Length of Hospital Stay, Delirium and Discharge Status Outcomes Associated With Anticholinergic Drug Use in Elderly Hospitalized Dementia Patients

Problem: There are a significant proportion of patients taking acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (ChEi) for cognitive dysfunction also taking medications with anticholinergic (ACh) properties that may counteract their effects. As the number of ACh medications, burden, increases so does the likelihood of an adverse outcome.Background: ACh medications are frequently used in the elderly population (Carnahan 2004) even those with dementia or AD (Roe et al., 2002; Giron et al., 2001; Altavela 2003; Gill et al., 2005; Kogut et al., 2005). Methods: Hospitalized patients > 65 years of age with dementia (AD, other dementias, or with inferred dementia based on ChEi or NMDA antagonist medication use) were studied using UHC clinical database. This document was created in Microsoft Word 2000. Results: Dementia patients on ChEi therapy were more likely to receive an ACh (chi-square 70.1, df=l, pConclusion: A person's age and mental health status along with their current drug regimen, such as ChEi therapy, need to be closely and carefully considered before deciding to use unnecessary ACh drugs in this population which can have detrimental effects.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Pharmacy

Year dc:date.available

2006

Author dc:creator

• Gauthier, Kelly J.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Patricia W. Slattum

• drug interaction
• side effect
• Medicine and Health Sciences
• Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Statement dc:rights

• © The Author

Identifier

https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/1045

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarscompass.vcu.edu:etd-2044