One in four older adults admitted to hospital are taking medications with an anticholinergic effect. This anticholinergic effect has been linked with a higher chance of harmful effects including delirium (confusion) and suffering a fall. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to these harmful effects. Suffering a fall or delirium during a hospital stay can have a devastating impact on an older person.
If we can identify, based on a person’s anticholinergic medication and clinical characteristics, who is at risk of these harmful effects, we can intervene to reduce their risk. The anticholinergic medication index is a clinical tool which has been developed using data from GP practices to identify which anticholinergic medications are more likely to lead to harmful effects.