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Deprescribing in Older People Approaching End of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial Using STOPPFrail Criteria
Author(s) -
Curtin Denis,
Jennings Emma,
Daunt Ruth,
Curtin Sara,
Randles Mary,
Gallagher Paul,
O'Mahony Denis
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/jgs.16278
Subject(s) - deprescribing , medicine , polypharmacy , confidence interval , randomized controlled trial , quality of life (healthcare) , intervention (counseling) , physical therapy , pediatrics , nursing
OBJECTIVES Older people approaching end of life are commonly prescribed multiple medications, many of which may be inappropriate or futile. Our objective was to examine the effect of applying the STOPPFrail, a recently developed deprescribing tool, to the medication regimens of older patients with advanced frailty. DESIGN Randomized controlled trial. SETTING Two acute hospitals in Ireland. PARTICIPANTS Adults 75 years or older (n = 130) with advanced frailty and polypharmacy (five or more drugs), transferring to long‐term nursing home care. INTERVENTION A STOPPFrail‐guided deprescribing plan was presented to attending physicians who judged whether or not to implement recommended medication changes. MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome was the change in the number of regular medications at 3 months. Secondary outcomes included unscheduled hospital presentations, falls, quality of life, monthly medication costs, and mortality. RESULTS Intervention (n = 65) and control group (n = 65) participants were prescribed a mean (plus or minus standard deviation [SD]) of 11.5 (±3.0) and 10.9 (±3.5) medications, respectively, at baseline. The mean (SD) change in the number of medications at 3 months was −2.6 (±2.73) in the intervention group and −.36 (±2.60) in the control group (mean difference = 2.25 ± .54; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18‐3.32; P < .001). The mean change in monthly medication cost was –$74.97 (±$148.32) in the intervention group and –$13.22 (±$110.40) in the control group (mean difference $61.74 ± $26.60; 95% CI = 8.95‐114.53; P = .02). No significant differences were found between groups for any of the other secondary outcomes. CONCLUSION STOPPFrail‐guided deprescribing significantly reduced polypharmacy and medication costs in frail older people. No significant differences between groups were observed with regard to falls, hospital presentations, quality of life, and mortality, although the trial was likely underpowered to detect differences in these outcomes. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:762–769, 2020