Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33599959›Full record

ArticleAging clinical and experimental research2021

The patterns and burden of multimorbidity in geriatric patients with prolonged use of addictive medications.

Socheat Cheng, Tahreem Ghazal Siddiqui, Michael Gossop, Torgeir Bruun Wyller, Espen Saxhaug Kristoffersen, Christofer Lundqvist

Open access · hybridAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Aging clinical and experimental research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.4field-weighted citation impact, top 20% 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

10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

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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

6 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Socheat ChengDivision of Health Services Research and Psychiatry (AHUSKHP), Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, PO Box 1000, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway. socheat.cheng@ahus.no.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2277-7585
Tahreem Ghazal SiddiquiDivision of Health Services Research and Psychiatry (AHUSKHP), Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, PO Box 1000, 1478, Lørenskog, Norway.
Michael GossopNational Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Torgeir Bruun WyllerDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Espen Saxhaug KristoffersenDepartment of General Practice, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Christofer LundqvistHealth Services Research Unit (HØKH), Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.
University of Oslo · NOKing's College London · GB

Funding

Universitetet i Oslo 2019/13316 HEIDIFEC
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMultimorbidity and prolonged use of addictive medications are prevalent among older patients, and known to increase the risk of adverse drug events. Yet, the relationship between these two entities has remained understudied.

aimsThis study explored the association between multimorbidity burden and prolonged use of addictive medications in geriatric patients, adjusted for clinically important covariates. Furthermore, we identified comorbidity patterns in prolonged users.

methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study on a consecutive sample of 246 patients, aged 65-90 years, admitted to a large public university hospital in Norway. We defined prolonged use of addictive medications as using benzodiazepines, opioids and/or z-hypnotics beyond the duration recommended by clinical guidelines (≥ 4 weeks). Multimorbidity was assessed with the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics (CIRS-G), based on diagnoses made by independent physicians.

resultsCompared to non-prolonged use, prolonged use was significantly more common among patients who had psychiatric (19/27, 70%), liver (19/22, 86%), upper gastrointestinal tract (21/32, 66%), musculoskeletal (52/96, 54%), or nervous system disorders (46/92, 50%). Patients with prolonged use had a higher multimorbidity burden than those without such use (CIRS-G score, mean = 7.7, SD = 2.7 versus mean = 4.6, SD = 2.2, p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression indicated a significant association between multimorbidity burden and prolonged addictive medication use (OR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.42-2.08). Predictive margins postestimation showed a systematic increase in the predicted CIRS-G scores when the number of addictive drug used increases.

conclusionsMultimorbidity is strongly associated with prolonged use of addictive medications. Multiple substance use may aggravate disease burden of older patients.

Indexed as

Analgesics, OpioidMultimorbidityAgedBenzodiazepinesComorbidityCross-Sectional StudiesHumansAnalgesics, OpioidBenzodiazepinesChronic diseasesMedication safetyOlder patientsPrescription drug overuse

Identifiers

PMID33599959
PMCPMC8531043
OpenAlexW3131802657

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.