and frequency modification (46%). The mean baseline MRCI score was 32.6 (95% CI 29.3–35.8) among all patients. MRCI scores decreased by a mean of 4.9 (95% CI 3.8–5.9) after application of the theoretical interventions (P < 0.001). Mean potential score reduction was not significantly affected by patient age or number of complex chronic conditions. Potential impact of the proposed interventions on MRCI score was significantly greater in patients with higher baseline medication counts (P < 0.001).ConclusionMost CMC would likely benefit from a pharmacist-guided pediatric MTM service. A standardized review of active medication regimens identified multiple medication-related concerns and potential interventions for nearly all patients. Proposed medication interventions would significantly reduce medication regimen complexity as measured by MRCI. Further prospective evaluation of a pharmacist-guided pediatric MTM service is warranted.     

Association between drug prescribing and quality of life in primary care

Objective To evaluate quality of life among patients of Family Health Strategy Units and how it relates to the prescribing complexity and to the number of psychotropic medications prescribed, including adjustments for sociodemographic characteristics. Setting Family Health Strategy Units in a municipality in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Method Cross-sectional study using face-to-face interviews and prescribing analysis among users of Family Health Strategy Units. Patients were recruited by consecutive sampling. Multiple linear regression models were fitted to the different domains of quality of life in the WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire. The response rate for the patients who completed the interview was 97%. The prescribed medication data and sociodemographic characteristics of the sample were included as covariates. Prescribing complexity was analyzed by means of the Medication Regimen Complexity Index. The assumptions in the estimated models were tested and the models were validated. Main outcome measure Quality of life among patients of Family Health Strategy Units. Results At total, 336 patients answered the questionnaire. Through multiple linear regression, it was observed that higher prescribing complexity was associated with significantly low scores in the physical (−2.01, 95% CI = −2.89 to −1.35) and overall (−1.93, 95% CI = −2.81 to −0.99) quality of life domains. Greater amounts of psychotropic medications prescribed were associated with significantly low scores in the physical (−1.02, 95% CI = −1.29 to −0.56), psychological (−2.52, 95% CI = −3.15 to −1.65) and overall (−0.97, 95% CI = −2.06 to −0.33) domains of the interviewees’ quality of life. The estimated models were adjusted for the sociodemographic characteristics of the sample and presented good predictive capacity. Conclusions The evaluated aspects of the prescribed medication (complexity and presence of psychotropic medications) were associated with low scores in the physical, psychological and overall quality of life domains. This may be an intrinsic characteristic of the interviewed patients, like having the quality of life at such a low level before starting the treatment, that the medication could not improve it to normal levels. Also, it can be a demonstration of the ineffectiveness of these treatments within primary health care.     

Correlation between medication regimen complexity and quality of life in patients with heart failure

PurposeTo determine if a correlation exists between the medication regimen complexity index (MRCI) and quality of life (QoL) in patients with heart failure (HF) assessed using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ).MethodsRetrospective chart review from July 2012 through June 2018 identified patients for inclusion who completed an MLHFQ. Baseline and, if available, follow-up MLHFQ scores were collected. The medication list documented on the date of the MLHFQ was used to calculate the MRCI.ResultsPatients with a documented MLHFQ score were included (n = 72) in the primary analysis. No correlation existed between baseline MRCI and MLHFQ (r = 0.07; p = 0.55). A secondary analysis of correlation between change in MRCI and MLHFQ was conducted for patients (n = 30) with a follow-up MLHFQ score. A moderate, negative correlation (r = −0.47; p = 0.009) existed between change in MRCI and MLHFQ from baseline to follow-up.ConclusionNo significant correlation between MRCI and MLHFQ scores were found at baseline. Patients with follow-up MLHFQ scores demonstrated improvements in QoL, despite increasingly complex medication regimens. Medication regimen complexity alone is likely an insufficient marker for predicting QoL in patients with HF.     

Medication regimen complexity in patients with uncontrolled hypertension and/or diabetes

ObjectivesTo compare medication regimen complexity (MRC) for patients with uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes, or both, to examine the contribution of complexity components (dosage form, frequency, additional directions) to total MRC index (MRCI) score, and to explore the relationship of MRC with patient characteristics and medication regimen cost.MethodsThis cross-sectional retrospective study used electronic medical record data for patients’ most recent visit to a university internal medicine clinic during 2009. MRCI scores (disease specific and patient level [medications for all conditions]) were calculated for adults with uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, or both (i.e., not at recommended treatment goals).Results206 patients (85 with hypertension, 60 with diabetes, and 61 with both) were included. The median (range) disease-specific MRCI was significantly greater for diabetes (8.0 [3–21]) than for hypertension (3.0 [2–11], P < 0.001), though the median number of disease-specific medications was identical (2). The majority of hypertension MRC was the result of dosage frequency (62.1%), while diabetes MRC was distributed among dosage form (38.3%), frequency (39.1%), and additional directions (27.6%). The median patient-level MRCI scores for each group were 11 to 15 points higher than the disease-specific MRCI scores. Higher MRCI scores were associated with higher regimen cost, comorbidity burden, and female gender.ConclusionThe magnitude of MRCI scores varied across the three disease groups, increased dramatically when all medications were considered, and revealed greater complexity than a simple count of prescribed medications. The MRCI may be a useful tool for targeting patients for whom medication therapy management services would be most beneficial and cost effective.     

Impact of a Pharmaceutical Care Program at Discharge on Patients at High Risk of Readmission According to the Hospital Score

Background: A significant percentage of hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge are a result of avoidable drug-related problems. Stratifying patients according to readmission risk is key to pharmaceutical intervention (PI) design strategies to improve treatment outcomes. Objective: To assess whether a pharmaceutical care (PC) program at discharge in polymedicated patients at high potentially avoidable readmission (PAR) risk, according to the HOSPITAL score, improves 30-day readmission rate (30-dRR). Methods: This prospective controlled, quasi-experimental, 11-month study included 163 chronic polymedicated patients (>5 medications) at high PAR risk according to the HOSPITAL score. We calculated the 30-dRR and number of medication variations and Medication Regimen Complexity Index-E (MRCI-E) after PI. Results were compared with a retrospective cohort of chronic patients at high PAR risk. Results: The 30-dRR was 18.4% in the intervention group and 25.6% in the control group (odds ratio [OR] = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.38 to 1.14). Total medication reduction (−1.28; 95% CI = −1.88 to −0.68), number of high-risk medications in chronic patients (−0.58; 95% CI = −0.9 to −0.26), and MRCI-E (−6.42; 95% CI = −8.07 to −4.76) were statistically significant (P < .001). The number of medications at discharge was associated with an increased readmission risk (OR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.14). Conclusions: The degree of polypharmacy and patients’ treatment complexity after hospital discharge significantly reduced as a result of the PC program compared with the control group. This highlights the need for patient selection and prioritization strategies for implementing PIs focused on reducing polypharmacy and preventing drug-related problems that may cause PAR.     

Impact of the Lund Integrated Medicines Management (LIMM) model on medication appropriateness and drug-related hospital revisits

Purpose  

To examine the impact of systematic medication reconciliations upon hospital admission and of a medication review while in hospital on the number of inappropriate medications and unscheduled drug-related hospital revisits in elderly patients.     

Influence of a ward-based pharmacist on the medication quality of geriatric inpatients: a before–after study

Background Despite several international studies demonstrating that ward-based pharmacists improve medication quality, ward pharmacists are not generally established in German hospitals. Aim We assessed the effect of a ward-based clinical pharmacist on the medication quality of geriatric inpatients in a German university hospital. Method The before-after study with a historic control group was conducted on the geriatric ward. During the control phase, patients received standard care without the involvement of a pharmacist. The intervention consisted of a clinical pharmacist providing pharmaceutical care from admission to discharge. Medication quality was measured on admission and discharge using the Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI). A linear regression analysis was conducted to calculate the influence of the intervention on the MAI. Results Patients in the intervention group (n?=?152, mean 83 years) were older and took more drugs at admission compared to the control group (n?=?159, 81 years). For both groups, the MAI per patient improved significantly from admission to discharge. Although the intervention did not influence the summated MAI score per patient, the intervention significantly reduced the MAI criteria Dosage (p?=?0.006), Correct Directions (p?=?0.016) and Practical Directions (p?=?0.004) as well as the proportion of overall inappropriate MAI ratings (at least 1 of 9 criteria inappropriate) (p?=?0.015). Conclusion Although medication quality was already high in the control group, a ward-based clinical pharmacist could contribute meaningfully to the medication quality on an acute geriatric ward.

     

基于《中国老年人潜在不适当用药判断标准(2017版)》的老年患者不适当用药评价研究

目的 通过分析养老机构老年多重用药患者潜在不适当用药的现状,为临床药师推进老年患者的合理用药提供参考依据。方法 随机抽取上海某养老机构老年多重用药患者258例,以《中国老年人潜在不适当用药判断标准（2017版）》为评价依据进行分析,总结检出的潜在不适当用药（PIM）情况。结果 研究对象的平均年龄为（82.57±5.56）岁,平均服药种数（6.98±1.96）种,共检出160名（62.0%）患者存在PIM。其中,与药物有关的潜在不适当用药206项,与疾病状态有关的潜在不适当用药91项。结论 养老机构老年多重用药患者潜在不适当用药情况突出,临床药师依托多学科评估团队介入药物治疗,对发现和消除PIM及优化用药方案起到重要作用。     

Inappropriate prescribing in patients accessing specialist palliative day care services

Background For patients accessing specialist palliative care day services, medication is prescribed routinely to manage acute symptoms, treat long-term conditions or prevent adverse events associated with these conditions. As such, the pharmacotherapeutic burden for these patients is high and polypharmacy is common. Consequently, the risk of these patients developing drug-related toxicities through drug–drug interactions is exacerbated. Medication use in this group should, therefore, be evaluated regularly to align with achievable therapeutic outcomes considering remaining life expectancy. Objective To (1) assess the prevalence of inappropriate medication use; (2) identify potential drug–drug interactions; and, (3) determine how many potential drug–drug interactions could be prevented by discontinuing inappropriate medication. Setting A specialist tertiary care palliative care centre in Northern England serving a population of 330,000. Main outcome measure Prescribing of inappropriate medication. Method Medication histories for patients accessing a specialist palliative day care centre were established and a modified Delphi method was used to reach consensus of medication appropriateness. The Delphi method utilized a framework considering the following factors: remaining life expectancy of the patient, time until benefit of the treatment, goals of care and treatment targets. Potential drug interactions were established using drug interaction recognition software and categorised by their ability to cause harm. Results A total number of 132 patients were assessed during the study period who were prescribed 1,532 (mean = 12/patient) medications; 238 (16 %) were considered inappropriate in the context of limited life expectancy. The most common class of medications considered inappropriate were the statins, observed in 35 (27 %) patients. A total of 267 potential drug–drug interactions were identified; 112 were clinically significant and 155 were not considered clinically significant. Discontinuation of inappropriate medication would reduce the total number of medications taken to 1,294 (mean = 10/patient) and prevent 31 clinically significant potential drug–drug interactions. Conclusion Patients accessing specialist palliative day care services take many inappropriate medications. These medications not only increase the pharmacotherapeutic burden for the patient but they also contribute to potential drug–drug interactions. These patients should have their medication reviewed in the context of life limiting illness aligned with achievable therapeutic outcomes.