Djamal Berbiche

The Prevalence of Benzodiazepine Dependence among Community-Dwelling Older Adult Users in Quebec According to Typical and Atypical Criteria *

Contexte: La consommation de benzodiazépines est reconnue pour pouvoir entraîner un problème de dépendance. Les critères diagnostiques de la dépendance du DSM-IV-TR ne s’appliqueraient pas toujours à la situation d’un médicament prescrit par un médecin. Cette recherche vise à déterminer la prévalence de la dépendance aux benzodiazépines chez les aînés selon les critères classiques et des critères atypiques. Méthode : Étude descriptive basée sur des entrevues réalisées au domicile de 2785 aînés sélectionnés de façon aléatoire dans la province de Québec, Canada. Résultats : Le quart (25,4 %) des participants de l’étude étaient consommateurs de benzodiazépines et 9,5 % d’entre eux étaient dépendants selon le DSM-IV-TR. Toutefois, 43 % des aînés consommateurs se disaient dépendants du médicament et un tiers souhaite arrêter de le consommer. Interprétation : La dépendance aux benzodiazépines se présenteraient chez environ 10 % des aînés consommateurs selon les critères classiques, pourtant plus de 40 % d’entre eux se disent dépendants. Background: Use of benzodiazepines, common among older people, may lead to substance dependence. DSM-IV-TR criteria for this iatrogenic problem may apply poorly to older persons following a physician-prescribed regimen. This study, first of its kind, aimed to determine the prevalence rate of benzodiazepine dependence in older persons according to DSM-IV-TR and other atypical criteria. Methods: Descriptive study based on face-to-face interviews conducted in the homes of 2,785 persons aged 65 years or older who were randomly selected from across the province of Quebec, Canada. Results: Use of benzodiazepines was reported by 25.4 % of respondents. Among them, 9.5 % met DSM-IV-TR criteria for substance dependence. However, 43 % of users reported being dependent, and one third agreed that it would be a good thing to stop taking benzodiazepines. Interpretation: Benzodiazepine substance dependence is established at one tenth of community-dwelling older persons taking these medications, although a much larger proportion self-labels as dependent.

Factors associated with benzodiazepine dependence among community-dwelling seniors.

Background: Benzodiazepine (BZD) dependence among seniors is an understudied problem. Objective: Identify the factors associated with BZD dependence. Method: Face-to-face computer-assisted interviews were conducted in the homes of 2,785 persons aged 65 years or older, randomly selected. Results: Nine-and-a-half percent of BZD users met DSM-IV-TR criteria for BZD dependence. Factors associated with BZD dependence are being a woman, and having cognitive impairment, panic disorders, suicidal ideations, and a degree of embarrassment in obtaining help for emotional problem. Discussion: Nurses should be better positioned to identify those elderly users of BZDs who are more likely to be dependent and to address the problem through BZD withdrawal program.

A cluster randomized controlled Trial to Evaluate an Ambulatory primary care Management program for patients with dyslipidemia: the TEAM study

Background: Few studies have reported the efficacy of collaborative care involving family physicians and community pharmacists for patients with dyslipidemia. Methods: We randomly assigned clusters consisting of at least two physicians and at least four pharmacists to provide collaborative care or usual care. Under the collaborative care model, pharmacists counselled patients about their medications, requested laboratory tests, monitored the effectiveness and safety of medications and patients’ adherence to therapy, and adjusted medication dosages. After 12 months of follow-up, we assessed changes in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the primary outcome), the proportion of patients reaching their target lipid levels and changes in other risk factors. Results: Fifteen clusters representing a total of 77 physicians and 108 pharmacists were initially recruited, and a total of 51 physicians and 49 pharmacists were included in the final analyses. The collaborative care teams followed a total of 108 patients, and the usual care teams followed a total of 117 patients. At baseline, mean LDL cholesterol level was higher in the collaborative care group (3.5 v. 3.2 mmol/L, p = 0.05). During the study, patients in the collaborative care group were less likely to receive high-potency statins (11% v. 40%), had more visits with health care professionals and more laboratory tests, were more likely to have their lipid-lowering treatment changed and were more likely to report lifestyle changes. At 12 months, the crude incremental mean reduction in LDL cholesterol in the collaborative care group was −0.2 mmol/L (95% confidence interval [CI] −0.3 to −0.1), and the adjusted reduction was −0.05 (95% CI −0.3 to 0.2). The crude relative risk of achieving lipid targets for patients in the collaborative care group was 1.10 (95% CI 0.95 to 1.26), and the adjusted relative risk was 1.16 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.34). Interpretation: Collaborative care involving physicians and pharmacists had no significant clinical impact on lipid control in patients with dyslipidemia. International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial register no. ISRCTN66345533.

Association Between Depressive and Anxiety Disorders and Adherence to Antihypertensive Medication in Community‐Living Elderly Adults

To identify the determinants of antihypertensive medication adherence in community‐living elderly adults.

Correlates of Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions of Benzodiazepines among Older Adults: Results from the ESA Study

Les données de l’étude ESA ont été appariées aux données d’utilisation des services médicaux et pharmaceutiques de la Régie d’assurance maladie du Québec pour documenter la prescription potentiellement non appropriée de benzodiazépines chez les personnes âgées. Nos résultats indiquent que 32% des répondants ont pris une dose journalière moyenne de 6.1 mg de l’équivalent diazépam pour une durée moyenne de 205 jours par année. Nos résultats indiquent aussi que presque la moitié, 48% des utilisateurs de benzodiazépines, ont reçu au moins une prescription de benzodiazépine potentiellement non appropriée pendant les 12 mois qui précédaient l’étude. Près de 23% des consommateurs ont reçu au moins une prescription concomitante de Bzs et d’un autre médicament pouvant résulter en une interaction sérieuse. De plus, les personnes âgées de 75 ans et plus avaient plus de chances de recevoir une Bz pour une longue période de temps que les personnes âgées de 65–74 ans. Cette étude a montré que la durée d’utilisation des benzodiazépines augmentait avec le nombre de prescripteurs et avec le nombre de pharmacies consultées pendant l’année. Le nombre de pharmacies utilisées a aussi été associé avec la présence d’une ordonnance non appropriée de benzodiazépines pendant la même année. Nos résultats plaident en faveur d’un système de santé plus intégré, incluant une révision régulière des médicaments pris par les personnes âgées. ESA study data were paired with Quebec medical and pharmaceutical services records to document potentially inappropriate benzodiazepines (Bzs) prescriptions among community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older. Results indicate that 32 per cent of respondents took a mean daily dose of 6.1 mg of equivalent diazepam for, on average, 205 days per year. Almost half (48%) of Bzs users received a potentially inappropriate benzodiazepine prescription at least once during the year preceding the survey. About 23 per cent received at least one concomitant prescription of a Bz and another drug that could result in serious interaction. In addition, individuals aged 75 and older were more likely to receive Bzs for a longer period of time than those aged 65–74. Number of pharmacies used was associated with inappropriate Bzs prescriptions. Our results argue in favour of a more integrated health services system, including a regular review of older adults’ drug regimens.

Development and Validation of the PAIR (Pharmacotherapy Assessment in Chronic Renal Disease) Criteria to Assess Medication Safety and Use Issues in Patients With CKD

BACKGROUND Explicit criteria for judging medication safety and use issues in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are lacking. STUDY DESIGN Quality improvement report. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS Nephrologists (n = 4), primary care physicians (n = 2), hospital pharmacists with expertise in nephrology (n = 4), and community pharmacists (n = 2). The PAIR (Pharmacotherapy Assessment in Chronic Renal Disease) criteria were applied retrospectively to 90 patients with CKD in a randomized study. QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN Development of an explicit set of criteria to enable rapid and systematic detection of drug-related problems (DRPs). Using a RAND method, experts judged the clinical significance of DRPs and the appropriateness of a community pharmacist intervention. The PAIR criteria include 50 DRPs grouped into 6 categories. OUTCOMES DRPs detected using the PAIR criteria compared with implicit clinical judgment by nephrology pharmacists. MEASUREMENTS Prevalence of DRPs and reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the PAIR criteria. RESULTS A mean of 2.5 DRPs/patient (95% CI, 2.0-3.1) was identified based on the PAIR criteria compared with 3.9 DRPs/patient (95% CI, 3.4-4.5) based on clinical judgment of nephrology pharmacists. Inter-rater reliability coefficients (κ) by PAIR category varied from 0.80-1.00, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.93 (95% CI, 0.89-0.95) for total DRPs per patient. Test-retest reliability coefficients by category varied from 0.74-1.00, with an ICC of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.82-0.96) for total DRPs per patient. During the study, the mean number of DRPs per patient did not change significantly when assessed using the PAIR criteria and clinical judgment. LIMITATION The prevalence of PAIR DRPs may be underestimated due to the retrospective nature of the validation. CONCLUSION The prevalence of DRPs requiring the intervention of community pharmacists is high in patients with CKD. The PAIR criteria are reliable, but their responsiveness remains to be shown.

Impact of a Protocol for Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Background: Several interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), but their implementation in clinical practice has not gained widespread acceptance. Objective: To determine the impact of a protocol that incorporates evidence-based interventions shown to reduce the frequency of VAP on the overall rate of VAP, early-onset VAP, and late-onset VAP in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care adult teaching hospital. Methods: This pre- and postintervention observational study included mechanically ventilated patients admitted to the Montreal General Hospital ICU between November 2003 and May 2004 (preintervention) and between November 2004 and May 2005 (postintervention). A multidisciplinary prevention protocol was developed, implemented, and reinforced. Rates of VAP per 1000 ventilator-days were calculated pre- and postprotocol implementation for all patients, for patients with early-onset VAP, and for those with late-onset VAP. Results: In the pre- and postintervention groups, 349 and 360 patients, respectively, were mechanically ventilated. Twenty-three VAP episodes occurred in 925 ventilator-days (crude incidence rate 25 per 1000) in the preintervention period. Following implementation, the VAP rate decreased to 22 episodes in 988 ventilatordays (crude incidence rate 22.3 per 1000), corresponding to a relative reduction in rate of 10.8% (p < 0.001). The incidence of early-onset VAP decreased from 31.0 to 18.5 VAP per 1000 ventilator-days (p < 0.001), while the incidence of late-onset VAP increased from 21.9 to 24.1 VAP per 1000 ventilator-days (p < 0.001). However, when all covariates were adjusted, the impact of the prevention protocol was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Implementation of a VAP prevention protocol incorporating evidence-based interventions reduced the crude incidence of VAP, early-onset VAP, and late-onset VAP. However, when covariates were adjusted, the beneficial effect was no longer observed. Further research is needed to assess the impact of such measures on VAP, early-onset VAP, and late-onset VAP.

Costs of moderate to severe chronic pain in primary care patients – a study of the ACCORD Program

Background The economic burden of chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) remains insufficiently documented in primary care. Purpose To evaluate the annual direct health care costs and productivity costs associated with moderate to severe CNCP in primary care patients taking into account their pain disability. Materials and methods Patients reporting noncancer pain for at least 6 months, at a pain intensity of 4 or more on a 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain) intensity scale, and at a frequency of at least 2 days a week, were recruited from community pharmacies. Patients’ characteristics, health care utilization, and productivity losses (absenteeism and presenteeism) were documented using administrative databases, pharmacies’ renewal charts, telephone, and self-administered questionnaires. Patients were stratified by tertile of pain disability measured by the Brief Pain Inventory questionnaire. Results Patients (number =483) were, on average, 59 years old, mainly women (67.5%), and suffered from CNCP for a mean of 12 years at an average pain intensity of 6.5±1.9. The annual direct health care costs and productivity costs averaged CAD

The willingness of community pharmacists to participate in a practice-based research network

9,565 (±

Endolymphatic Duct Blockage A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Novel Surgical Technique for Ménière’s Disease Treatment

13,993) and CAD