Use of an electronic decision support tool to reduce polypharmacy in elderly people with chronic diseases: cluster randomised controlled trial
RCT (n=3904) found computerised decision support tool for comprehensive drug review of elderly people with polypharmacy led to reduction in drugs without detriment to patient outcomes but no conclusive effects on composite of unplanned hospital admission or death by 24 months
Source:
British Medical Journal
SPS commentary:
Editorial notes evidence is accumulating that the most powerful strategy to combat inappropriate drug use and polypharmacy is poly-deprescribing, the cessation of as many non-life-saving drugs as possible, while emphasising patient and family autonomy through a high degree of collaboration.