Assessment of Oral Anticoagulant Use in Residents of Long-Term Care Homes: Evidence for Contemporary Suboptimal Use.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the quality of warfarin use in residents of long-term care facilities and investigate potential predictors oral anticoagulant use. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review (August 2013 to September 2014). SETTING: Thirteen long-term care (LTC) and assisted living facilities (ALF). PARTICIPANTS: Residents from LTC or ALF settings who ( a) received warfarin or direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and ( b) residents with a valid indication for oral anticoagulants such as atrial fibrillation, venous thromboembolism, but were not receiving these drugs. PRIMARY OUTCOME: Time in therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) range (TTR). RESULTS: A total of 563 residents (70% female) with an average age of 85 years were identified. Participants had an average of 7.5 comorbidities and 9 medications. A total of 391 (69%) residents with indications for OACs were receiving such medications. Indications were atrial fibrillation (63%), venous or pulmonary embolism (16%), cardiac valves (0.4%); 26% did not have documented indications. Warfarin and DOACs were prescribed for 213 (38%) and 178 (32%) respectively, and 172 (31%) received no OACs The TTR ranged from 56%-75% (mean 63%). The frequency of INR determinations ranged from every 7 to 20 days, (mean 13 days) with no apparent relationship between frequency of testing and TTR. CONCLUSION: The TTR was higher (63.8%) than literature average (50%), but remains suboptimal given expected benefits of TTRs >75% versus TTRs circa 60%. Documentation of indications for OACs needs improvement, and it is possible that OACs are underused. Further work is necessary to understand how OAC use may be optimized in these facilities.

A systematic review of interventions to improve medication information for low health literate populations.

BACKGROUND: Health literacy is a barrier to accurately understanding medication information. Current medication information is too difficult to understand for low health literate populations, which imposes a higher risk of misinterpreting prescription label instructions, dosage, duration, frequency, warning labels, written information and verbal pharmacist counseling. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this paper was to systematically review the evidence on interventions for improving medication knowledge and adherence for low health literate populations. METHODS: A database search of PubMed, Embase, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases from the start of each database to studies published prior to March 30, 2015. Studies were included if they explicitly stated they included low health literate populations, included outcome measures for knowledge and/or adherence, focused on medication information, were written in English and were available in full text. Full text papers were excluded if there was no clear mention of an intervention being studied, if the intervention had no focus on any of the domains of health literacy, and if the authors did not specify the inclusion of patients with low health literacy. RESULTS: The review identified 1553 titles, 1009 abstracts, and 168 full text articles and included 47 articles in the final review. Of the 47 included studies, 70.2% (33/47) were published in the United States and 87.2 (41/47) were published between 2005 and 2014. Studies were grouped into six different types of interventions 1) written information 2) visual information 3) verbal information 4) label/medication bottle 5) reminder systems and 6) educational programs and services. Results demonstrate significant improvement of knowledge in 27 of 37 interventions and a significant improvement of adherence in 19 of 26 interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions designed to support low health literate populations can improve patients' medication knowledge and adherence. The most effective interventions include additional aids that enforce written information, information that is personalized, information that is easy to navigate and tools that can be accessed when needed.

Statins and Cognitive Side Effects: What Cardiologists Need to Know.

Statins are widely used in secondary and primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. They reduce cardiovascular events and mortality, and have an excellent safety record. Recent case reports suggest a possible association between statins and adverse effects on cognition. This article reviews recent literature related to statins and cognition and provides recommendations to clinicians. Cognitive considerations should not play a role in decision making for most patients for whom statins are indicated. Future trials of statin, or any novel antilipemic agent should include systematic assessment of cognition.

A scoping review on medication adherence in older patients with cognitive impairment or dementia.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is common in older patients, many of whom receive multiple and complex medication regimens. Such patients are at high risk for medication non-adherence. Limited information exists regarding adherence in this population. A scoping review was conducted to explore aspects of medication adherence in this population. METHODS: A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, IPA and Psychinfo was conducted during 1966 to January 2015. Arksey and O'Malley's framework for scoping reviews was utilized. RESULTS: From an initial 582 citations, 42 research papers and 2 conference proceedings were eligible for review. The prevalence of non-adherence ranged from 2% to 59%. The most common assessment tool was self-reported adherence (32%). Barriers to adherence were cognitive impairment, non-Caucasian race, poor communication with prescribers, lack of social support, and increased pill burden. Interventions to improve adherence included alternate dosage forms, and multi-compartment pillboxes. CONCLUSION: Additional research is needed to address various gaps in the literature such as studies describing the effects of cognitively impaired caregivers on patient's medication adherence, the comparative effectiveness of different adherence enhancing strategies, development of instruments suitable for use in this population, and the role of pharmacists in identifying and improving medication adherence.

Statins and cognitive side effects: what cardiologists need to know.

Statins are widely used in secondary and primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. They reduce cardiovascular events and mortality, and have an excellent safety record. Recent case reports suggest a possible association between statins and adverse effects on cognition. This article reviews recent literature related to statins and cognition and provides recommendations to clinicians. Cognitive considerations should not play a role in decision making for most patients for whom statins are indicated. Future trials of statin, or any novel antilipemic agent should include systematic assessment of cognition.