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BACKGROUND: It has been documented that NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic drugs) reduce the effectiveness of some antihypertensive drugs. OBJECTIVE: Analyze the prescription of NSAID and the variables associated in outpatients with hypertension and explore some characteristics of the physicians. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study, included patients with hypertension from the Family Medicine Unit No. 24 in Mante, Tamaulipas. From the patients, sociodemographic data, clinical history and pharmacological treatments were obtained. From the physicians, sociodemographic and academic information were collected. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 63 ± 11 years and 31.7% were prescribed NSAIDs. When compare exposed versus non-exposed to NSAIDs, being in uncontrolled high blood pressure, uncontrolled hypertension, multimorbidity and polypharmacy. The variables associated to the prescription of NSAIDs were: uncontrolled hypertension, multimorbidity and polypharmacy. The 56.7% of the physicians were women, 83.3% with experience >10 years and 33.3% with current certification by the Council in Family Medicine. CONCLUSIONS: The inappropriate prescription of NSAIDs revealed the need to implement actions to mitigate the potential risk for the hypertension patients to present a complication.

ANTECEDENTES: Los antiinflamatorios y los antirreumáticos no esteroideos (AINE) disminuyen la eficacia de algunos antihipertensivos. OBJETIVO: Analizar el patrón de prescripción de AINE y las variables asociadas en pacientes ambulatorios con diagnóstico de hipertensión arterial, así como explorar algunas características de los médicos prescriptores. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal de pacientes con hipertensión de la Unidad de Medicina Familiar 24 en Ciudad Mante, Tamaulipas. De los pacientes se registraron datos sociodemográficos, antecedentes patológicos y tratamientos farmacológicos; y de los médicos, información sociodemográfica y académica. RESULTADOS: La edad promedio de los pacientes fue de 63 ± 11 años, 31.7 % recibía AINE y al contrastarlos con quienes no los recibían, se identificó mayor proporción de obesidad, presión arterial más elevada, más casos en descontrol de la hipertensión arterial, multimorbilidad y polimedicación. Las variables asociadas a la prescripción de AINE fueron estar en descontrol de la hipertensión arterial, multimorbilidad y polimedicación; 56.7 % de los médicos prescriptores fue del sexo femenino, 83.3 % con antigüedad superior a 10 años y 33.3 % con certificación vigente. CONCLUSIONES: La prescripción inapropiada de AINE reveló la necesidad de implementar acciones para mitigar el riesgo potencial de los pacientes hipertensos de presentar una complicación.

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OBJECTIVE: The incidence of falls in elderly patients in the hospital environment is three times higher than that in the community. The aim was to determine the characteristics of patients who suffered in-hospital falls and their complications. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with patients older than 64 years of age, admitted between 2018 and 2020 to four clinics in Colombia who presented a fall during their stay. Clinical data, reasons for the fall, complications and use of drugs with a known risk for causing falls and with an anticholinergic load were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 249 patients were included. The mean age was 77.5 ± 7.4 years, and there was a predominance of males (63.9%). The patients were hospitalized mainly for community-acquired pneumonia (12.4%) and heart failure (10.4%). Falls occurred most frequently in hospitalization wards (77.1%) and emergency departments (20.9%). Falls were related to standing alone (34.4%) and on the way to the bathroom (28.9%), with 40.6% (n = 102) of falls resulting in trauma, especially to the head (27.7%); the incidence of fractures was low (3.2%). Ninety-two percent of patients had polypharmacy (≥5 drugs), 88.0% received psychotropic drugs, and 37.3% received drugs with an anticholinergic load ≥3 points. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalized adults over 65 years of age suffered falls, mainly in hospitalization wards and emergency departments, especially during the process of solitary ambulation. Most had received psychotropic drugs and medications with a high anticholinergic load. These results suggest that it is necessary to improve risk prevention strategies for falls in this population.

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O uso indiscriminado de psicotrópicos tem importância econômica, social e requer atenção dos profissionais de saúde. Nessa perspectiva, a pesquisa tem como objetivo avaliar a prescrição e o perfil de utilização de psicotrópicos na Farmácia Básica do município de Catolé do Rocha/PB. O presente estudo é transversal, quantitativo do tipo descritivo. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de questionários aplicados no período de abril a maio de 2021. Foram entrevistados 200 usuários, selecionados com base em critérios de inclusão e exclusão. Os resultados apontaram a prevalência do sexo feminino (63,0%), casados (53,5%), residentes da zona urbana (70,5%), baixa escolaridade (56,5%) e aposentados (44,5%). Em suma, as prescrições eram obtidas em UBS (81,0%) por queixas de ansiedade (24,0%) e insônia (23,5%). Observou-se maior frequência de prescrição para clonazepam (18,6%) e alprazolam (15,9%), ambos considerados MPI. Estes foram prescritos principalmente por clínicos gerais (71,8%). Assim, evidencia-se a importância do farmacêutico na APS, tanto na sensibilização dos prescritores com relação à escolha e prescrição adequada destes medicamentos quanto na orientação dos pacientes com vistas à promoção do uso racional de psicotrópicos.

The use of psychotropic drugs has economic and social importance and requires attention from health professionals. he objective of this research was to evaluate the prescription and the profile of use of psychotropic drugs in the Basic Pharmacy in the municipality of Catolé do Rocha/PB. This is a cross-sectional, quantitative, descriptive study. Data collection was carried out through questionnaires applied from April to May 2021. Two hundred users were interviewed, selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results showed a prevalence of females (63.0%), married (53.5%), residing in the urban area (70.5%), with low education (56.5%), and retired (44.5%). The prescriptions were obtained at the Basic Health Unit (81.0%) for complaints of anxiety (24.0%) and insomnia (23.5%). We observed a higher frequency of prescriptions for clonazepam (18.6%) and alprazolam (15.9%), both considered potential inappropriate drugs. These were mainly prescribed by general practitioners (71.8%). Thus, the importance of pharmacists in Primary Health Care is evident both to increase the awareness among prescribers regarding the choice and proper prescription of medications and to guide patients with a view to promoting the rational use of psychotropic drugs.

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OBJECTIVES: Patients with life-limiting illnesses are prone to unnecessary polypharmacy. Deprescribing tools may contribute to minimizing negative outcomes. Thus, the aims of the study were to identify validated instruments for deprescribing inappropriate medications for patients with palliative care needs and to assess the impact on clinical, humanistic, and economic outcomes. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in LILACS, PUBMED, EMBASE, COCHRANE, and WEB OF SCIENCE databases (until May 2021). A manual search was performed in the references of enrolled articles. The screening, eligibility, extraction, and bias risk assessment were carried out by 2 independent researchers. Experimental and observational studies were eligible for inclusion. RESULTS: Out of the 5791 studies retrieved, after excluding duplicates (n = 1050), conducting title/abstract screening (n = 4741), and full reading (n = 41), only 1 study met the inclusion criteria. In this included study, a randomized controlled trial was conducted, which showed a high level of bias risk overall. Adults 75 years or older (n = 130) with limited life expectancy and polypharmacy were allocated to 2 groups [intervention arm (deprescribing); and control arm (usual care)]. Deprescribing was performed with the aid of the STOPPFrail tool. The mean number of inappropriate medications and monthly medication costs were significantly lower in the intervention arm. No statistically significant differences were found in terms of unscheduled hospital presentations, falls, fractures, mortality, and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the availability of several instruments to support deprescribing in patients with palliative care needs, only 1 of them has undergone validation and robust assessment for effectiveness in clinical practice. The STOPPFrail tool appears to reduce the number of inappropriate medications for older people with limited life expectancy (and probably palliative care needs) and decrease the monthly costs of pharmacotherapy. Nevertheless, the impact on patient safety and humanistic outcomes remain unclear.

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OBJECTIVES: Patients with life-limiting illnesses are prone to unnecessary polypharmacy. Deprescribing tools may contribute to minimizing negative outcomes. Thus, the aims of the study were to identify validated instruments for deprescribing inappropriate medications for patients with palliative care needs and to assess the impact on clinical, humanistic, and economic outcomes. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in LILACS, PUBMED, EMBASE, COCHRANE, and WEB OF SCIENCE databases (until May 2021). A manual search was performed in the references of enrolled articles. The screening, eligibility, extraction, and bias risk assessment were carried out by two independent researchers. Experimental and observational studies were eligible for inclusion. RESULTS: Out of the 5,791 studies retrieved, after excluding duplicates (n = 1,050), conducting title/abstract screening (n = 4,741), and full reading (n = 41), only one study met the inclusion criteria. In this included study, a randomized controlled trial was conducted, which showed a high level of bias risk overall. Adults 75 years or older (n = 130) with limited life expectancy and polypharmacy were allocated to two groups [intervention arm (deprescribing); and control arm (usual care)]. Deprescribing was performed with the aid of the STOPPFrail tool. The mean number of inappropriate medications and monthly medication costs were significantly lower in the intervention arm. No statistically significant differences were found in terms of unscheduled hospital presentations, falls, fractures, mortality, and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the availability of several instruments to support deprescribing in patients with palliative care needs, only one of them has undergone validation and robust assessment for effectiveness in clinical practice. The STOPPFrail tool appears to reduce the number of inappropriate medications for older people with limited life expectancy (and probably palliative care needs) and decrease the monthly costs of pharmacotherapy. Nevertheless, the impact on patient safety and humanistic outcomes remain unclear.

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Objectives Patients with life-limiting illnesses are prone to unnecessary polypharmacy. Deprescribing tools may contribute to minimizing negative outcomes. Thus, the aims of the study were to identify validated instruments for deprescribing inappropriate medications for patients with palliative care needs and to assess the impact on clinical, humanistic, and economic outcomes. Methods A systematic review was conducted in LILACS, PUBMED, EMBASE, COCHRANE, and WEB OF SCIENCE databases (until May 2021). A manual search was performed in the references of enrolled articles. The screening, eligibility, extraction, and bias risk assessment were carried out by 2 independent researchers. Experimental and observational studies were eligible for inclusion. Results Out of the 5791 studies retrieved, after excluding duplicates (n = 1050), conducting title/abstract screening (n = 4741), and full reading (n = 41), only 1 study met the inclusion criteria. In this included study, a randomized controlled trial was conducted, which showed a high level of bias risk overall. Adults 75 years or older (n = 130) with limited life expectancy and polypharmacy were allocated to 2 groups [intervention arm (deprescribing); and control arm (usual care)]. Deprescribing was performed with the aid of the STOPPFrail tool. The mean number of inappropriate medications and monthly medication costs were significantly lower in the intervention arm. No statistically significant differences were found in terms of unscheduled hospital presentations, falls, fractures, mortality, and quality of life. Conclusions Despite the availability of several instruments to support deprescribing in patients with palliative care needs, only 1 of them has undergone validation and robust assessment for effectiveness in clinical practice. The STOPPFrail tool appears to reduce the number of inappropriate medications for older people with limited life expectancy (and probably palliative care needs) and decrease the monthly costs of pharmacotherapy. Nevertheless, the impact on patient safety and humanistic outcomes remain unclear.

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ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in critical care units remains limited, especially in terms of the factors associated with their use. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence and factors associated with PIMs use in intensive care units. DESIGN AND SETTING: Historical cohort study was conducted in a high-complexity hospital in Brazil. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 314 patients aged ≥ 60 years who were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) at a high-complexity hospital in Brazil. The dates were extracted from a "Patient Safety Project" database. A Chi-square test, Student's t-test, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess which factors were associated with PIMs. The statistical significance was set at 5%. RESULTS: According to Beers' criteria, 12.8% of the identified drugs were considered inappropriate for the elderly population. The incidence rate of PIMs use was 45.8%. The most frequently used PIMs were metoclopramide, insulin, antipsychotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and benzodiazepines. Factors associated with PIMs use were the number of medications (odds ratio [OR] = 1.17), length of hospital stay (OR = 1.07), and excessive potential drug interactions (OR = 2.43). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately half of the older adults in ICUs received PIM. Patients taking PIMs had a longer length of stay in the ICU, higher numbers of medications, and higher numbers of potential drug interactions. In ICUs, the use of explicit methods combined with clinical judgment can contribute to the safety and quality of medication prescriptions.

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ABSTRACT Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely prescribed worldwide, often resulting in their overuse. Consequently, it is essential to identify the likely causes of this overuse to facilitate their appropriate prescription. Objective: This study aims to assess physician prescribing patterns, their knowledge of PPIs, and factors affecting their knowledge. Methods: An online survey was conducted among Latin American and Spanish physicians, collecting the following data: professional information, patterns of PPI usage, familiarity with published evidence, and the management approach in three hypothetical case-scenarios. Participant knowledge was categorized as sufficient or insufficient based on the results of the case scenarios. Subsequently, subgroup analysis was performed based on physician training level, years in practice, specialty, and time since the last PPI literature review. Results: A total of 371 physicians participated in the survey. Thirty-eight percent frequently prescribe PPIs, primarily for prophylactic purposes (57.9%). Eighty percent were unfamiliar with PPI deprescribing strategies, and 54.4% rarely reviewed the ongoing indication of patients taking a PPI. Sixty-four percent demonstrated sufficient knowledge in the case-scenarios. A significant association was observed between specialty type (medical vs surgical: 69.4% vs 46.8%, P<0.001), the timing of the PPI indication literature review (<5 years vs >5 years: 71.4% vs 58.7%, P=0.010), and sufficient knowledge. Conclusion: While most participants prescribed PPIs regularly and for prophylaxis purposes, the majority were unfamiliar with deprescribing strategies and rarely reviewed ongoing indications. Sufficient knowledge is correlated with recent literature reviews and medical specialty affiliation.

RESUMO Contexto: Os inibidores da bomba de prótons (IBPs) são amplamente prescritos em todo o mundo, muitas vezes resultando em seu uso excessivo. Consequentemente, é essencial identificar as prováveis causas desse uso excessivo para facilitar sua prescrição adequada. Objetivo: Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar o padrão de prescrição dos médicos, seu conhecimento sobre IBPs e fatores que afetam seu conhecimento. Métodos: Uma pesquisa on-line foi conduzida entre médicos latino-americanos e espanhóis, coletando os seguintes dados: informações profissionais, padrões de uso de IBP, familiaridade com evidências publicadas e abordagem de manejo em três casos-cenários hipotéticos. O conhecimento dos participantes foi categorizado em suficiente ou insuficiente com base nos resultados dos cenários de caso. Posteriormente, a análise de subgrupos foi realizada com base no nível de formação do médico, anos de prática, especialidade e tempo desde a última revisão da literatura dos IBPs. Resultados: Um total de 371 médicos participaram da pesquisa. Trinta e oito por cento prescrevem frequentemente IBP, principalmente para fins profiláticos (57,9%). Oitenta por cento não estavam familiarizados com as estratégias de prescrição de IBP, e 54,4% raramente revisaram a indicação contínua de pacientes em uso de IBP. Sessenta e quatro por cento demonstraram conhecimento suficiente nos cenários-caso. Observou-se associação significativa entre o tipo de especialidade (médica vs cirúrgica: 69,4% vs 46,8%, P<0,001), o momento da revisão da literatura de indicação do IBP (<5 anos vs >5 anos: 71,4% vs 58,7%, P=0,010) e conhecimento suficiente. Conclusão: Embora a maioria dos participantes prescrevesse IBPs regularmente e para fins de profilaxia, no entanto, não estava familiarizada com estratégias de prescrição e raramente revisava as indicações em andamento. O conhecimento suficiente está correlacionado com revisões recentes da literatura e afiliação à especialidade médica.

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BACKGROUND: Potentially inappropriate medication use is prevalent among older adults in primary care, leading to increased morbidity, adverse drug reactions, hospitalizations, and mortality. This study aimed to develop and validate a tool for identifying PIMs in older adults within the primary care setting. The tool is composed of a list of criteria and was created based on consensus among experts from three Spanish-speaking countries, including two from Latin America. METHODS: A literature review was conducted to identify existing tools, and prescription patterns were evaluated in a cohort of 36,111 older adults. An electronic Delphi method, consisting of two rounds, was used to reach a formal expert consensus. The panel included 18 experts from Spain, Colombia, and Argentina. The content validity index, validity of each content item, and Kappa Fleiss statistical measure were used to establish reliability. RESULTS: Round one did not yield a consensus, but a definitive consensus was reached in round two. The resulting tool consisted of a list of 5 general recommendations per disease, along with 33 criteria related to potential problems, recommendations, and alternative therapeutic options. The overall content validity of the tool was 0.87, with a Kappa value of 0.69 (95% CI 0.64-0.73; Substantial). CONCLUSIONS: The developed criteria provide a novel list that allows for a comprehensive approach to pharmacotherapy in older adults, intending to reduce inappropriate medication use, ineffective treatments, prophylactic therapies, and treatments with an unfavorable risk-benefit ratio for the given condition. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the impact of these criteria on health outcomes.

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INTRODUCTION: The present study has compiled the prevalence of polypharmacy worldwide and assessed the prevalence of polypharmacy in different populations, including community-dwelling individuals, hospitalized patients, and institutionalized patients. METHODS: This systematic review was conducted and reported according to the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. A systematic search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scielo, was performed in March 2021 without any date and language restrictions. Combinations of the following keywords were used for the search strategy: polypharmacy OR multiple medications OR multiple medicines OR multiple drug AND prevalence. Based on the search and inclusion criteria, two hundred and eight studies (73,076,167 individuals) were selected for inclusion in the systematic review. It was observed that there is a wide variation in the prevalence of polypharmacy between studies. RESULTS: The prevalence of polypharmacy was found to be 30.2%, 61.7%, and 56.9% for community-dwelling individuals, hospitalized patients, and institutionalized patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: Based on the analyses, this systematic review has demonstrated a wide variation in the prevalence of polypharmacy between studies and countries and a high prevalence of polypharmacy in institutionalized and hospitalized patients.