Anticholinergic Burden Assessed Using General Practice Electronic Records

Patrick Ball; Hana Morrissey; Louis Pilotto

doi:10.1002/j.2055-2335.2013.tb00255.x

Anticholinergic Burden Assessed Using General Practice Electronic Records

Patrick Ball, Hana Morrissey, Louis Pilotto

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Aim: To determine the anticholinergic burden (ACB) of an Australian primary care population.

Method: A cross-sectional study was undertaken of medication data from 11 general practices. Participants were active patients aged 65 years and over seen at least 3 times in the last 2 years (n = 4853). The ACB score was calculated based on a UK peer-reviewed scoring system (Fox) and a modified scale (Fox-plus) that included medications not present in the Fox scale. The main outcome measure was total ACB from prescribed medications.

Results: A Fox ACB score ? 4 is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality, 249 (9%) females, 130 (6%) males and 379 (8%) overall fell in this category. Applying the Fox-plus ACB scale, 983 (36%) females, 630 (30%) males and 1613 (33%) overall fell in this category.

Conclusion: A large proportion of the elderly population may have cognitive impairment because of their therapy. Alternative medications or strategies are needed to maintain therapeutic benefits with a low ACB.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	202-205
Number of pages	4
Journal	Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research
Volume	43
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2055-2335.2013.tb00255.x
Publication status	Published - Sept 2013

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title = "Anticholinergic Burden Assessed Using General Practice Electronic Records",

abstract = "Aim: To determine the anticholinergic burden (ACB) of an Australian primary care population. Method: A cross-sectional study was undertaken of medication data from 11 general practices. Participants were active patients aged 65 years and over seen at least 3 times in the last 2 years (n = 4853). The ACB score was calculated based on a UK peer-reviewed scoring system (Fox) and a modified scale (Fox-plus) that included medications not present in the Fox scale. The main outcome measure was total ACB from prescribed medications. Results: A Fox ACB score ? 4 is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality, 249 (9%) females, 130 (6%) males and 379 (8%) overall fell in this category. Applying the Fox-plus ACB scale, 983 (36%) females, 630 (30%) males and 1613 (33%) overall fell in this category. Conclusion: A large proportion of the elderly population may have cognitive impairment because of their therapy. Alternative medications or strategies are needed to maintain therapeutic benefits with a low ACB.",

author = "Patrick Ball and Hana Morrissey and Louis Pilotto",

year = "2013",

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doi = "10.1002/j.2055-2335.2013.tb00255.x",

language = "English",

volume = "43",

pages = "202--205",

journal = "Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research",

issn = "1445-937X",

publisher = "Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia",

number = "3",

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T1 - Anticholinergic Burden Assessed Using General Practice Electronic Records

AU - Ball, Patrick

AU - Morrissey, Hana

AU - Pilotto, Louis

PY - 2013/9

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N2 - Aim: To determine the anticholinergic burden (ACB) of an Australian primary care population. Method: A cross-sectional study was undertaken of medication data from 11 general practices. Participants were active patients aged 65 years and over seen at least 3 times in the last 2 years (n = 4853). The ACB score was calculated based on a UK peer-reviewed scoring system (Fox) and a modified scale (Fox-plus) that included medications not present in the Fox scale. The main outcome measure was total ACB from prescribed medications. Results: A Fox ACB score ? 4 is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality, 249 (9%) females, 130 (6%) males and 379 (8%) overall fell in this category. Applying the Fox-plus ACB scale, 983 (36%) females, 630 (30%) males and 1613 (33%) overall fell in this category. Conclusion: A large proportion of the elderly population may have cognitive impairment because of their therapy. Alternative medications or strategies are needed to maintain therapeutic benefits with a low ACB.

AB - Aim: To determine the anticholinergic burden (ACB) of an Australian primary care population. Method: A cross-sectional study was undertaken of medication data from 11 general practices. Participants were active patients aged 65 years and over seen at least 3 times in the last 2 years (n = 4853). The ACB score was calculated based on a UK peer-reviewed scoring system (Fox) and a modified scale (Fox-plus) that included medications not present in the Fox scale. The main outcome measure was total ACB from prescribed medications. Results: A Fox ACB score ? 4 is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality, 249 (9%) females, 130 (6%) males and 379 (8%) overall fell in this category. Applying the Fox-plus ACB scale, 983 (36%) females, 630 (30%) males and 1613 (33%) overall fell in this category. Conclusion: A large proportion of the elderly population may have cognitive impairment because of their therapy. Alternative medications or strategies are needed to maintain therapeutic benefits with a low ACB.

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DO - 10.1002/j.2055-2335.2013.tb00255.x

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JO - Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research

JF - Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research

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Anticholinergic Burden Assessed Using General Practice Electronic Records

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