BMC Geriatrics (Jan 2022)

Control in the Hospital by Extensive Clinical rules for Unplanned hospitalizations in older Patients (CHECkUP); study design of a multicentre randomized study

  • Aimée E. M. J. H. Linkens,
  • Vanja Milosevic,
  • Noémi van Nie,
  • Anne Zwietering,
  • Peter W. de Leeuw,
  • Marjan van den Akker,
  • Jos M. G. A. Schols,
  • Silvia M. A. A. Evers,
  • Carlota Mestres Gonzalvo,
  • Bjorn Winkens,
  • Bob P. A. van de Loo,
  • Louis de Wolf,
  • Lucretia Peeters,
  • Monique de Ree,
  • Bart Spaetgens,
  • Kim P. G. M. Hurkens,
  • Hugo M. van der Kuy

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02723-8
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Abstract Background Due to ageing of the population the incidence of multimorbidity and polypharmacy is rising. Polypharmacy is a risk factor for medication-related (re)admission and therefore places a significant burden on the healthcare system. The reported incidence of medication-related (re)admissions varies widely due to the lack of a clear definition. Some medications are known to increase the risk for medication-related admission and are therefore published in the triggerlist of the Dutch guideline for Polypharmacy in older patients. Different interventions to support medication optimization have been studied to reduce medication-related (re)admissions. However, the optimal template of medication optimization is still unknown, which contributes to the large heterogeneity of their effect on hospital readmissions. Therefore, we implemented a clinical decision support system (CDSS) to optimize medication lists and investigate whether continuous use of a CDSS reduces the number of hospital readmissions in older patients, who previously have had an unplanned probably medication-related hospitalization. Methods The CHECkUP study is a multicentre randomized study in older (≥60 years) patients with an unplanned hospitalization, polypharmacy (≥5 medications) and using at least two medications from the triggerlist, from Zuyderland Medical Centre and Maastricht University Medical Centre+ in the Netherlands. Patients will be randomized. The intervention consists of continuous (weekly) use of a CDSS, which generates a Medication Optimization Profile, which will be sent to the patient’s general practitioner and pharmacist. The control group will receive standard care. The primary outcome is hospital readmission within 1 year after study inclusion. Secondary outcomes are one-year mortality, number of emergency department visits, nursing home admissions, time to hospital readmissions and we will evaluate the quality of life and socio-economic status. Discussion This study is expected to add evidence on the knowledge of medication optimization and whether use of a continuous CDSS ameliorates the risk of adverse outcomes in older patients, already at an increased risk of medication-related (re)admission. To our knowledge, this is the first large study, providing one-year follow-up data and reporting not only on quality of care indicators, but also on quality-of-life. Trial registration The trial was registered in the Netherlands Trial Register on October 14, 2018, identifier: NL7449 (NTR7691). https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/7449 .

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