To keep you better informed about the biggest trends and developments affecting medication management, medication adherence, and clinical pharmacist services, here are 10 of the most significant news reports published in April. Highlights include stories on deprescribing, performance measures, polypharmacy, undermedication, and the importance of pharmacists on the care team.
1. Health Care Insights: Six Must-Haves for 2022 and Beyond
Get the Medications Right Institute leaders shared their "must-haves" for the future with Pharmacy Times. These include empowered clinical pharmacists and increased adoption of comprehensive medication management.
2. Here's a New Approach to De-Prescribing PPIs
The American Gastroenterological Association provides 10 pieces of best practice advice from experts highlighting clinical scenarios that call for discontinuing proton pump inhibitors and how to approach deprescribing.
3. Implement Pharmacy Performance Measures for Value-Based Care
Pharmacy Quality Alliance's CEO writes about the organization's new pharmacy performance measure that evaluates medication adherence.
4. Polypharmacy and Potential Drug-Drug Interactions: Monitor Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
Results of a study show that patients with MS are prone to polypharmacy and are at risk for potential drug-drug interactions, elevating the importance of regular review of these patients' medications.
5. Polypharmacy Common Among Patients Aged 65 or Older With HIV
Research shows that people aged 65 or older with human immunodeficiency virus receive significantly more non-antiretroviral therapy medications compared with patients with HIV between ages 50 and 64. Research also shows that about 60% of patients with HIV are taking at least one potentially inappropriate medication.
6. Study: LTC Residents With COVID-19 At Risk for Polypharmacy, New Drug Interactions
A study across long-term care facilities found that residents with COVID-19 are especially vulnerable to drug-drug interactions and polypharmacy.
7. Older Patients With RA More Likely to be Undermedicated
A study shows that the percentage of older patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs remains low despite American College of Rheumatology guideline updates encouraging aggressive treatment.
8. Older Patients With Depression at Risk of Polypharmacy
Research coming out of the Netherlands shows that older adults with depression are at greater risk of polypharmacy than those without.
9. Diabetes Overtreatment Common in Nursing Homes, With Little Medication Deintensification
Research reveals that type 2 diabetes overtreatment is common among nursing home residents. In addition, few residents have their regimens appropriately deintensified.
10. Pharmacists Can Improve Adherence to Oral Oncolytics
Evidence shows that pharmacists, as part of an interdisciplinary team, play a valuable role in improving adherence to oral oncolytics.
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