Emily A. Long, BA, BS

Geriatric syndromes are common clinical conditions in older adults that do not fall into specific disease categories. Unlike the traditional definition of a syndrome, geriatric syndrome refers to a condition that is mediated by multiple shared underlying risk factors.[1, 2] Conditions commonly referred to as geriatric syndromes include delirium, cognitive impairment, falls, unintentional weight loss, depressive symptoms, and incontinence. Even though many perceive it as medical misnomer,[3] geriatric syndromes have been shown to negatively impact quality of life and activities of daily living in older adults.[2] They are also associated with adverse outcomes such as increased healthcare utilization, functional decline, and mortality, even after adjusting for age and disease severity.[4, 5, 6] Hospitalized older adults, including those discharged to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs)[7, 8] are particularly at high risk for new‐onset or exacerbation of geriatric syndromes and poor outcomes.[7, 9, 10] However, hospital providers seldom assess, manage, or document geriatric syndromes because they are often overshadowed by disease conditions that lead to an acute episode requiring hospitalization (e.g., heart disease).[11]

Pharmacotherapy is the cornerstone of hospital treatment, and it is well‐known that it affects multiple physiologic systems causing side effects apart from the condition they are approved to treat. Given that geriatric syndromes are a result of impairments in multiple organ systems, it is plausible that pharmacotherapy may initiate or worsen these syndromes.[12] Medication‐related problems in older adults are well known. Polypharmacy and adverse drug events (as a result of drug‐drug/disease interactions and changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics) are prevalent in multimorbid elderly patients.[13, 14, 15, 16] The prescribing cascade[17] increases the medication burden and may be a contributing factor for geriatric syndromes in hospitalized patients.[18] For instance, laxatives may be prescribed to counteract constipation caused by anticholinergic drugs.

The American Geriatric Society (AGS) Beers list[19, 20] and similar criteria[21] provide excellent resources to identify medications with potentially harmful interactions or adverse effects in older adults. Although these lists include medicines associated with a specific geriatric syndrome, they were not developed to explicitly link medicines across multiple geriatric syndromes, regardless of indication or appropriateness. For example, medications that effect important geriatric syndromes like unintentional weight/appetite loss, depression, and urinary incontinence are not extensively covered. In addition, disease‐appropriate medications (eg, ‐blockers for systolic heart failure), that may be associated with a geriatric syndrome (eg, falls) are not included; however, they may be important to consider for a patient and clinician who are weighing the disease benefits compared to the geriatric syndrome‐related risks. Finally, the AGS 2015 Beers criteria panel mentions the limitation that many medication associations may be excluded because older adults are less represented in clinical trials.[20] Clinicians are currently limited in identifying medications potentially contributing to a broad set of geriatric syndromes in their patients without a specific list of medications associated with geriatric syndromes (MAGS).[20]

In response to this gap, identifying these medications is important and should be a starting point in efforts toward prevention and treatment of geriatric syndromes. The 2 main objectives of this study were to first identify medications that may meaningfully contribute to 6 geriatric syndromes and subsequently describe the frequency of these medications in a population transitioning from acute care to postacute care to highlight the need and potential impact of such a list.

METHODS

This study included 2 phases that aligned with our 2 primary objectives. Phase 1 involved identifying medications associated with 6 geriatric syndromes, and phase 2 included a cross‐sectional analysis of the prevalence of these medications in a sample of patients discharged to SNFs.

Phase 1: Development of the MAGS List

Figure 1 depicts the underlying conceptual model and approach that was used in phase 1. The interaction between the patient factors and medication leads to polypharmacy that contributes to geriatric syndromes and additional adverse outcomes. As a starting point for mitigating geriatric syndromes, we used an iterative analytical process to identify a list of medications associated with the following geriatric syndromes that were documented to be highly prevalent in patients discharged to SNFs: cognitive impairment, delirium, falls, unintentional weight and/or appetite loss, urinary incontinence, and depression.[8] To be inclusive and sensitive, our approach differed from traditional systematic reviews, and in fact was meant to bring together much of the established systematic literature about disparate geriatric syndromes in 1 place, because patients often do not experience a geriatric syndrome in isolation, but rather experience multiple geriatric syndromes.[8] The MAGS list had 3 main inclusion criteria (Figure 1): (1) evidence in the published literature (systematic reviews, cohort studies, randomized clinical trials) that the medication is related to the syndrome, (2) expert panel opinion, and (3) drug databases (Lexicomp Online database[22] and/or US Food and Drug Administration [FDA]approved package inserts).[23] We generated an initial list of medications based on these 3 main criteria to identify medications with significant associations to each geriatric syndrome. The list was further expanded and vetted using an iterative review of each medication list as it related to each geriatric syndrome through a series of group meetings focused around each geriatric syndrome. Following further discussion, we obtained agreement among all team members for medications included in the final list. For each geriatric syndrome, we excluded medications from consideration if they were used to treat the same geriatric syndrome (eg, ‐adrenergic blockers used to treat incontinence in men were listed as associated with incontinence only in women). We classified medications according to the Established Pharmacologic Class available at the FDA website. We also compared our final MAGS list with the 2015 AGS Beer's list[20] by identifying medications that were related to the 6 geriatric syndromes. This included Beers[20]‐cited rationale of anticholinergic, extrapyramidal symptoms, orthostatic hypotension (eg, falls), high‐risk adverse central nervous system effects, sedating, cognitive decline (eg, antipsychotics), delirium, falls, fractures, incontinence, and gastrointestinal (eg, nausea, vomiting). Specifically, we assessed whether the medications were included as inappropriate by the AGS Beers 2015[20] list and also whether they documented the syndrome association for that medication.

Figure 1

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

An iterative process of evidence review by a multidisciplinary panel resulted in a list of 513 medications associated with 6 common geriatric syndromes. This analysis demonstrated that hospitalized, older patients discharged to SNFs were frequently prescribed MAGS. The rate of prescribing ranged from 100% of patients with a medication associated with falls to 36% for unintentional weight loss. Moreover, an alarming 43% of all medications at hospital discharge were MAGS. For this vulnerable population, the combination of high prevalence of MAGS and high risk of geriatric syndromes emphasize a need to critically review the risks and benefits of MAGS throughout hospitalization and at the time of discharge.

A body of evidence demonstrates that many drugs in a typical older adult regimen have no specific clinical indication, are considered inappropriate, or have uncertain efficacy in the geriatric population.[24, 25, 26] This study builds on the foundational work described in landmark reviews such as the AGS Beers[20] and STOPP/START[21] (Screening Tool of Older Persons' Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right, i.e. appropriate indicated Treatment) criteria. Both of these tools, however, were specifically designed as screening tools to identify medications considered unsafe for older adults under most circumstances and within specific illness states.[19, 20, 21] They are most often utilized when starting a medication to avoid acute adverse events. In contrast, the MAGS list was developed to be inclusive of medications that are often appropriate for many medical diagnoses but may also contribute to underlying geriatric syndromes that are more chronic in nature. In addition, inclusion of such medicines increases the sensitivity of screening for medications that can be targeted through patient‐centered deprescribing efforts when clinically appropriate.

A major strength of this study is that we bring together evidence across a spectrum of geriatric syndromes commonly experienced by hospitalized elders. In addition to evaluating multiple syndromes, we applied multiple modalities; particularly the use of an iterative review process by a multidisciplinary team of experts and using Lexicomp and FDA insert packages for linking medications to specific geriatric conditions. The inclusion criteria were broadened beyond single sources of evidence in an effort to capture a comprehensive list of medications. As a result, the MAGS list can be implemented as a screening tool for deprescribing interventions and assessing medication appropriateness to address individual or clusters of geriatric syndromes within a patient.

In addition to expanding this knowledge base, clinical relevance of the MAGS list is highlighted by its application to a sample of hospitalized older adults discharged to SNFs, a cohort known to experience geriatric syndromes. In fact, 43% of patients' medications at hospital discharge were MAGS. Importantly, due to the cross‐sectional nature of this study, we cannot be certain if the medication caused or potentiated each of the geriatric syndromes. However, hospitals and SNFs are devoting major resources toward reduction of falls, avoidance of urinary catheter use, and reduction of preventable readmissions. These efforts can be complemented by considering the number of medications associated with falls, urinary incontinence, and overall MAGS burden. The striking prevalence of MAGS demonstrates a rigorous need to weigh the risks and benefits of these medications. Above all, the intent of this study is not to propose that any MAGS be reflexively stopped, but rather that the MAGS list should facilitate a holistic approach to care for the complex older adult. For example, standard therapies such as gabapentin may be appropriate for treating neuralgic pain but may also contribute to falls and urinary incontinence. Thus, alternative pain treatments could be selected in place of gabapentin for a 75‐year old patient who is experiencing recurrent falls and increasing incontinence. Therefore, the MAGS list enables a patient‐provider discussion wherein medications' therapeutic benefits can be weighed against risks posed by specific clusters of geriatric syndromes, potential impact on quality of life, and consistency with goals of care.

This study has some limitations. First, although we examined a broad number of geriatric syndromes, several other geriatric syndromes experienced by hospitalized older adults were not addressed including: fecal incontinence, insomnia, and functional impairment. These syndromes were intentionally excluded from the study a priori due to reasons of feasibility and scope. Second, unlike the Beer's 2015 criteria, the MAGS list does not sub‐classify associations of medications with geriatric syndromes for patients with specific diseases (eg, heart failure). In fact, our MAGS list included medications often indicated in treating these diagnoses. A clinician must work with the patient to weigh the disease‐specific benefits of some medications with the potential effect on geriatric syndrome symptoms and outcomes. Third, the instrument has a very high sensitivity, which was intended to generate an inclusive list of medications that enables providers to weigh risks of geriatric syndromes with the intended indication benefit. The objective is not to use this list as a reflexive tool but rather help clinicians identify a starting point to address geriatric syndromes in their patients to make patient‐centered medication decisions. Although the MAGS list is intentionally large (sensitive), the advent of advanced bioinformatics can enable MAGS to be assessed in the future for both clinical and research purposes. Fourth, FDA insert packages and Lexicomp databases report anything experienced by the patient while on the particular medication, but it might not necessarily imply a causative link. The high use of MAGS and the specific geriatric syndrome may coexist due to the high prevalence and interplay of multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and geriatric syndromes in this population. Last, the list was developed by expert panel members predominantly from a single institution, which may introduce bias. Despite these limitations, the prevalence of these medications in a sample of patients transitioning from acute to postacute care highlights the utility of the MAGS list in future clinical research and quality improvement endeavors.

In conclusion, the MAGS list provides a comprehensive and sensitive indicator of medications associated with any of 6 geriatric syndromes regardless of medication indication and appropriateness. The MAGS list provides an overall degree of medication burden with respect to geriatric syndromes and a foundation for future research to assess the relationship between the presence of geriatric syndromes and syndrome‐associated medications. The MAGS list is an important first step in summarizing the data that link medications to geriatric syndromes. Future studies are needed to broaden the analysis of MAGS for other common geriatric syndromes and to identify new and emerging medications not present during the time of this analysis. The MAGS list has the potential to facilitate deprescribing efforts needed to combat the epidemic of overprescribing that may be contributing to the burden of geriatric syndromes among older patients.

Geriatric syndromes are common clinical conditions in older adults that do not fall into specific disease categories. Unlike the traditional definition of a syndrome, geriatric syndrome refers to a condition that is mediated by multiple shared underlying risk factors.[1, 2] Conditions commonly referred to as geriatric syndromes include delirium, cognitive impairment, falls, unintentional weight loss, depressive symptoms, and incontinence. Even though many perceive it as medical misnomer,[3] geriatric syndromes have been shown to negatively impact quality of life and activities of daily living in older adults.[2] They are also associated with adverse outcomes such as increased healthcare utilization, functional decline, and mortality, even after adjusting for age and disease severity.[4, 5, 6] Hospitalized older adults, including those discharged to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs)[7, 8] are particularly at high risk for new‐onset or exacerbation of geriatric syndromes and poor outcomes.[7, 9, 10] However, hospital providers seldom assess, manage, or document geriatric syndromes because they are often overshadowed by disease conditions that lead to an acute episode requiring hospitalization (e.g., heart disease).[11]

Pharmacotherapy is the cornerstone of hospital treatment, and it is well‐known that it affects multiple physiologic systems causing side effects apart from the condition they are approved to treat. Given that geriatric syndromes are a result of impairments in multiple organ systems, it is plausible that pharmacotherapy may initiate or worsen these syndromes.[12] Medication‐related problems in older adults are well known. Polypharmacy and adverse drug events (as a result of drug‐drug/disease interactions and changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics) are prevalent in multimorbid elderly patients.[13, 14, 15, 16] The prescribing cascade[17] increases the medication burden and may be a contributing factor for geriatric syndromes in hospitalized patients.[18] For instance, laxatives may be prescribed to counteract constipation caused by anticholinergic drugs.

The American Geriatric Society (AGS) Beers list[19, 20] and similar criteria[21] provide excellent resources to identify medications with potentially harmful interactions or adverse effects in older adults. Although these lists include medicines associated with a specific geriatric syndrome, they were not developed to explicitly link medicines across multiple geriatric syndromes, regardless of indication or appropriateness. For example, medications that effect important geriatric syndromes like unintentional weight/appetite loss, depression, and urinary incontinence are not extensively covered. In addition, disease‐appropriate medications (eg, ‐blockers for systolic heart failure), that may be associated with a geriatric syndrome (eg, falls) are not included; however, they may be important to consider for a patient and clinician who are weighing the disease benefits compared to the geriatric syndrome‐related risks. Finally, the AGS 2015 Beers criteria panel mentions the limitation that many medication associations may be excluded because older adults are less represented in clinical trials.[20] Clinicians are currently limited in identifying medications potentially contributing to a broad set of geriatric syndromes in their patients without a specific list of medications associated with geriatric syndromes (MAGS).[20]

In response to this gap, identifying these medications is important and should be a starting point in efforts toward prevention and treatment of geriatric syndromes. The 2 main objectives of this study were to first identify medications that may meaningfully contribute to 6 geriatric syndromes and subsequently describe the frequency of these medications in a population transitioning from acute care to postacute care to highlight the need and potential impact of such a list.

METHODS

This study included 2 phases that aligned with our 2 primary objectives. Phase 1 involved identifying medications associated with 6 geriatric syndromes, and phase 2 included a cross‐sectional analysis of the prevalence of these medications in a sample of patients discharged to SNFs.

Phase 1: Development of the MAGS List

Figure 1 depicts the underlying conceptual model and approach that was used in phase 1. The interaction between the patient factors and medication leads to polypharmacy that contributes to geriatric syndromes and additional adverse outcomes. As a starting point for mitigating geriatric syndromes, we used an iterative analytical process to identify a list of medications associated with the following geriatric syndromes that were documented to be highly prevalent in patients discharged to SNFs: cognitive impairment, delirium, falls, unintentional weight and/or appetite loss, urinary incontinence, and depression.[8] To be inclusive and sensitive, our approach differed from traditional systematic reviews, and in fact was meant to bring together much of the established systematic literature about disparate geriatric syndromes in 1 place, because patients often do not experience a geriatric syndrome in isolation, but rather experience multiple geriatric syndromes.[8] The MAGS list had 3 main inclusion criteria (Figure 1): (1) evidence in the published literature (systematic reviews, cohort studies, randomized clinical trials) that the medication is related to the syndrome, (2) expert panel opinion, and (3) drug databases (Lexicomp Online database[22] and/or US Food and Drug Administration [FDA]approved package inserts).[23] We generated an initial list of medications based on these 3 main criteria to identify medications with significant associations to each geriatric syndrome. The list was further expanded and vetted using an iterative review of each medication list as it related to each geriatric syndrome through a series of group meetings focused around each geriatric syndrome. Following further discussion, we obtained agreement among all team members for medications included in the final list. For each geriatric syndrome, we excluded medications from consideration if they were used to treat the same geriatric syndrome (eg, ‐adrenergic blockers used to treat incontinence in men were listed as associated with incontinence only in women). We classified medications according to the Established Pharmacologic Class available at the FDA website. We also compared our final MAGS list with the 2015 AGS Beer's list[20] by identifying medications that were related to the 6 geriatric syndromes. This included Beers[20]‐cited rationale of anticholinergic, extrapyramidal symptoms, orthostatic hypotension (eg, falls), high‐risk adverse central nervous system effects, sedating, cognitive decline (eg, antipsychotics), delirium, falls, fractures, incontinence, and gastrointestinal (eg, nausea, vomiting). Specifically, we assessed whether the medications were included as inappropriate by the AGS Beers 2015[20] list and also whether they documented the syndrome association for that medication.

Figure 1

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

An iterative process of evidence review by a multidisciplinary panel resulted in a list of 513 medications associated with 6 common geriatric syndromes. This analysis demonstrated that hospitalized, older patients discharged to SNFs were frequently prescribed MAGS. The rate of prescribing ranged from 100% of patients with a medication associated with falls to 36% for unintentional weight loss. Moreover, an alarming 43% of all medications at hospital discharge were MAGS. For this vulnerable population, the combination of high prevalence of MAGS and high risk of geriatric syndromes emphasize a need to critically review the risks and benefits of MAGS throughout hospitalization and at the time of discharge.

A body of evidence demonstrates that many drugs in a typical older adult regimen have no specific clinical indication, are considered inappropriate, or have uncertain efficacy in the geriatric population.[24, 25, 26] This study builds on the foundational work described in landmark reviews such as the AGS Beers[20] and STOPP/START[21] (Screening Tool of Older Persons' Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right, i.e. appropriate indicated Treatment) criteria. Both of these tools, however, were specifically designed as screening tools to identify medications considered unsafe for older adults under most circumstances and within specific illness states.[19, 20, 21] They are most often utilized when starting a medication to avoid acute adverse events. In contrast, the MAGS list was developed to be inclusive of medications that are often appropriate for many medical diagnoses but may also contribute to underlying geriatric syndromes that are more chronic in nature. In addition, inclusion of such medicines increases the sensitivity of screening for medications that can be targeted through patient‐centered deprescribing efforts when clinically appropriate.

A major strength of this study is that we bring together evidence across a spectrum of geriatric syndromes commonly experienced by hospitalized elders. In addition to evaluating multiple syndromes, we applied multiple modalities; particularly the use of an iterative review process by a multidisciplinary team of experts and using Lexicomp and FDA insert packages for linking medications to specific geriatric conditions. The inclusion criteria were broadened beyond single sources of evidence in an effort to capture a comprehensive list of medications. As a result, the MAGS list can be implemented as a screening tool for deprescribing interventions and assessing medication appropriateness to address individual or clusters of geriatric syndromes within a patient.

In addition to expanding this knowledge base, clinical relevance of the MAGS list is highlighted by its application to a sample of hospitalized older adults discharged to SNFs, a cohort known to experience geriatric syndromes. In fact, 43% of patients' medications at hospital discharge were MAGS. Importantly, due to the cross‐sectional nature of this study, we cannot be certain if the medication caused or potentiated each of the geriatric syndromes. However, hospitals and SNFs are devoting major resources toward reduction of falls, avoidance of urinary catheter use, and reduction of preventable readmissions. These efforts can be complemented by considering the number of medications associated with falls, urinary incontinence, and overall MAGS burden. The striking prevalence of MAGS demonstrates a rigorous need to weigh the risks and benefits of these medications. Above all, the intent of this study is not to propose that any MAGS be reflexively stopped, but rather that the MAGS list should facilitate a holistic approach to care for the complex older adult. For example, standard therapies such as gabapentin may be appropriate for treating neuralgic pain but may also contribute to falls and urinary incontinence. Thus, alternative pain treatments could be selected in place of gabapentin for a 75‐year old patient who is experiencing recurrent falls and increasing incontinence. Therefore, the MAGS list enables a patient‐provider discussion wherein medications' therapeutic benefits can be weighed against risks posed by specific clusters of geriatric syndromes, potential impact on quality of life, and consistency with goals of care.

This study has some limitations. First, although we examined a broad number of geriatric syndromes, several other geriatric syndromes experienced by hospitalized older adults were not addressed including: fecal incontinence, insomnia, and functional impairment. These syndromes were intentionally excluded from the study a priori due to reasons of feasibility and scope. Second, unlike the Beer's 2015 criteria, the MAGS list does not sub‐classify associations of medications with geriatric syndromes for patients with specific diseases (eg, heart failure). In fact, our MAGS list included medications often indicated in treating these diagnoses. A clinician must work with the patient to weigh the disease‐specific benefits of some medications with the potential effect on geriatric syndrome symptoms and outcomes. Third, the instrument has a very high sensitivity, which was intended to generate an inclusive list of medications that enables providers to weigh risks of geriatric syndromes with the intended indication benefit. The objective is not to use this list as a reflexive tool but rather help clinicians identify a starting point to address geriatric syndromes in their patients to make patient‐centered medication decisions. Although the MAGS list is intentionally large (sensitive), the advent of advanced bioinformatics can enable MAGS to be assessed in the future for both clinical and research purposes. Fourth, FDA insert packages and Lexicomp databases report anything experienced by the patient while on the particular medication, but it might not necessarily imply a causative link. The high use of MAGS and the specific geriatric syndrome may coexist due to the high prevalence and interplay of multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and geriatric syndromes in this population. Last, the list was developed by expert panel members predominantly from a single institution, which may introduce bias. Despite these limitations, the prevalence of these medications in a sample of patients transitioning from acute to postacute care highlights the utility of the MAGS list in future clinical research and quality improvement endeavors.

In conclusion, the MAGS list provides a comprehensive and sensitive indicator of medications associated with any of 6 geriatric syndromes regardless of medication indication and appropriateness. The MAGS list provides an overall degree of medication burden with respect to geriatric syndromes and a foundation for future research to assess the relationship between the presence of geriatric syndromes and syndrome‐associated medications. The MAGS list is an important first step in summarizing the data that link medications to geriatric syndromes. Future studies are needed to broaden the analysis of MAGS for other common geriatric syndromes and to identify new and emerging medications not present during the time of this analysis. The MAGS list has the potential to facilitate deprescribing efforts needed to combat the epidemic of overprescribing that may be contributing to the burden of geriatric syndromes among older patients.

Geriatric syndromes are common clinical conditions in older adults that do not fall into specific disease categories. Unlike the traditional definition of a syndrome, geriatric syndrome refers to a condition that is mediated by multiple shared underlying risk factors.[1, 2] Conditions commonly referred to as geriatric syndromes include delirium, cognitive impairment, falls, unintentional weight loss, depressive symptoms, and incontinence. Even though many perceive it as medical misnomer,[3] geriatric syndromes have been shown to negatively impact quality of life and activities of daily living in older adults.[2] They are also associated with adverse outcomes such as increased healthcare utilization, functional decline, and mortality, even after adjusting for age and disease severity.[4, 5, 6] Hospitalized older adults, including those discharged to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs)[7, 8] are particularly at high risk for new‐onset or exacerbation of geriatric syndromes and poor outcomes.[7, 9, 10] However, hospital providers seldom assess, manage, or document geriatric syndromes because they are often overshadowed by disease conditions that lead to an acute episode requiring hospitalization (e.g., heart disease).[11]

Pharmacotherapy is the cornerstone of hospital treatment, and it is well‐known that it affects multiple physiologic systems causing side effects apart from the condition they are approved to treat. Given that geriatric syndromes are a result of impairments in multiple organ systems, it is plausible that pharmacotherapy may initiate or worsen these syndromes.[12] Medication‐related problems in older adults are well known. Polypharmacy and adverse drug events (as a result of drug‐drug/disease interactions and changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics) are prevalent in multimorbid elderly patients.[13, 14, 15, 16] The prescribing cascade[17] increases the medication burden and may be a contributing factor for geriatric syndromes in hospitalized patients.[18] For instance, laxatives may be prescribed to counteract constipation caused by anticholinergic drugs.

The American Geriatric Society (AGS) Beers list[19, 20] and similar criteria[21] provide excellent resources to identify medications with potentially harmful interactions or adverse effects in older adults. Although these lists include medicines associated with a specific geriatric syndrome, they were not developed to explicitly link medicines across multiple geriatric syndromes, regardless of indication or appropriateness. For example, medications that effect important geriatric syndromes like unintentional weight/appetite loss, depression, and urinary incontinence are not extensively covered. In addition, disease‐appropriate medications (eg, ‐blockers for systolic heart failure), that may be associated with a geriatric syndrome (eg, falls) are not included; however, they may be important to consider for a patient and clinician who are weighing the disease benefits compared to the geriatric syndrome‐related risks. Finally, the AGS 2015 Beers criteria panel mentions the limitation that many medication associations may be excluded because older adults are less represented in clinical trials.[20] Clinicians are currently limited in identifying medications potentially contributing to a broad set of geriatric syndromes in their patients without a specific list of medications associated with geriatric syndromes (MAGS).[20]

In response to this gap, identifying these medications is important and should be a starting point in efforts toward prevention and treatment of geriatric syndromes. The 2 main objectives of this study were to first identify medications that may meaningfully contribute to 6 geriatric syndromes and subsequently describe the frequency of these medications in a population transitioning from acute care to postacute care to highlight the need and potential impact of such a list.

METHODS

This study included 2 phases that aligned with our 2 primary objectives. Phase 1 involved identifying medications associated with 6 geriatric syndromes, and phase 2 included a cross‐sectional analysis of the prevalence of these medications in a sample of patients discharged to SNFs.

Phase 1: Development of the MAGS List

Figure 1 depicts the underlying conceptual model and approach that was used in phase 1. The interaction between the patient factors and medication leads to polypharmacy that contributes to geriatric syndromes and additional adverse outcomes. As a starting point for mitigating geriatric syndromes, we used an iterative analytical process to identify a list of medications associated with the following geriatric syndromes that were documented to be highly prevalent in patients discharged to SNFs: cognitive impairment, delirium, falls, unintentional weight and/or appetite loss, urinary incontinence, and depression.[8] To be inclusive and sensitive, our approach differed from traditional systematic reviews, and in fact was meant to bring together much of the established systematic literature about disparate geriatric syndromes in 1 place, because patients often do not experience a geriatric syndrome in isolation, but rather experience multiple geriatric syndromes.[8] The MAGS list had 3 main inclusion criteria (Figure 1): (1) evidence in the published literature (systematic reviews, cohort studies, randomized clinical trials) that the medication is related to the syndrome, (2) expert panel opinion, and (3) drug databases (Lexicomp Online database[22] and/or US Food and Drug Administration [FDA]approved package inserts).[23] We generated an initial list of medications based on these 3 main criteria to identify medications with significant associations to each geriatric syndrome. The list was further expanded and vetted using an iterative review of each medication list as it related to each geriatric syndrome through a series of group meetings focused around each geriatric syndrome. Following further discussion, we obtained agreement among all team members for medications included in the final list. For each geriatric syndrome, we excluded medications from consideration if they were used to treat the same geriatric syndrome (eg, ‐adrenergic blockers used to treat incontinence in men were listed as associated with incontinence only in women). We classified medications according to the Established Pharmacologic Class available at the FDA website. We also compared our final MAGS list with the 2015 AGS Beer's list[20] by identifying medications that were related to the 6 geriatric syndromes. This included Beers[20]‐cited rationale of anticholinergic, extrapyramidal symptoms, orthostatic hypotension (eg, falls), high‐risk adverse central nervous system effects, sedating, cognitive decline (eg, antipsychotics), delirium, falls, fractures, incontinence, and gastrointestinal (eg, nausea, vomiting). Specifically, we assessed whether the medications were included as inappropriate by the AGS Beers 2015[20] list and also whether they documented the syndrome association for that medication.

Figure 1

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

An iterative process of evidence review by a multidisciplinary panel resulted in a list of 513 medications associated with 6 common geriatric syndromes. This analysis demonstrated that hospitalized, older patients discharged to SNFs were frequently prescribed MAGS. The rate of prescribing ranged from 100% of patients with a medication associated with falls to 36% for unintentional weight loss. Moreover, an alarming 43% of all medications at hospital discharge were MAGS. For this vulnerable population, the combination of high prevalence of MAGS and high risk of geriatric syndromes emphasize a need to critically review the risks and benefits of MAGS throughout hospitalization and at the time of discharge.

A body of evidence demonstrates that many drugs in a typical older adult regimen have no specific clinical indication, are considered inappropriate, or have uncertain efficacy in the geriatric population.[24, 25, 26] This study builds on the foundational work described in landmark reviews such as the AGS Beers[20] and STOPP/START[21] (Screening Tool of Older Persons' Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right, i.e. appropriate indicated Treatment) criteria. Both of these tools, however, were specifically designed as screening tools to identify medications considered unsafe for older adults under most circumstances and within specific illness states.[19, 20, 21] They are most often utilized when starting a medication to avoid acute adverse events. In contrast, the MAGS list was developed to be inclusive of medications that are often appropriate for many medical diagnoses but may also contribute to underlying geriatric syndromes that are more chronic in nature. In addition, inclusion of such medicines increases the sensitivity of screening for medications that can be targeted through patient‐centered deprescribing efforts when clinically appropriate.

A major strength of this study is that we bring together evidence across a spectrum of geriatric syndromes commonly experienced by hospitalized elders. In addition to evaluating multiple syndromes, we applied multiple modalities; particularly the use of an iterative review process by a multidisciplinary team of experts and using Lexicomp and FDA insert packages for linking medications to specific geriatric conditions. The inclusion criteria were broadened beyond single sources of evidence in an effort to capture a comprehensive list of medications. As a result, the MAGS list can be implemented as a screening tool for deprescribing interventions and assessing medication appropriateness to address individual or clusters of geriatric syndromes within a patient.

In addition to expanding this knowledge base, clinical relevance of the MAGS list is highlighted by its application to a sample of hospitalized older adults discharged to SNFs, a cohort known to experience geriatric syndromes. In fact, 43% of patients' medications at hospital discharge were MAGS. Importantly, due to the cross‐sectional nature of this study, we cannot be certain if the medication caused or potentiated each of the geriatric syndromes. However, hospitals and SNFs are devoting major resources toward reduction of falls, avoidance of urinary catheter use, and reduction of preventable readmissions. These efforts can be complemented by considering the number of medications associated with falls, urinary incontinence, and overall MAGS burden. The striking prevalence of MAGS demonstrates a rigorous need to weigh the risks and benefits of these medications. Above all, the intent of this study is not to propose that any MAGS be reflexively stopped, but rather that the MAGS list should facilitate a holistic approach to care for the complex older adult. For example, standard therapies such as gabapentin may be appropriate for treating neuralgic pain but may also contribute to falls and urinary incontinence. Thus, alternative pain treatments could be selected in place of gabapentin for a 75‐year old patient who is experiencing recurrent falls and increasing incontinence. Therefore, the MAGS list enables a patient‐provider discussion wherein medications' therapeutic benefits can be weighed against risks posed by specific clusters of geriatric syndromes, potential impact on quality of life, and consistency with goals of care.

This study has some limitations. First, although we examined a broad number of geriatric syndromes, several other geriatric syndromes experienced by hospitalized older adults were not addressed including: fecal incontinence, insomnia, and functional impairment. These syndromes were intentionally excluded from the study a priori due to reasons of feasibility and scope. Second, unlike the Beer's 2015 criteria, the MAGS list does not sub‐classify associations of medications with geriatric syndromes for patients with specific diseases (eg, heart failure). In fact, our MAGS list included medications often indicated in treating these diagnoses. A clinician must work with the patient to weigh the disease‐specific benefits of some medications with the potential effect on geriatric syndrome symptoms and outcomes. Third, the instrument has a very high sensitivity, which was intended to generate an inclusive list of medications that enables providers to weigh risks of geriatric syndromes with the intended indication benefit. The objective is not to use this list as a reflexive tool but rather help clinicians identify a starting point to address geriatric syndromes in their patients to make patient‐centered medication decisions. Although the MAGS list is intentionally large (sensitive), the advent of advanced bioinformatics can enable MAGS to be assessed in the future for both clinical and research purposes. Fourth, FDA insert packages and Lexicomp databases report anything experienced by the patient while on the particular medication, but it might not necessarily imply a causative link. The high use of MAGS and the specific geriatric syndrome may coexist due to the high prevalence and interplay of multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and geriatric syndromes in this population. Last, the list was developed by expert panel members predominantly from a single institution, which may introduce bias. Despite these limitations, the prevalence of these medications in a sample of patients transitioning from acute to postacute care highlights the utility of the MAGS list in future clinical research and quality improvement endeavors.

In conclusion, the MAGS list provides a comprehensive and sensitive indicator of medications associated with any of 6 geriatric syndromes regardless of medication indication and appropriateness. The MAGS list provides an overall degree of medication burden with respect to geriatric syndromes and a foundation for future research to assess the relationship between the presence of geriatric syndromes and syndrome‐associated medications. The MAGS list is an important first step in summarizing the data that link medications to geriatric syndromes. Future studies are needed to broaden the analysis of MAGS for other common geriatric syndromes and to identify new and emerging medications not present during the time of this analysis. The MAGS list has the potential to facilitate deprescribing efforts needed to combat the epidemic of overprescribing that may be contributing to the burden of geriatric syndromes among older patients.