Polypharmacy and Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Blacks with Diabetes Mellitus Presenting to the Emergency Department.
Ginah Nightingale, Emily M Scopelliti, Robin Casten, Monica Woloshin, Shu Xiao, Megan Kelley, Anna Marie Chang, Judd E Hollander, Benjamin E Leiby, Andrew M Peterson, Laura T Pizzi, Kristin L Rising, Neva White, Barry Rovner
Author Information
Ginah Nightingale: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Jefferson College of Pharmacy, 114062Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. ORCID
Emily M Scopelliti: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Jefferson College of Pharmacy, 114062Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Robin Casten: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, 6559Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Monica Woloshin: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Jefferson College of Pharmacy, 114062Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Shu Xiao: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Jefferson College of Pharmacy, 114062Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Megan Kelley: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Jefferson College of Pharmacy, 114062Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Anna Marie Chang: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Jefferson College of Pharmacy, 114062Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Judd E Hollander: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Jefferson College of Pharmacy, 114062Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Benjamin E Leiby: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Jefferson College of Pharmacy, 114062Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Andrew M Peterson: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Jefferson College of Pharmacy, 114062Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Laura T Pizzi: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Jefferson College of Pharmacy, 114062Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Kristin L Rising: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Jefferson College of Pharmacy, 114062Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Neva White: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Jefferson College of Pharmacy, 114062Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Barry Rovner: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Jefferson College of Pharmacy, 114062Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Medication-related problems in older Blacks with diabetes mellitus (DM) are not well established. To describe the frequency of medication-related problems in older Blacks with DM presenting to the emergency department (ED). The study was a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a randomized controlled trial evaluating Blacks aged ≥60 years of age presenting to the ED. Polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use, and anticholinergic score were evaluated. Of 168 patients (median age = 68, range 60-92), most ( = 164, 98%) were taking ≥5 medications, and 67 (39.9%) were taking a PIM. A majority ( = 124, 74%) were taking a medication with an anticholinergic score ≥1. Number of medications was correlated with number of PIMs ( = .22, = .004) and anticholinergic score ( = .50, < .001). Polypharmacy and PIM use was common in older Blacks with DM.
