Changes in Treatment of Very Elderly Patients Six Weeks after Discharge from Geriatrics Department

Abstract

We assessed the prescriptions of patients hospitalized in a geriatric unit and subsequently discharged. This prospective and observational study was conducted over a two-month period in the geriatrics department (acute and rehabilitation units) of a university hospital. Patients discharged from this department were included over a two-month period. Prescriptions were analyzed at admission and discharge from the geriatrics department (DGD), and six weeks after DGD. We included 209 patients, 63% female, aged 86.8 years. The mean number of medications prescribed was significantly higher at DGD than at admission (7.8 vs. 7.1, p = 0.003). During hospitalization, 1217 prescriptions were changed (average 5.8 medications/patient): 52.8% were initiations, 39.3% were discontinuations, and 7.9% were dose adjustments. A total of 156 of the 209 patients initially enrolled completed the study. Among these patients, 81 (51.9%) had the same prescriptions six weeks after DGD. In univariate analysis, medications were changed more frequently in patients with cognitive impairment (p = 0.04) and in patients for whom the hospital report did not indicate in-hospital modifications (p = 0.007). Multivariate analysis found that six weeks after DGD, there were significantly more drug changes for patients for whom there were changes in prescription during hospitalization (p < 0.001). A total of 169 medications were changed (mean number of medications changed per patient: 1.1): 52.7% discontinuations, 34.3% initiations, and 13% dosage modifications. The drug regimens were often changed during hospitalization in the geriatrics department, and a majority of these changes were maintained six weeks after DGD. Improvements in patient adherence and hospital-general practitioner communication are necessary to promote continuity of care and to optimize patient supervision after hospital discharge.