Anticholinergic Exposure Reaches 74% in Community-Dwelling Elders, Scales Disagree
This cross-sectional Spanish study quantifies real-world anticholinergic burden in primary care elders and demonstrates that the estimated prevalence swings dramatically depending on which of five common scales a pharmacist chooses.
Anticholinergic burden is prevalent but tricky to measure in elders.
Anticholinergic burden is a key concern for medication management in older adults, impacting cognitive and physical health. 74.2% of older adults take medications with anticholinergic properties, yet agreement between assessment scales is only moderate to weak. Clinicians should use multiple tools to accurately identify and minimize anticholinergic exposure, considering safer alternatives to reduce risk. High anticholinergic use in older adults necessitates careful drug assessment to mitigate risks.
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Executive Summary
Study Design
Patient Population
Primary Outcomes
Secondary Outcomes & Safety Profile
Pharmacist Implications
Clinical Pearls
Limitations
Controversies & Evidence Gaps
Cost & Logistics
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