Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30514238›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2018

Use of over the counter products in older cardiovascular patients admitted to a tertiary care center in USA.

Marwan Sheikh-Taha, Hani Dimassi

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 30% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Prevalence of polypharmacy in heart failure patients: A retrospective cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia.Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society · 2023
    Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Marwan Sheikh-TahaDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon. marwantaha@yahoo.com.
Hani DimassiDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon.
Lebanese American University · LB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn recent years there has been a substantial increase in the use of over-the-counter (OTC) products around the world. While they are assumed to be safe by consumers, they can potentially lead to adverse effects and drug interactions particularly in older adults.

methodsWe assessed the patterns of OTC products used by older adults admitted to the cardiology service in a tertiary care medical center in the USA over a three month period. We conducted a retrospective chart review where older adults with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) who were taking at least one OTC product at home were included.

resultsOut of 404 patients who were admitted to the cardiology service, 281 (69.6%) were taking OTC products. Patients were taking a total of 659 OTC products; mean of 2.35 ± 1.57 and the range varied from 1 to 9 products. The most commonly used products were vitamins (37.3%), followed by laxatives (17%), minerals (13.6%), stomach acid reducers (9%), and analgesics (3.6%). OTC users were found to be suffering from more comorbidities and received more prescription medications as compared to non-users. Gender and age did not have an impact on the use of OTC products while patients with atrial fibrillation, sleep apnea and gastro-esophageal reflux disease were more likely to use OTC products.

conclusionUse of OTC products is quite frequent in older adults with CVD in our study. Clinicians should ask about OTC product usage and counsel patients about the risks and benefits associated with their use.

Indexed as

AgedAged, 80 and overAnalgesicsCardiovascular DiseasesDrug InteractionsDrug-Related Side Effects and Adverse ReactionsFemaleHospitalizationHumansLaxativesMaleNonprescription DrugsPatient AdmissionRetrospective StudiesTertiary Care CentersUnited StatesAnalgesicsLaxativesNonprescription DrugsVitaminsCardiovascular diseaseGeriatricsOver the counter medications

Identifiers

PMID30514238
PMCPMC6278107
OpenAlexW2903410887

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.