Older adults are often underrepresented in medication trials, so evidence on the effectiveness and safety of common chronic medications is limited. In addition, multimorbidity and polypharmacy increase the risk of side effects. As a result, medications that may have been beneficial at a younger age, may become less appropriate at an older age.
Health professionals can monitor effects, perform periodic medication reviews and, if needed, deprescribe medication in an effort to reduce inappropriate medication use. We aim to support evidence-based practice in this respect. Our research includes systematic reviews and studies of real-world data to gain insight in the pros and cons of specific medication groups, current prescribing and deprescribing practices, and approaches to optimise appropriate medication use in older adults. We also perform meta-epidemiological studies to investigate the relationship between bias in trials and trial results.
Examples of past and current research topics are:
In our ageing population the group of adults with polypharmacy will grow, resulting in an increased risk of inappropriate medication use and adverse drug reactions. Health professionals in primary and long-term care will be confronted with the dilemma to continue specific chronic medications or not, especially in the oldest old and frail older adults. In our research we collaborate with stakeholders through our academic network with 20 long-term care organisations in the north and east of the Netherlands (University Network for Care for Older People (UNO-UMCG): website uno-umcg.nl [in Dutch]), the five other Dutch academic networks for care for older people and the academic network of general practices in Northern Netherlands.
Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen
Department of Primary and Long-term Care
P.O. Box 196
9700 AD Groningen
Visiting address
Department of Primary and Long-term Care
Oostersingel | entrance 47 | building 50 | 2nd floor
Groningen
The Netherlands
