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Resumen Introducción: La polifarmacia inapropiada en adultos mayores con demencia es un problema de salud pública global. En este artículo se describen las indicaciones y se dan pautas para la deprescripción de potenciadores cognitivos (inhibidores de acetilcolinesterasa y memantina) y psicofármacos en pacientes con demencia. Materiales y métodos: Esta es una revisión narrativa a partir del estado del arte sobre la deprescripción en el anciano con demencia. Resultados: La deprescripción no significa limitar esfuerzos terapéuticos, por el contrario, consiste en una estrategia de prevención cuaternaria para reducir el riesgo de reacciones adversas e identificar escenarios donde el beneficio clínico es marginal. Para esto, es necesario rastrear activamente a pacientes con demencia con indicación de deprescripción (falta de respuesta clínica adecuada, desaparición del beneficio con el uso prolongado, estadio de demencia grave o fase terminal). Discusión: Los procesos de deprescripción varían según el grupo farmacológico e incluyen disminuciones progresivas de la medicación, así como el seguimiento y la monitorización para evitar el empeoramiento clínico. Se requiere de programas de educación médica en deprescripción para estudiantes y profesionales en ejercicio, especialmente en servicios de atención primaria en áreas rurales o dispersas, lo cual configura un llamado urgente a la neurología, la psiquiatría y la geriatría. Conclusión: El proceso de deprescripción en el paciente con demencia puede implementarse bajo criterios específicos y de una forma organizada.

Abstract Introduction: Inappropriate polypharmacy in older adults with dementia is a global public health problem. This article describes the indications and gives guidelines for the deprescription of cognitive enhancers (acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine), and psychotropic drugs in patients with dementia. Materials and methods: This is a narrative review article based on the state of the art on deprescribing in the elderly with dementia. Results: Deprescribing does not mean limiting therapeutic efforts; on the contrary, it consists of a quaternary prevention strategy to reduce the risk of adverse reactions and identify scenarios where the clinical benefit is marginal. For this, it is necessary to actively track patients with dementia with an indication for deprescription (lack of adequate clinical response, disappearance of benefit with prolonged use, severe dementia, or palliative phase). Discussion: Deprescribing processes vary depending on the pharmacological group and include progressive reductions in medication, as well as follow-up and monitoring to avoid clinical worsening. Medical education programs in deprescribing are required for students and practicing professionals, especially in primary care services in rural or dispersed areas, which constitutes an urgent call for neurology, psychiatry, and geriatrics. Conclusion: The deprescription process in patients with dementia can be implemented under specific criteria and in an organized manner.

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BACKGOUND: Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) has been evaluated in several countries, and several strategies have been devised for deprescribing drugs in older adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a mobile application in reducing PIP for older adults in primary care facilities in Brazil. METHODS: This randomised, triple-blind, parallel-group trial was conducted in 22 public primary care facilities in Brazil. During the intervention phase, the general practitioners (GPs) were randomly allocated to the intervention (MPI Brasil app provides information about PIP, therapeutic alternatives and deprescribing) or control (MedSUS app provides general information about medications) group. All GPs were trained on the Clinical Decision-Making Process and how to access an Evidence-Based Health website. The GPs received an Android tablet with an installed mobile application depending on their allocated group, which they used when caring for older patients over at least 3 months. At the end of this period, a sample of older patients aged ≥ 60 years who had been awaiting medical consultation by the participating GPs were interviewed and their prescriptions analysed. The primary outcome was the frequency of PIP in and between the groups. RESULTS: Among 53 GPs who were administered the baseline survey, 14 were included in the clinical trial. At baseline, 146 prescriptions were analysed: the PIP overall was 37.7% (55/146), in the intervention group was 40.6% (28/69), and in the control group was 35.1% (27/77). After the intervention, 284 prescriptions were analysed: the PIP overall was 31.7% (90/284), in the intervention group was 32.2% (46/143), and in the control group was 31.2% (44/141) (RR: 1.16; 95% CI, 0.76-1.76). In the within-group analysis, the PIP reduced from before to after the intervention in both groups-more significantly in the intervention than in the control group (p < 0.001). In the stratified analysis of PIP frequency by GPs, there was a relative risk reduction in 86% (6/7) of GPs in the intervention group compared to 71% (5/7) in the control group. CONCLUSION: We found that the MPI Brasil app effectively reduced PIP, suggesting that it may be useful to incorporate this tool into clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02918643). First registration on 22/09/2016.

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OBJECTIVES: Patients with life-limiting illnesses are prone to unnecessary polypharmacy. Deprescribing tools may contribute to minimizing negative outcomes. Thus, the aims of the study were to identify validated instruments for deprescribing inappropriate medications for patients with palliative care needs and to assess the impact on clinical, humanistic, and economic outcomes. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in LILACS, PUBMED, EMBASE, COCHRANE, and WEB OF SCIENCE databases (until May 2021). A manual search was performed in the references of enrolled articles. The screening, eligibility, extraction, and bias risk assessment were carried out by two independent researchers. Experimental and observational studies were eligible for inclusion. RESULTS: Out of the 5,791 studies retrieved, after excluding duplicates (n = 1,050), conducting title/abstract screening (n = 4,741), and full reading (n = 41), only one study met the inclusion criteria. In this included study, a randomized controlled trial was conducted, which showed a high level of bias risk overall. Adults 75 years or older (n = 130) with limited life expectancy and polypharmacy were allocated to two groups [intervention arm (deprescribing); and control arm (usual care)]. Deprescribing was performed with the aid of the STOPPFrail tool. The mean number of inappropriate medications and monthly medication costs were significantly lower in the intervention arm. No statistically significant differences were found in terms of unscheduled hospital presentations, falls, fractures, mortality, and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the availability of several instruments to support deprescribing in patients with palliative care needs, only one of them has undergone validation and robust assessment for effectiveness in clinical practice. The STOPPFrail tool appears to reduce the number of inappropriate medications for older people with limited life expectancy (and probably palliative care needs) and decrease the monthly costs of pharmacotherapy. Nevertheless, the impact on patient safety and humanistic outcomes remain unclear.

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Background: Levothyroxine (LT4) is one of the most commonly prescribed medications. Although considered a life-long replacement therapy, LT4 therapy can be discontinued for some patients. This study aims at: (i) reviewing the evidence on clinical outcomes of patients undergoing thyroid hormone replacement discontinuation, (ii) identifying the predictors of successful discontinuation, and (iii) systematically appraising frameworks used for deprescribing thyroid hormone. Methods: We searched multiple bibliographic databases, including Ovid MEDLINE(R) and Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations and Daily, Ovid Embase, Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus, from inception to February 2020 for studies in which thyroid hormone replacement was discontinued. Clinical outcomes assessed included: proportion of patients that remained euthyroid or needed to restart thyroid hormone replacement after discontinuation and frequency of clinical symptoms of hypothyroidism and adverse effects. We also evaluated predictors for discontinuation and deprescribing frameworks. Reviewers (F.J.K.T., N.B., N.M.S.O., S.M.) evaluated studies for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality independently and in duplicate. Results: Seventeen observational studies at moderate to high risk of bias met inclusion criteria, including a total of 1103 patients (86% women) with an age range of 2-81 years. Approximately a third of patients undergoing thyroid hormone discontinuation remained euthyroid at follow-up (37.2%, 95% confidence interval [CI 24.2-50.1%], I2 97.5%). Subgroup analysis showed that patients with a previous diagnosis of overt hypothyroidism (OH) were less likely to remain euthyroid (11.8% [CI 0.4-23.2%], I2 90.3%) than patients with a prior diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) (35.6% [CI 8.2-62.9%], I2 94.0%). No study followed a framework for systematically deprescribing LT4. Conclusions: Low-quality evidence suggests that up to a third of patients remained euthyroid after thyroid hormone discontinuation, with a higher proportion of patients with an initial diagnosis of SCH remaining euthyroid than patients with an initial diagnosis of OH. A deprescribing framework focusing on adequate selection of patients for deprescribing LT4 and a systematic process is warranted to guide clinicians in re-evaluating the need for LT4 in their patients.

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OBJECTIVE: To elaborate and validate an instrument on barriers and enablers to deprescribing benzodiazepines in the patient's perspective. METHODS: This study was conducted in 3 stages: (1) a methodological stage, (2) a semi-structured pilot interview with 25 older adults undergoing clonazepam deprescribing, and (3) content validation with the Delphi technique. Content validation was performed by 50 specialists with degrees and/or experience with primary health care and/or health care of older adults, such as physicians, pharmacists, and nurses. For evaluating the obtained results, we analyzed the concordance of evaluations with the coefficient of content validity (CCV). We considered values equal to or higher than 0.8 as acceptable levels of concordance. RESULTS: The instrument was considered validated in the first round of evaluation, where all items obtained a CCV of more than 0.8 in the specialists' assessment. Nevertheless, they proposed improvements that were incorporated to the final version of the questionnaire. CONCLUSION: The instrument represents an important tool to be used by health care professionals for optimizing benzodiazepine deprescribing, with suitable levels of clarity and validity.

OBJETIVO: Elaborar e validar um instrumento sobre facilitadores e dificultadores do processo de desprescrição de benzodiazepínicos na perspectiva do paciente. METODOLOGIA: Estudo desenvolvido em três etapas, quais sejam: (1) metodológica, (2) entrevista piloto semiestruturada com 25 idosos em desprescrição de clonazepam e (3) validação de conteúdo por meio da técnica de Delphi. A validação deu-se por 50 especialistas com formação e/ou experiência na área da Atenção Primária à Saúde e/ou Saúde do Idoso, entre eles médicos, farmacêuticos e enfermeiros. Como medidas para avaliar os resultados obtidos, foi analisada a concordância da avaliação por meio do coeficiente de validade de conteúdo (CVC). Considerou-se como nível aceitável de concordância o valor maior ou igual a 0,8. RESULTADOS: O instrumento foi considerado validado na primeira rodada de avaliação, em que todos os itens avaliados obtiveram CVC superior a 0,8 na avaliação dos especialistas. Entretanto, estes propuseram sugestões de melhorias que foram incorporadas na versão final do questionário. CONCLUSÃO: O instrumento apresenta-se como uma importante ferramenta a ser utilizada pelos profissionais de saúde para a otimização do processo de desprescrição de benzodiazepínicos, possuindo índice de clareza e de validade adequados.

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De acuerdo a las estimaciones mundiales, el año 2050, habrá más de 2000 millones de personas mayores (PM) de 60 años. En Chile, la situación no es distinta, el país está envejeciendo y esta situación nos expone a nuevos desafíos. Las PM, suelen presentar una mayor carga de enfermedad con el consiguiente aumento en la utilización de medicamentos para controlar su comorbilidad y multimorbilidad. Esta polifarmacia (uso de 5 o más medicamentos) trae consigo riesgos tales como el aumento de caídas, mayor fragilidad, aumento de los costos, entre otros. Para abordar estos riesgos en las PM, aparece el concepto de deprescripción como la práctica de retiro de medicamentos considerados inapropiados, supervisado por un profesional de la salud con el objetivo de gestionar la polifarmacia y mejorar los resultados clínicos. La deprescripción de medicamentos tales como las benzodiazepinas podrían mejorar la calidad del sueño y la calidad de vida, el retiro de analgésicos antinflamatorios no esteroidales y betabloqueadores disminuyen las caídas entre otros resultados. Esta práctica, debiese plantearse, por ejemplo, cuando los síntomas o síndromes coinciden con los efectos adversos a algunos de los medicamentos, cuando el paciente se encuentra en estadío avanzado de su enfermedad, con extrema fragilidad, con demencia avanzada o en cuidados de fin de vida. A pesar de que cada vez aparece más literatura que muestra la utilidad de deprescribir, queda aún pendiente expandir el conocimiento para generar evidencia de mejor calidad metodológica que oriente en qué escenarios se obtienen los mejores resultados para los pacientes.

According to global estimates, in the year 2050, there will be more than 2000 million older people (OP) of 60 years. In Chile, the situation is no different, the country is aging and this situation exposes us to new challenges. The OP, usually present a greater burden of disease resulting in an increase in the use of medications to control their comorbidity and multimorbility. This polypharmacy (the use of 5 or more drugs) it brings risks such as the increase in falls, greater fragility, increased costs, among others. To address these risks in the OP, the term deprescribing appears as the process of withdrawal of inappropriate medication, supervised by a health care professional with the goal of managing polypharmacy and improve clinical outcomes. Deprescribing medications such as benzodiazepines could improve the quality of sleep and quality of life, the withdrawal of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics and beta-blockers decrease falls among other results. This practice should arise, for example, when the symptoms or syndromes coincide with adverse effects to some of the medicines, when the patient is in advanced stage of their illness, with extreme fragility, with advanced dementia or end-of-life care. Despite the fact that every time appears more literature that shows the usefulness of deprescribir, to expand the knowledge to generate evidence of better quality that show in which scenarios are obtained the best results for patients.

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Se buscaron pacientes con prescripciones inapropiadas de alendronato de 70 mg y mediante una intervención educativa reducir los errores de medicación. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio cuasiexperimental, prospectivo, antes y después, sin grupo control, donde se llevó a cabo una intervención en prescriptores de pacientes que se encontraban en manejo farmacológico con alendronato de 70 mg en el período comprendido entre el 1 de julio de 2013 y el 30 de junio de 2014, incluyendo todos los sujetos que recibían más de 4 tabletas por mes. La intervención consistió en suministrar información actualizada a los responsables de la atención sanitaria y evaluar, meses después, si se modificó o no la prescripción de los pacientes identificados. Resultados: De un total de 2.283 usuarios que recibían alendronato, se hallaron, en promedio, 105 pacientes mensuales con diagnóstico de osteoporosis que estaban recibiendo la presentación de 70 mg, con edad promedio de 66,0 ± 5,5 años y predominio femenino (n =159; 95,8%). En promedio a 22 pacientes se les dispensaba más de 4 tabletas por mes (rango: 8-38 tabletas/mes). La intervención consiguió reducir a 8 pacientes con dosis superiores a las recomendadas, (63,6% de casos). Los aseguradores estaban pagando en promedio COP $459.166 más, cada mes, por el exceso de tabletas dispensadas y la intervención logró un ahorro de COP $3.491.592 al año. Conclusiones: Las intervenciones educativas sobre los médicos prescriptores pueden conseguir disminuir el número de prescripciones potencialmente inapropiadas y de errores de medicación para reducir el riesgo sobre los pacientes y costes de atención en salud

The aim of the study is to identify patients with inappropriate prescriptions of alendronate (70 mg) and to use an educational intervention to reduce medication errors. Methods: A quasi-experimental, prospective before and after study was conducted, without a control group, where an intervention was conducted on prescribers of patients on pharmacological treatment with alendronate 70 mg in the period from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014. All subjects receiving more than 4 tablets per month were included. The intervention was to provide updated information to those responsible for health care and then assess whether or not they modified the patient prescription. Results: Out of a total of 2,283 patients receiving alendronate, it was found that a mean of 105 patients per month diagnosed with osteoporosis received the presentation of 70 mg. The mean age was 66.0 ± 5.5 years, and the large majority (n =159; 95.8%) were female. A mean of 22 patients were dispensed with more than 4 tablets per month (range: 8-38 tablets/month). The intervention managed to reduce those with a higher than recommended doses to 8 patients (63.6% of cases). Insurers were paying COP $459,166 more on average each month for excess tablets dispensed, and the intervention achieved savings of COP $3,491,592 per year. Conclusions: Educational interventions on prescribers can reduce the number of potentially inappropriate prescribing and medication errors and reduce the risk to patients and health care costs

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Las consecuencias de una medicación inadecuada son diversas y con gran repercusión a nivel clínico: desde efectos adversos e interacciones medicamentosas a fracturas por caídas y aumento de morbi-mortalidad. Para evitar o mejorar dichas consecuencias, así como para abordar sus causas y con la seguridad del paciente en mente, nace la deprescripción para conseguir una prescripción más segura, más prudente y más humana. La atención primaria se sitúa en un lugar privilegiado para hacer frente a este reto que debería formar parte de cualquier estrategia de prevención cuaternaria.

As consequências de uma medicação inadequada são diversas e com grande repercussão clínica: desde efeitos adversos e interações medicamentosas até fraturas por quedas e aumento da morbidade e mortalidade. Para se evitar ou amenizar essas consequências, bem como abordar as suas causas, levando-se em conta a segurança dos pacientes, surge a desprescrição para se obter uma prescrição mais segura, mais prudente e mais humana. A atenção primária está em uma posição privilegiada para enfrentar o desafio da desprescrição e esta deveria fazer parte de qualquer estratégia de prevenção quaternária.

The consequences of inappropriate medication are diverse and have great clinical impact: from adverse effects and medication interactions to fractures from falls and increased morbidity and mortality. To avoid or ameliorate such consequences, as well as to address its causes, bearing in mind patients' safety, deprescription has emerged as a safer, more prudent and humane practice. Primary care is in a privileged position to address this challenge of deprescription and it should be part of any strategy of quaternary prevention.

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