Medication reviews reduce risk of death in aged care residents
Regular medication reviews of aged care residents can lower the risk of death, according to a study from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).
Funded by the Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy (AACP), the study followed 57,719 aged care residents around the country for up to a year, keeping track of whether they were hospitalised, sent to emergency departments, or died during that time.
“We found that individuals who had a medication review within a 12-month period had a 5% lower risk of death.
Though all residents in the study were able to access free medication reviews – which typically identify up to four medication problems per person – only 22% did.
“Reviews often show which medicines can be adjusted or stopped, reducing the burden on the resident and boosting the quality of care.
The typical aged care resident takes up to 10 medications per day.
Image: Sage Ross/CC BY-SA 4.0
