Care of older people

Sick days off – a simple strategy to prevent acute kidney injury and other adverse drug reactions

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are common and account for around 5% of all[1] , and up to 16.6% in the elderly[2] hospital admissions. Approximately 10%–20% of inpatients suffer at least one ADR during their hospital stay. ADRs often adversely affect the individual’s qu…

Only 3% of patients with long-term conditions have care plans

Only 3% of primary care patients with long-term conditions have a written care plan in place, according to a report by the charity coalition National Voices.…

How to support patients with sight loss in pharmacy

More than two million people are affected by sight loss across the UK, which may impact on their ability to use and take their medicines correctly and safely. Here, the Royal National Institute of Blind People, Medicines Use and Safety team and Moorfields Eye Hospital provide advice and recomme…

EMA consults on tailoring medication for older people

A public consultation from the European Medicines Agency, which could lead to more medications tailored to suit older people, has been welcomed by a consultant pharmacist…

Adjusting the dose of aspirin may reduce bleeding risk

Aspirin is a potent drug that is still widely prescribed since the days of Hippocrates in its willow bark tea form. Recently, it has been reported that older people are at high risk of gastric bleeds when taking low dose aspirin ( The Pharmaceutical Journal 2017;298:327). Perhaps this is…

US sees rise in numbers of people dying from Alzheimer’s disease

Deaths from Alzheimer’s disease have risen by more than 50% in a 15-year period and are expected to increase further, a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning.…

Statins associated with increased risk of diabetes in older women

Clinical studies have shown that statins can increase the risk of new-onset diabetes. However, little is known about the risks in older women.…

HRT could cut heart disease in post-menopausal women, study suggests

Some women could live longer if they take hormone replacement therapy because of its cardiovascular protective effects, according to a new retrospective study.…

Osteoporosis drugs may cause microcracks in bone

Bisphosphonates are prescribed to prevent fractures in osteoporosis, but new research suggests that, paradoxically, they can also cause tiny cracks in bone…

Doctors prescribe antidepressants for off-label indications without evidence

Some 44% of off-label prescriptions written for antidepressants lack strong scientific evidence for the condition they were prescribed for, a new study shows.…