A longitudinal cohort study on dispensed analgesic and psychotropic medications in older adults before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic: the HUNT study
Abstract Background There is a growing concern and debate over the inappropriate use of analgesics and psychotropic medications by older adults, especially those with dementia. The long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures on these prescriptions remain uncertain. Aim The prima...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-05745-8 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823861637798428672 |
|---|---|
| author | Tanja Louise Ibsen Ekaterina Zotcheva Sverre Bergh Debby Gerritsen Gill Livingston Hilde Lurås Svenn-Erik Mamelund Anne Marie Mork Rokstad Bjørn Heine Strand Richard C. Oude Voshaar Geir Selbæk |
| author_facet | Tanja Louise Ibsen Ekaterina Zotcheva Sverre Bergh Debby Gerritsen Gill Livingston Hilde Lurås Svenn-Erik Mamelund Anne Marie Mork Rokstad Bjørn Heine Strand Richard C. Oude Voshaar Geir Selbæk |
| author_sort | Tanja Louise Ibsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background There is a growing concern and debate over the inappropriate use of analgesics and psychotropic medications by older adults, especially those with dementia. The long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures on these prescriptions remain uncertain. Aim The primary aim was to examine changes in the prescription of analgesics (opioids and other analgesics) and psychotropics (anxiolytics/sedatives, antidepressants, and antipsychotics) in Norwegian home-dwelling older adults before, during, and up to 2 years after the COVID-19 lockdown, with a particular focus on dementia status. Secondarily, we explored individual characteristics associated with changes in medication prescriptions. Methods A prospective cohort study using baseline data from 10,464 participants (54% females, mean age 76 years [SD 5.8]) from the Norwegian Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT4 70+) linked with the Norwegian Prescription Database. Age- and education-adjusted Poisson regression was applied to examine changes in prescription fills, and multilevel mixed-effects linear regression was used to estimate the mean sum of defined daily dose (DDD) per person per period during the lockdown (March–September 2020) compared to that during the corresponding months (March–September) in 2019, 2021, and 2022. Results Overall, prescriptions of opioids, other analgesics, and anxiolytics/sedatives were higher in 2022 than during the lockdown. People without dementia had increased prescriptions of opioids, other analgesics, and antidepressants after lockdown, whereas no changes were observed among those with dementia. Increases in prescriptions of opioids, other analgesics, anxiolytics/sedatives, and antidepressants between the lockdown and 2022 occurred mainly among those aged < 80 years, without comorbidities or mental distress, with good physical function, low fear of COVID-19, and no social isolation during COVID-19. Conclusion An increase in analgesics and psychotropics after the lockdown was predominantly observed among younger-old and healthier participants. This indicates that in high-income countries, such as Norway, home-dwelling vulnerable individuals seem to have received adequate care. However, the pandemic may have increased the number of vulnerable individuals. These findings should be considered when identifying future nationwide stressors that may impair social interactions and threaten mental health. They also highlight the need to evaluate medication prescriptions for older adults after the pandemic. Trial registration The study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov 02.02.2021, with the identification number NCT 04792086. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-58f71af1bab543a7ad1a9f63219875d2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-58f71af1bab543a7ad1a9f63219875d22025-02-09T12:53:34ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182025-02-0125111710.1186/s12877-025-05745-8A longitudinal cohort study on dispensed analgesic and psychotropic medications in older adults before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic: the HUNT studyTanja Louise Ibsen0Ekaterina Zotcheva1Sverre Bergh2Debby Gerritsen3Gill Livingston4Hilde Lurås5Svenn-Erik Mamelund6Anne Marie Mork Rokstad7Bjørn Heine Strand8Richard C. Oude Voshaar9Geir Selbæk10The Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health (Ageing and Health), Vestfold Hospital TrustThe Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health (Ageing and Health), Vestfold Hospital TrustThe Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health (Ageing and Health), Vestfold Hospital TrustDepartment of Primary and Community Care, Radboudum Alzheimer Center, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical CenterDivision of Psychiatry, University College LondonHealth Services Research Unit, Akershus University HospitalCentre for Research on Pandemics & Society (PANSOC), at OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan UniversityThe Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health (Ageing and Health), Vestfold Hospital TrustThe Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health (Ageing and Health), Vestfold Hospital TrustUniversity of GroningenThe Norwegian National Centre for Ageing and Health (Ageing and Health), Vestfold Hospital TrustAbstract Background There is a growing concern and debate over the inappropriate use of analgesics and psychotropic medications by older adults, especially those with dementia. The long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures on these prescriptions remain uncertain. Aim The primary aim was to examine changes in the prescription of analgesics (opioids and other analgesics) and psychotropics (anxiolytics/sedatives, antidepressants, and antipsychotics) in Norwegian home-dwelling older adults before, during, and up to 2 years after the COVID-19 lockdown, with a particular focus on dementia status. Secondarily, we explored individual characteristics associated with changes in medication prescriptions. Methods A prospective cohort study using baseline data from 10,464 participants (54% females, mean age 76 years [SD 5.8]) from the Norwegian Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT4 70+) linked with the Norwegian Prescription Database. Age- and education-adjusted Poisson regression was applied to examine changes in prescription fills, and multilevel mixed-effects linear regression was used to estimate the mean sum of defined daily dose (DDD) per person per period during the lockdown (March–September 2020) compared to that during the corresponding months (March–September) in 2019, 2021, and 2022. Results Overall, prescriptions of opioids, other analgesics, and anxiolytics/sedatives were higher in 2022 than during the lockdown. People without dementia had increased prescriptions of opioids, other analgesics, and antidepressants after lockdown, whereas no changes were observed among those with dementia. Increases in prescriptions of opioids, other analgesics, anxiolytics/sedatives, and antidepressants between the lockdown and 2022 occurred mainly among those aged < 80 years, without comorbidities or mental distress, with good physical function, low fear of COVID-19, and no social isolation during COVID-19. Conclusion An increase in analgesics and psychotropics after the lockdown was predominantly observed among younger-old and healthier participants. This indicates that in high-income countries, such as Norway, home-dwelling vulnerable individuals seem to have received adequate care. However, the pandemic may have increased the number of vulnerable individuals. These findings should be considered when identifying future nationwide stressors that may impair social interactions and threaten mental health. They also highlight the need to evaluate medication prescriptions for older adults after the pandemic. Trial registration The study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov 02.02.2021, with the identification number NCT 04792086.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-05745-8AnalgesicsPsychotropic medicationCOVID-19DementiaOlder adultsLongitudinal cohort-study |
| spellingShingle | Tanja Louise Ibsen Ekaterina Zotcheva Sverre Bergh Debby Gerritsen Gill Livingston Hilde Lurås Svenn-Erik Mamelund Anne Marie Mork Rokstad Bjørn Heine Strand Richard C. Oude Voshaar Geir Selbæk A longitudinal cohort study on dispensed analgesic and psychotropic medications in older adults before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic: the HUNT study BMC Geriatrics Analgesics Psychotropic medication COVID-19 Dementia Older adults Longitudinal cohort-study |
| title | A longitudinal cohort study on dispensed analgesic and psychotropic medications in older adults before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic: the HUNT study |
| title_full | A longitudinal cohort study on dispensed analgesic and psychotropic medications in older adults before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic: the HUNT study |
| title_fullStr | A longitudinal cohort study on dispensed analgesic and psychotropic medications in older adults before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic: the HUNT study |
| title_full_unstemmed | A longitudinal cohort study on dispensed analgesic and psychotropic medications in older adults before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic: the HUNT study |
| title_short | A longitudinal cohort study on dispensed analgesic and psychotropic medications in older adults before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic: the HUNT study |
| title_sort | longitudinal cohort study on dispensed analgesic and psychotropic medications in older adults before during and after the covid 19 pandemic the hunt study |
| topic | Analgesics Psychotropic medication COVID-19 Dementia Older adults Longitudinal cohort-study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-05745-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tanjalouiseibsen alongitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT ekaterinazotcheva alongitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT sverrebergh alongitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT debbygerritsen alongitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT gilllivingston alongitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT hildeluras alongitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT svennerikmamelund alongitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT annemariemorkrokstad alongitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT bjørnheinestrand alongitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT richardcoudevoshaar alongitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT geirselbæk alongitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT tanjalouiseibsen longitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT ekaterinazotcheva longitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT sverrebergh longitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT debbygerritsen longitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT gilllivingston longitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT hildeluras longitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT svennerikmamelund longitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT annemariemorkrokstad longitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT bjørnheinestrand longitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT richardcoudevoshaar longitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy AT geirselbæk longitudinalcohortstudyondispensedanalgesicandpsychotropicmedicationsinolderadultsbeforeduringandafterthecovid19pandemicthehuntstudy |