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Effective deprescribing in primary care without deterioration of health-related outcomes
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  • Anne Estrup Olesen,
  • Tanja Væver,
  • Martin Simonsen,
  • Peter Simonsen,
  • Kirsten Høj
Anne Estrup Olesen
Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg

Corresponding Author:aneso@rn.dk

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Tanja Væver
Frederikshavn Municipality
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Martin Simonsen
General practitioners practice ”Lægeklinikken Frederikshavn”
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Peter Simonsen
General practitioners practice ”Lægeklinikken Frederikshavn”
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Kirsten Høj
Research Unit for General Practice
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Abstract

Medication reviews focusing on deprescribing can reduce potentially inappropriate medication; however, evidence regarding the effects on health-related outcomes is scares. In a real-life, quality improvement project, we aimed to investigate how a general practitioner-led medication review intervention with focus on deprescribing affected health-related outcomes. We performed a before-after intervention study including care home residents and community-dwelling patients affiliated with a large Danish general practice. The primary outcomes were changes in self-reported health status, general condition, and functional level from baseline to 3-4 months follow-up. Of 105 included patients, 87 completed follow-up. From baseline to follow-up, 255 medication changes were made, of which 83% were deprescribing. Mean self-reported health status increased from 7.3 to 7.9 (0.6 [95% CI: 0.2 to 0.9]); the proportion of patients with general condition rated as “average or above” was stable (74.7% to 80.5% (5.7% [95% CI: -3.4 to 14.9]); and the proportion of patients with functional level “without any disability” was stable (58.6% to 54.0% (-4.6% [95% CI: -10.1 to 1.0]). In conclusion, this general practitioner-led medication review intervention led to deprescribing and increased self-reported health status without deterioration of general condition or functional level in real-life primary care patients.
31 Jan 2023Submitted to Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology
31 Jan 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
31 Jan 2023Submission Checks Completed
31 Jan 2023Assigned to Editor
01 Feb 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
02 Mar 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
25 May 20231st Revision Received
26 May 2023Submission Checks Completed
26 May 2023Assigned to Editor
26 May 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
26 May 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
21 Jun 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
29 Jun 20232nd Revision Received
29 Jun 2023Assigned to Editor
29 Jun 2023Submission Checks Completed
29 Jun 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Jun 2023Editorial Decision: Accept