Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40613859›Full record

ArticleDrugs & aging2025

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Psychotropic Medication Use in Older Adults in Australia: A Nationwide Data Linkage Study.

Hieu T Le, Edward C Y Lau, Weisi Chen, Christine Y Lu, Tuan A Nguyen, Lee-Fay Low, Sarah N Hilmer, Yun-Hee Jeon, Edwin C K Tan

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Drugs & aging, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. 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

9 authors.

Hieu T LeThe University of Sydney School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Pharmacy and Bank Building A15, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-6812-7778
Edward C Y LauThe University of Sydney School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Pharmacy and Bank Building A15, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.ORCID 0009-0005-5712-2337
Weisi ChenThe University of Sydney School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Pharmacy and Bank Building A15, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.ORCID 0009-0005-0575-202X
Christine Y LuThe University of Sydney School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Pharmacy and Bank Building A15, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-7550-6837
Tuan A NguyenDivision of Social Gerontology, National Ageing Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-9528-9278
Lee-Fay LowThe University of Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-9283-3525
Sarah N HilmerKolling Institute, The University of Sydney and The Northern Sydney Local Health District, 10 Westbourne Street, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-5970-1501
Yun-Hee JeonThe University of Sydney Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2031-9134
Edwin C K TanThe University of Sydney School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Pharmacy and Bank Building A15, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia. edwin.tan@sydney.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0003-2922-8837

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesPsychotropic medications are associated with an increased risk of adverse drug events in older adults, yet national data on their use in Australia remain limited. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of psychotropic medication use among older Australians and to examine the sociodemographic factors associated with their use.

methodsA retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using national linked data from the 2021 Census and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). The study included all individuals aged 65+ years who responded to the 2021 Census and received at least one PBS medication between 1 August and 31 October 2021. Prevalence of psychotropic medication use was calculated across 5-year age groups, and sociodemographic factors associated with each psychotropic subclass were assessed by logistic regression model.

resultsAmong the 3,850,281 older adults, 31.1% received at least one psychotropic medication. Prevalence increased with age across all subclasses except antiepileptics. Antidepressants were the most commonly used psychotropics (19.9%). Those needing assistance with core activities (odds ratio, OR 2.05, 95% confidence intervals, CI 2.03-2.06) and living in non-private dwellings (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.99-2.05) were more likely to receive psychotropics. Conversely, higher educational level, socioeconomic status and non-English speaker were associated with a lower use of all psychotropic subclasses. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were linked to increased use of benzodiazepines (OR, 1.15; 95% CI 1.10-1.20) and opioids (OR, 1.20; 95% CI 1.16-1.23). Dementia was strongly associated with antipsychotic (OR, 2.59; 95% CI 2.52-2.66) and antidepressant (OR, 1.42; 95% CI 1.40-1.44) use. Arthritis significantly increased the likelihood of opioid use (OR, 2.03; 95% CI 2.02-2.05).

conclusionsAlmost one third of the study population used psychotropic medications between August and October 2021. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, individuals with dementia and those with arthritis had an increased likelihood of using certain psychotropic medications. Future research should evaluate the clinical appropriateness of psychotropics in these populations, with immediate implementation of strategies to ensure that their use is limited to evidence-based indications.

Indexed as

Psychotropic DrugsAgedAged, 80 and overAustraliaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansInformation Storage and RetrievalMalePrevalenceRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsPsychotropic Drugs

Identifiers

PMID40613859
PMCPMC12313767

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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.