Prescribing at 95+: findings from the Newcastle 85+ Study

Conference:

SAPC ASM 2020 - cancelled due to pandemic

Talk Code:

U.5

Presenter:

Laurie Davies

Co-authors:

Andrew Kingston, Adam Todd, Barbara Hanratty, Newcastle 85+ Study Team

Author institutions:

Newcastle University, Population Health Sciences Institute

Problem

Previous research has described prescribing amongst nonagenarians but little is known about their prescribing within the UK, despite those aged 90+ being a rapidly growing subpopulation. This study aims to characterise prescribing amongst 95-year olds using data from the Newcastle 85+ Study.

Approach

The Newcastle 85+ Study is a prospective cohort of people living in north east England, who were born in 1921. Amongst its participants surviving to 95 years of age, the prevalence of polypharmacy and individual medications will be analysed cross-sectionally using R-3.5.0.

Findings

The prevalence of polypharmacy, and the most commonly prescribed medications, will be presented through tables.

Consequences

Examining medication patterns and features in a cohort of 95-year olds may help to identify inappropriate prescribing. This will support avoidance of adverse outcomes, and inform future investigation of clinical data sets to better understand how we can optimise medical intervention in the very old.

Submitted by:

Laurie Davies

Funding acknowledgement:

This work presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research (NIHR SPCR). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health. The Newcastle 85+ Study has been funded by the Medical Research Council, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Dunhill Medical Trust and the National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research. Parts of the work have also been funded by the British Heart Foundation, Unilever Corporate Research, Newcastle University, NHS North of Tyne (Newcastle Primary Care Trust). Mortality data were obtained from NHS Digital. We acknowledge the operational support of the North of England Commissioning Support Unit, the National Institute of Health Research Clinical Research Network North East and North Cumbria, local general practitioners and their staff. We thank the research nurses, laboratory technicians, data management and clerical team for their work throughout, as well as many colleagues for their expert advice. Thanks are due especially to the study participants and, where appropriate, their families and carers.