Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41444359›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Anticholinergic burden and its associated factors among adult outpatients in a resource-limited setting: a cross-sectional study.

Eyob Alemayehu Gebreyohannes, Biniam Siyum Shibe, Wagaye Atalay Taye, Eyayaw Ashete Belachew, Kenneth Lee, Segenet Bizuneh Mengistu, Roy Louis Soiza, Phyo Kyaw Myint, Ousman Abubeker Abdela

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Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

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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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Eyob Alemayehu GebreyohannesQuality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
Biniam Siyum ShibeDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Wagaye Atalay TayeDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Eyayaw Ashete BelachewDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Kenneth LeeCentre for Optimisation of Medicines, School of Health and Clinical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
Segenet Bizuneh MengistuDepartment of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Roy Louis SoizaInstitute of Applied Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
Phyo Kyaw MyintInstitute of Applied Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
Ousman Abubeker AbdelaInstitute of Applied Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK. ousmy2009@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Existing evidence links anticholinergic burden (ACB), the cumulative effect of medicines with anticholinergic activity, with serious adverse effects. There is scarcity of evidence on the extent of use of such medicines in Ethiopian outpatient settings. To assess the prevalence and determinants of high ACB (score ≥ 3) among adult patients, a cross-sectional study was conducted among adult patients (≥ 18 years) attending ambulatory clinic of University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (UoGCSH) between April and September 2022. ACB was calculated based on the medications patients were currently taking, identified from medical records and patient interviews. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of participants. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with high ACB (ACB score ≥ 3). 409 patients, median age 50 years (IQR 37-62, range 18-85), participated in this study. About a third (32%) of participants were exposed to at least one medication with anticholinergic activity. Approximately one-tenth (9.5%) of them were exposed to high ACB. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the increase in the number of medications was associated with a 1.57-fold (AOR 1.57; 95% CI 1.22-2.02) increase in the odds of high ACB. Medicines with anticholinergic activity are commonly prescribed to outpatients at UoGSCH, despite relatively younger demographics. When prescribing multiple medicines with anticholinergic properties, physicians need to be cautious as high ACB is cumulative.

Indexed as

Cholinergic AntagonistsOutpatientsAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overCross-Sectional StudiesEthiopiaFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedResource-Limited SettingsYoung AdultCholinergic AntagonistsAnticholinergicsDrug-related side effects and adverse reactionsMedication safetyOutpatients

Identifiers

PMID41444359
PMCPMC12738696

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