Polypharmacy and drug-drug interactions among older and younger male prisoners in Switzerland.

Polypharmacy and drug-drug interactions among older and younger male prisoners in Switzerland. Int J Prison Health. 2019 Aug 29;15(3):250-261 Authors: Annaheim B, Wangmo T, Bretschneider W, Handtke V, Elger BS, Belardi A, Meyer AH, Hösli R, Lutters M Abstract PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to determine the prevalence of polypharmacy and drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in older and younger prisoners, and compared if age group is associated with risks of polypharmacy and DDIs. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: For 380 prisoners from Switzerland (190 were 49 years and younger; 190 were 50 years and older), data concerning their medication use were gathered. MediQ identified if interactions of two or more substances could lead to potentially adverse DDI. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and generalised linear mixed models. FINDINGS: On average, older prisoners took 3.8 medications, while younger prisoners took 2.1 medications. Number of medications taken on one reference day was higher by a factor of 2.4 for older prisoners when compared to younger prisoners (p = 0.002). The odds of polypharmacy was significantly higher for older than for younger prisoners (>=5 medications: odds ratio = 5.52, p = 0.035). Age group analysis indicated that for potentially adverse DDI there was no significant difference (odds ratio = 0.94; p = 0.879). However, when controlling for the number of medication, the risk of adve...
Source: International Journal of Prisoner Health - Category: Criminology Authors: Tags: Int J Prison Health Source Type: research