Deprescribing psychotropic medications is associated with improvements in activities of daily living in post‐stroke patients

Abstract

AimsTo examine the effect of deprescribing psychotropic medications on activities of daily living (ADLs) and swallowing function in patients undergoing convalescent rehabilitation following a stroke.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, patients who underwent convalescent rehabilitation after a stroke were divided into two groups: deprescribing (number of psychotropic medications decreased during hospitalization) and non‐deprescribing (number of psychotropic medications increased or remained unchanged). The primary outcome measure was ADLs assessed using the Functional Independence‐Measured Motor Activity (FIM‐motor) score at discharge. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the independent association between deprescribing psychotropic medications and rehabilitation outcomes.ResultsOf the 586 patients enrolled, 128 with a mean age of 74.1 ± 12.7 years were included in the final analysis after being prescribed psychotropic medications, with 36 of them (28.1%) in the deprescribing group. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that deprescribing psychotropic medications was independently associated with FIM‐motor function at discharge.ConclusionsDeprescribing psychotropic medications is positively associated with improvements in ADLs among patients undergoing convalescent rehabilitation after a stroke. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 275–282.