Journal article
Anticholinergic Medication Use and Risk of Pneumonia in Elderly Adults: A Nested Case-Control Study
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS), Vol.64(2), pp.394-400
02/2016
DOI: 10.1111/jgs.13932
PMID: 26889844
Abstract
To examine the risk of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) associated with the use of anticholinergic medications in elderly adults.
Nested case-control study.
A regional Medicare Advantage healthcare plan (2009-2010).
Participants were Medicare Advantage Plan enrollees aged 65 and older with at least one inpatient and one outpatient claim with no history of CAP between January 1 and June 30, 2009. Cases were identified as enrollees with an incident diagnosis of CAP, between July 1, 2009, and December 31, 2010 (n = 291). Four age- and sex-matched controls (n = 1,164) were identified per case using incidence density sampling.
Anticholinergic prescription 30 days preceding the event date was the primary exposure. Anticholinergic exposure was defined based on the Anticholinergic Drug Scale (ADS). A conditional logistic regression model stratified on matched case-control sets was used, with exposure to a Level 1, 2, or 3 anticholinergic on the ADS as the main independent variable; CAP as the main outcome variable; and risk factors for CAP as additional explanatory variables.
After controlling for risk factors, overall use of anticholinergic medications was significantly associated with risk of pneumonia (odds ratio (OR) = 1.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.20-2.28). The risk of pneumonia remained significant across the different exposure periods, although use of higher-level (ADS Level 2 or 3) anticholinergics was not associated with pneumonia risk (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 0.70-1.96).
Overall use of anticholinergic medications, but not higher-level drugs, was associated with greater risk of CAP compared to no use after controlling for other factors. More research is needed to better understand the role of potent anticholinergic medications on pneumonia risk in elderly adults.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Anticholinergic Medication Use and Risk of Pneumonia in Elderly Adults: A Nested Case-Control Study
- Creators
- Satabdi Chatterjee - Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, TexasRyan M Carnahan - Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaHua Chen - Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, TexasHolly M Holmes - University of Texas Health Science Center McGovern Medical School, Houston, TexasMichael L Johnson - Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, TexasRajender R Aparasu - Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS), Vol.64(2), pp.394-400
- DOI
- 10.1111/jgs.13932
- PMID
- 26889844
- NLM abbreviation
- J Am Geriatr Soc
- ISSN
- 0002-8614
- eISSN
- 1532-5415
- Publisher
- United States
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/2016
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology; Injury Prevention Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9983995163702771
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