Pharmacist-Led Medication Review Improves Care for Older Adults

Among older adult patients, adverse drug events are a common cause of morbidity and mortality. However, researchers recently found that a pharmacist-led medication review reduced both the iatrogenic drug risk for older adults as well as drug expenditure costs for nursing homes.  

“In this study, we assessed the impact of multidisciplinary medication review for nursing home residents on patient safety and costs incurred by the hospital and the national health service,” explained the study authors.  

To better understand the medications prescribed within the previous 6 months, the research team retrospectively assessed medical files of residents.

“A pharmacist reviewed the prescriptions and suggested modifications to the patient's medical team,” they explained. “Trivalle's ADE geriatric risk score was calculated before and after MMR, as were number of potentially inappropriate medications, and economic impact from the perspective of the health care system and the nursing home.” 

Following the modifications made by the pharmacist, the nursing home patients were followed for another 6 months.  

According to the study findings, adverse drug event score dropped one risk level (median score of 4 before versus 1 after, P < .0001). Further, the number of patients taking at least one potentially inappropriate medication decreased from 30.6% before to 6.1% after the medication review (P = .005). Finally, the researchers calculated a mean saving of approximately $258 per patient from the nursing home perspective (P = .008).  

“The [multidisciplinary medication review] reduced the iatrogenic drug risk for elderly residents and costs from the nursing home perspective, particularly drug expenditure,” concluded the researchers.  

—Julie Gould

Reference:

Leguelinel-Blache G, Castelli C, Rolain J, et al. Impact of pharmacist-led multidisciplinary medication review on the safety and medication cost of the elderly people living in a nursing home: a before-after study [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jan 3]. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res. 2020;1–10. doi:10.1080/14737167.2020.1707082