Promoting Healthy Aging Among WTC Responders: Frailty Trajectories And Intervention Strategies
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Summary
By 2030, the majority of World Trade Center (WTC) rescue and recovery workers (responders) will be aged 65 and over and at risk for aging-related conditions and consequences including the concurrent use of five or more medications (i.e., polypharmacy). The purpose of this research study is to investigate an educational approach targeting polypharmacy through de-prescribing unnecessary and burdensome medications via the support of informed discussions between WTC responders and their prescribing physicians.
Description
De-prescribing is the act of reducing or stopping medications that are no longer necessary or may cause harm, to reduce adverse drug reactions and ensure the safety of patients. Polypharmacy is the simultaneous use of five or more medications. Through education brochures and discussions about potential side effects of medications, the research team will see whether these approaches lead to discussions between a study participant (WTC responder) and the prescribing physician, to make informed decisions about management of medications. Specifically, the participant will be provided information a…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 50+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * A WTC responder already enrolled in the "Promoting Healthy Aging Among WTC Responders: Frailty Trajectories and Intervention Strategies" study cohort * aged 50 years or older, and * taking one of the five medication classes: * proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), * benzodiazepine (BZs) and * non-benzodiazepine sedative hypnotics ("Z-drugs"), * first-generation antihistamines (FGA), and * skeletal muscle relaxants (SMR). Exclusion Criteria: * None
Interventions
- OtherEducational brochure for deprescribing
Study participant will be provided information (i.e., educational brochure) about one of the five medication classes participants may be taking that are known to have potential side effects for older adults: proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), benzodiazepine (BZs) and non-benzodiazepine sedative hypnotics ("Z-drugs"), first-generation antihistamines (FGA), and skeletal muscle relaxants (SMR) to determine their necessity.
Location
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew York, New York