Quality of psychopharmacological medication use in nursing home residents.

BACKGROUND: Despite well-documented evidence regarding antipsychotic use in older adults residing in nursing homes (NHs), there is a lack of evidence-based use and quality benchmarks for other psychopharmacological medications (PPMs), including antidepressants, anxiolytics, and sedative-hypnotics.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and patterns of use of PPMs and to measure the quality of PPM use.

METHODS: Using a 5% random sample of 2007 Medicare claims data linked to the Minimum Data Set 2.0, this cross-sectional study identified a nationally representative sample of 69,832 NH residents with ≥3 months of institutionalization. This study measured 1-year prevalence and quality of PPM use, as assessed by indication, dose, and duration of use defined and operationalized according to the current Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Unnecessary Medication Guidance for Surveyors and relevant practice guidelines.

RESULTS: Over two-thirds of residents (72.1%, n=50,349) used ≥1 PPM in 2007, with the highest prevalence seen in antidepressants (59.4%), and the lowest in anxiolytics (8.9%). Almost two-thirds (61.0%) of PPM users used ≥2 PPM classes. Compared to other PPM therapeutic classes, antipsychotic users had greatest evidence of guideline adequate use by indication (95.8%) and dose (78.7%). In addition, longer duration of adequate treatment was observed among antipsychotic users (mean = 208 days, standard deviation [SD] = 118) as compared to anxiolytic (mean = 159 days, SD = 118) and sedative-hypnotic users (mean = 183 days, SD = 117).

CONCLUSIONS: This study found that PPM use remains highly prevalent among long-stay Medicare NH residents. While antipsychotic use remained high (31.5%), little antipsychotic use was deemed inadequate by indication. However, the 1-year prevalence of use, dose, and duration of use of other PPMs remain high and potentially inadequate. Practitioners and policy-makers should heed both the high use and lower prescribing quality of antidepressants, anxiolytics, and sedative-hypnotics in NH residents.