According to a recent study, over 2/3 of nursing home residents are at risk of experiencing at least 1 drug-drug interaction (DDI) at nursing home facilities. DDI exposure is known as one or more days of concurrent use of orally administered medications. Most common in long-term care facilities, residents are at risk of their medications overlapping and having negative effects to their health in many ways. The study by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, done in October, looked into at-risk residents from 2018-2020 who experienced DDIs. So many residents are affected because of many factors, including their age-related physiological changes, the need to take numerous drugs, and more.
The study looked at over 485,000 beneficiaries who are 66 or older and who are under Medicare free-for-service, or who live in nursing homes under Medicare Program D, drug data. The authors share that, as research shows DDIs lead to unfavorable drug outcomes in older adults, the extent of the exposure is widely unknown among nursing home residents across the US. Researchers found that over 60% of the participants have had one or more DDIs because of overlapping health issues. Some common DDIs to look out for include central nervous system-active drugs, antihypertensive drugs, opioids, diuretics, and more, relating to health issues among residents.
The longest average exposure duration was 81 days and involved the use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and heart rate-reducing drugs, as McKnight’s Long-Term Care News shares. Researchers suggest that healthcare workers administering drugs take cautionary approaches when dealing with DDIs. They advise drug administrators to identify the common DDIs seen in facilities and be knowledgeable about those drugs to prevent clinically related issues. Researchers also recommend taking a step further and investigating why and how providers can manage risky DDIs and ensure patient safety when prescribing medications.
As the majority of residents in long-term care facilities take more than 1 drug daily, it is important for staff and administrators to be aware of any issues that can come up when overlapping medications for the safety of the residents.
Speak with a Scranton Nursing Home Lawyer Today at DLP Law
If you know of someone who has been neglected or injured while a resident of a nursing home or long-term care facility, have them contact the lawyers at DLP, who have been representing nursing home abuse victims for over forty years. We at DLP Law Firm can protect you against nursing home-related issues. With continued research and advocacy on DDIs, nursing home residents nationwide can receive the safe, informed care they deserve to live healthier lives. Remember…Injury? Call DLP. (570) C-A-L-L-D-L-P
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