A study evaluating the deprescribing guideline on anticholinergic drugs in a long-term care facility in Malta

BACKGROUND: This study synthesizes the ‘Deprescribing
\nGuideline: Anticholinergic Drugs’ from Mater
\nDei Hospital in Malta, emphasizing the critical
\nrole of medication choice in minimizing side
\neffects for elderly patients, particularly those
\nexperiencing polypharmacy. The guideline
\nemploys the Anticholinergic Burden (ACB) score,
\nwith a cumulative score of 3+ correlating with
\nelevated cognitive impairment and mortality.
\nPolypharmacy, often linked to confusion and
\nincreased morbidity in the elderly, necessitates a
\nproactive approach to medication management.
\nThe guideline recommends alternative
\nmedications with reduced anticholinergic
\nside effects and prompts clinicians to review
\ntreatment charts.