Despite safety concerns, benzodiazepine use in older adults in U.S. ambulatory clinics and EDs did not change from 2001 to 2010. In the oldest individuals, who are at higher risk of adverse events, a greater increase was seen than in those aged 65 to 84. Additional measures may be needed to promote alternatives to benzodiazepines.
IntroductionWe assess trends in opioid administration and prescribing from 2005–2015 in older adults in United States (U.S.) emergency departments (ED).MethodsWe analyzed data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) survey from 2005 to 2015. ED visits for painful conditions were selected and stratified by age (18–64, 65–74, 75–84, ≥ 85 years). We analyzed trends in opioid administration in the ED and prescribing at discharge to encounters ≥ 65 and assessed predictors of use using survey-weighted chi-square tests and logistic regression. Trends in the use of five commonly prescribed opioids were also explored.ResultsOpioid administration in the ED and prescribing at discharge for encounters with patients ≥ 65 years fell overall, but not significantly. By contrast, opioid administration in the ED and prescribing at discharge significantly declined for adult encounters 18–64 by 20% and 32%, respectively. A similar proportion of adult encounters ≥ 65 were administered opioids in the ED as 18–64, but adult encounters ≥ 85 had the lowest rates of administration. A smaller proportion of adult encounters ≥ 65 years with painful conditions were prescribed opioids at discharge compared to <65. However, this age-related disparity in prescribing narrowed over the study period. There were shifts in the specific types of opioids administered and prescribed in adult encounters ≥ 65 years over the study period, with the most notable being a 76% increase in hydromorphone administration comparing 2005–06 to 2014–15.ConclusionFrom 2005–15, 1 in 4 to 1 in 10 ED patients with painful conditions were administered or prescribed an opioid in U.S. EDs. Opioids prescribing increased from 2005–11 and then declined from 2012–15, more so among visits in the 18–64 age group compared to ≥ 65 years. Opioid administrating demonstrated a gradual rise and decline in all adult age groups. Age consistently appears to be an important consideration, where opioid prescribing declines with advancing age. Given the nationwide opioid crisis, ED providers should remain vigilant in limiting opioids, particularly in older adults who are at higher risk for adverse effects.
were randomly chosen from a non-contaminated group (control group). The median age of our sample was 75 years (interquartile range, 62 to 85 years). In multivariate analysis, patients with higher nursing care level (odds ratio [OR], 5.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47-18.70) had higher incidences of blood culture contamination. Conclusion: In this retrospective analysis, higher nursing care level is associated with higher incidences of blood culture contamination in the ED. Especially in geriatric medicine, careful procedure is required for patients with higher nursing level to avoid blood culture contamination and achieve accuracy of test result. Nursing care level in Japan Level General Condition 1 Need partial support for daily activity and care. 2 Need support for walking or standing. 3 Add to level2, cognitive dysfunction or problematic behavior. 4 Need help for eating or excretion. 5 Cannot stand up and move by oneself. 6 Cannot excrete by oneself, severe dementia. 7 Cannot eat by oneself.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.