FROM
AN INTERDISCIPLINARY LOOK AT THE POTENTIAL POLICYCHANGES TO IMPROVE AN INTERDISCIPLINARY LOOK OF AT LABELING TO
POLICY
TO
PRACTICE FACULTY Susan Enguídanos, PhD, MPH Associate Professor of Gerontology ❙ Leonard Davis School of Gerontology ❙ University of Southern California ❙ Los Angeles, California Keela Herr, PhD, RN, AGSF, FGSA, FAAN Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty ❙ College of Nursing ❙ Co‐Director, Csomay Center for Gerontological Excellence ❙ University of Iowa ❙ Iowa City, Iowa M. Cary Reid, MD, PhD Associate Professor of Medicine ❙ Irving Sherwood Wright Associate Professor in Geriatrics ❙ Director, Translational Research Institute on Pain in Later Life ❙ Weill Cornell Medical College ❙ Cornell University ❙ New York, New York Bradley R. Williams, PharmD, FASCP, BCGP Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Clinical Gerontology ❙ School of Pharmacy ❙ Leonard Davis School of Gerontology ❙ University of Southern California ❙ Los Angeles, California
Developed by
OTC ANALGESICS AND FOR THE HEALTH OFTHE ANIMPLICATIONS AGING AMERICA
PATIENT CARE
LEARNING OBJECTIVES After reading this publication, the health care provider will be able to: ■■ Describe the role of over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications in a comprehensive approach for the assessment and treatment of persistent pain in older adults. ■■ Differentiate among OTC analgesics with regard to their safety profiles for use in older adults. ■■ Inform older adults and caregivers of labeling changes for acetaminophen and non-aspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, with an emphasis on new warnings. ■■ Educate older adults and caregivers about appropriate use of OTC analgesics for older patients.
Introduction
The population of older adults in the United States—and around the world—is increasing dramatically. According to data in the U.S. Census Bureau report, An Aging World: 2015, the U.S. population aged 65 years and older will nearly double over the next 30 years, from 48 million to almost 88 million. The group of the “oldest old”—those aged 80 years and older— is expected to more than triple between 2015 and 2050.1 The use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and OTC analgesics in particular, poses challenges in older adult populations. According to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, 93% of adults in the United States prefer to treat their minor ailments with OTC medicines before seeking care from a health care provider.2 Furthermore, adults 65 years of age and older use more prescription and OTC medications than any other demographic group, and they account for 30% of OTC medication use in the United States.3,4 Older adults are significantly more likely to experience an adverse drug reaction than younger adults, with a reported 61.5% of emergency department visits occurring among older adults because of adverse drug reactions.3,5,6 Increased risk of adverse drug events in older adults results from age-related physiological changes, polypharmacy, drug interactions, and inappropriate prescribing and monitoring of drug therapy. Individuals over 65 years of age are also more likely to have chronic conditions that increase the risks of drug-disease interactions.7 Use of prescription drugs increases substantially with age, which further amplifies the risk of drug interactions and adverse effects.7,8 Among adults 60 years of age and older, more than 76% use two or more prescription drugs, and 37% use five or more.8
Supported by © 2018, The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.