[Making balances between the risks and benefits of pharmacological treatment in dementia, chronic pain and anticoagulation in elderly persons]

Aten Primaria. 2018 Nov;50 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):39-50. doi: 10.1016/j.aprim.2018.09.003.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

In dementia, specific drugs and psychotropic drugs used for psychotic and behavioral symptoms have limited efficacy. Adverse effects may be important given the age and comorbidity of the patients. It is necessary, frequently, its withdrawal, planned together with the family, monitoring the response and offering non-pharmacological treatment alternatives. Chronic pain is suffered by 25-76% of the elderly who live in a community and is more frequent in women. The treatment is multidisciplinary, establishing realistic objectives, individualizing it, starting with lower doses of drugs and continuously reevaluating to control side effects and to get the correct level of analgesia. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation increases with age and is underdiagnosed. ACO is recommended with dicoumarin or direct oral anticoagulants not antagonists of vitamin K, in patients with AF older than 65 years unless contraindicated, to reduce embolic risk, confirming subgroup analyzes similar efficacy in prevention of stroke.

En la demencia los fármacos específicos y psicofármacos utilizados para síntomas psicóticos y de conducta tienen eficacia limitada. Los efectos adversos pueden ser importantes dada edad y comorbilidad de los pacientes. Es necesario, frecuentemente, su retirada, planificada conjuntamente con familiares, monitorizando la respuesta y ofreciendo alternativas de tratamiento no farmacológicas. El dolor crónico lo sufren el 25-76% de los ancianos que viven en comunidad y es más frecuente en mujeres. El tratamiento es multidisciplinar, estableciendo objetivos realistas, individualizándolo, iniciando con dosis menores los fármacos y reevaluando continuamente para controlar efectos secundarios y lograr el nivel de analgesia correcto. La prevalencia de fibrilación auricular (FA) aumenta con la edad y está infradiagnosticada. Se recomienda anticoagulación oral con dicumarínicos o anticoagulantes orales directos no antagonistas de la vitamina K, en pacientes con FA mayores de 65 años salvo contraindicación, para reducir el riesgo embólico, confirmando los análisis de subgrupos eficacia similar en prevención de ACV.

Keywords: Anciano; Atrial fibrillation; Chronic pain; Demencia; Dementia; Dolor crónico; Elderly; Fibrilación auricular; Therapeutics; Tratamientos.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Analgesics / therapeutic use
  • Anticoagulants / adverse effects
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use*
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Atrial Fibrillation / complications
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Chronic Pain / drug therapy*
  • Contraindications, Drug
  • Dementia / complications
  • Dementia / drug therapy*
  • Deprescriptions
  • Embolism / etiology
  • Embolism / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medical Overuse / prevention & control*
  • Nootropic Agents / adverse effects
  • Nootropic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sex Factors
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / drug therapy

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Anticoagulants
  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Nootropic Agents