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Prevalence of anticholinergic burden and risk factors amongst the older population: analysis of insurance claims data of Korean patients

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Abstract

Background Despite growing interest in the negative clinical outcomes of multiple anticholinergic use, limited studies have evaluated anticholinergic burden in the geriatric population nationally. Objective To evaluate the prevalence of high anticholinergic burden using the newly developed Korean Anticholinergic Burden Scale in comparison with previous tools and to identify associated factors. Setting National insurance data from a cross section (20%) of older Koreans (2016). Methods Anticholinergic burden was measured using the Korean scale in comparison to the Anticholinergic Drug Scale, Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden, and Anticholinergic Risk Scale. High anticholinergic burden was defined as a summed score of ≥ 3 for concurrent medications or a dose-standardized average daily score of ≥ 3, using each anticholinergic scale. Main outcomes measured Prevalence and predictors of high anticholinergic burden. Results Data of 1,292,323 patients were analyzed. According to the Korean scale, the prevalence of high anticholinergic burden was 25.5%. This result was similar to that from the Anticholinergic Drug Scale (24.9%) and Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (22.2%). Factors associated with an increased likelihood of anticholinergic burden include: age, gender (female), high Charlson comorbidity index score, polypharmacy, medical aid beneficiary, co-morbidities (such as schizophrenia, depression, urinary incontinence, and Parkinson’s disease), frequent healthcare visits, various healthcare facilities utilized, and predominantly visiting hospital-level facilities. According to the Korean Anticholinergic Burden Scale, the major drugs contributing to the anticholinergic burden were ranitidine, chlorpheniramine, tramadol, and dimenhydrinate. Conclusion This study showed that 1 in 4 older Koreans are exposed to high anticholinergic burden. The predictors identified in this research might assist pharmacists in early interventions for their patients.

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Funding

This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education (2017R1D1A1B03029528).

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  1. Kwanghee Jun and Young-Mi Ah have contributed equally for this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, 1, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea

    Kwanghee Jun & Ju-Yeun Lee

  2. College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongsangbuk-do, 38541, Republic of Korea

    Young-Mi Ah

  3. College of Pharmacy and Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Republic of Korea

    Sunghee Hwang & Jee Eun Chung

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  1. Kwanghee Jun
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Correspondence to Ju-Yeun Lee.

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Jun, K., Ah, YM., Hwang, S. et al. Prevalence of anticholinergic burden and risk factors amongst the older population: analysis of insurance claims data of Korean patients. Int J Clin Pharm 42, 453–461 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-020-01010-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-020-01010-7

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