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Results for “Polypharmacy”

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PubMed1997

Constipation-related symptoms and bowel program concerning individuals with spinal cord injury.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of constipation-related symptoms in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), to describe the bowel program as reported by patients and including use of bowel medications and evacuation techniques, and to examine the clinical, functional and pharmacological risks of difficulty with evacuation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of all in-patients at least 3 months beyond acute injury, on the West Roxbury/Brockton VAMC SCI Service, during a 10 month period (n = 197). Clinical, functional, and medication data were abstracted from medical and nursing records. Individual interviews were conducted with all available participants (n = 161, 82%) regarding bowel-related symptoms and treatment over the previous 1 month period. The study definition of difficulty with evacuation was spending more than 1 h per episode of bowel evacuation. RESULTS: Forty-one percent of the 161 interview responders spent more than 1 h on bowel evacuation, 50% reported abdominal distension and 38% reported abdominal pain, 27% reported headaches or sweats relieved by having a bowel movement, and 33% reported fecal incontinence at least once a month. The bisacodyl suppository was the most commonly used laxative agent, while docusate was the most popular oral agent. Subjects with difficulty with evacuation (n = 66) were compared with those who spent less than 1 h on evacuation (n = 95). Factors associated with difficulty with evacuation were tetraplegia, Frankel grade A/B, laxative use, polypharmacy, previous urinary outlet surgery, and symptoms of abdominal pain and distension. CONCLUSION: Constipation-related symptoms are highly prevalent in individuals with spinal cord injury, despite considerable laxative use. Our findings suggest that difficulty with evacuation can be predicted on the basis of a patient's clinical profile.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Review article: drug interactions with agents used to treat acid-related diseases.

Patients with acid-related diseases often need to take multiple medications. Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection often includes either a histamine type 2 (H2)-receptor antagonist or a proton pump (H+,K(+)-ATPase) inhibitor (proton pump inhibitor), administered in conjunction with one or more antimicrobials. Also, treatment for acid-related diseases often requires extended therapy during which many concomitant medications may be administered for concurrent disease states. Polypharmacy may be the result, particularly in elderly patients, who are at increased risk for both acid-related and many other diseases. Thus, it is important to understand the potential for clinically significant drug-drug interactions in this setting. H2-receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors can influence the pharmacokinetic profiles of other commonly administered medications by elevating intragastric pH, which can alter drug absorption, and by interacting with the cytochrome P (CYP) 450 enzyme system, which can affect drug metabolism and clearance. Such interactions are particularly important when they affect the pharmacokinetics of drugs with narrow therapeutic ranges (e.g. warfarin, digoxin). In these cases, drug-drug interactions can result in significant toxicity and even death. There are marked differences among H2-receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors in their potential for such interactions. The oldest drugs in each class, cimetidine and omeprazole, respectively, have the greatest potential to alter CYP activity and change the pharmacokinetics of other drugs. The most recently developed H2-receptor antagonist, famotidine, and the newer proton pump inhibitors, rabeprazole and pantoprazole, are much less likely to induce or inhibit CYP and thereby change the metabolism of other medications. These differences are important when choosing medications for the safe treatment of patients with acid-related diseases.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

PubMed2001

Patterns of prescription and drug use in ophthalmology in a tertiary hospital in Delhi.

AIMS: The present study was carried out to describe the patterns of prescription and drug use in Ophthalmology in out-patients at Dr Rajendra Prasad (R.P.) Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (A.I.I.M.S.), New Delhi. METHODS: Prescriptions of 1017 out-patients were audited through a specially designed form and analysed for the following: average number of drugs per prescription, duration of treatment (recorded or not), dosage forms prescribed, frequency of administration (recorded or not), number of encounters with antibiotics and percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name. RESULTS: Prescription analysis showed that the average number of drugs per prescription was 3.03. Duration of treatment was recorded for only 26.4% of the drugs prescribed. The maximum number of drugs prescribed were in the form of eye drops (76%), followed by tablets (10.9%), ointments (6.4%), syrups (1%), capsules (0.7%), lotions (0.3%) and injections (0.1%). No dosage form was recorded for 4.6% of the drugs prescribed. The frequency of administration was recorded for only 77.9% of the drugs prescribed. The number of antibiotics prescribed was 1059 which constitutes 34.2% of the total number of drugs prescribed. The percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name was only 35%. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in this study indicated an awareness of polypharmacy but a high incidence of common prescription writing errors such as not recording the duration of therapy, frequency of administration and dosage form. Moreover prescribing by generic name was also low.

Drug Prescriptions↗

PubMed2004

Adverse drug reactions in elderly patients.

Many studies from around the world show a correlation between increasing age and adverse drug reaction (ADR) rate, at least for some medical conditions. More than 80% of ADRs causing admission or occurring in hospital are type A (dose-related) in nature, and thus predictable from the known pharmacology of the drug and therefore potentially avoidable. Frail elderly patients appear to be particularly at risk of ADRs and this group is also likely to be receiving several medicines. The toxicity of some drug combinations may sometimes be synergistic and be greater than the sum of the risks of toxicity of either agent used alone. In order to recognize and to prevent ADRs (including drug interactions), good communication is crucial, and prescribers should develop an effective therapeutic partnership with the patient and with fellow health professionals. Undergraduate and postgraduate education in evidence-based therapeutics is also vitally important. The use of computer-based decision support systems (CDSS) and electronic prescribing should be encouraged, and when problems do occur, health professionals need to be aware of their professional responsibility to report suspected adverse drug events (ADEs) and ADRs. "Rational" or "obligatory" polypharmacy is becoming a legitimate practice as increasing numbers of individuals live longer and the range of available therapeutic options for many medical conditions increases. The clear risk of ADRs in this situation should be considered in the context that dose-related failure of existing therapy to manage the condition adequately may be one of the most important reasons for admission of the elderly to hospital. Thus, age itself should not be used as a reason for withholding adequate doses of effective therapies.

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems↗

PubMed2004

Have COX-2 inhibitors influenced the co-prescription of anti-ulcer drugs with NSAIDs?

AIMS: To quantify usage of COX-2 inhibitors compared with nonselective NSAIDs and to determine their impact (including financial) on the co-prescription of antipeptic ulcer (anti-PU) drugs. METHODS: The Irish General Medical Services prescription database (covering 1.2 million people) was examined for NSAID prescriptions during December 1999-November 2001. NSAID users were excluded during the first 6 months. During the next 12 months (study period) patients on NSAIDs (>or= 3 prescriptions) were identified. The study period and final 6 months provided data on co-prescription of anti-PU drugs. Age, gender, number of concomitant prescriptions, co-prescribing of anti-PU drugs and monthly cost were evaluated for 8 NSAIDs (n= 4 non-selective NSAIDs and n= 4 COX-2 inhibitors) and odds ratios (OR) calculated using logistic regression. RESULTS: COX-2 inhibitors were prescribed more frequently in older, female patients and those receiving multiple medications. After adjustment for age, gender and polypharmacy, anti-PU drugs were prescribed more frequently with COX-2 inhibitors (OR = 1.31 (1.23,1.40)). COX-2 inhibitors were up to 10-fold more expensive, median monthly costs (including anti-PU drugs) ranging from Euros 34.61 (COX-2 inhibitors) to Euros 3.26 (nonselective NSAIDs). CONCLUSIONS: Since COX-2 inhibitors are associated with increased rates of co-prescription of anti-PU drugs and are more expensive than non-selective NSAIDs, these results suggest that the expected cost-savings with COX-2 inhibitors may not be occurring in practice.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

PubMed1998

Asthma in older people.

From the clinical perspective, asthma in the older patient may be difficult to diagnose because of the non-specificity of presentation and the wide range of differential diagnoses. Prior to confirmation of asthma in the older patient, both respiratory and cardiac investigation may be necessary. Polypharmacy is inherent in treating older people and accurate drug histories are essential in order to identify patients with drug-induced bronchospasm and avoid interactions with asthma medication. Patient and carer education is vital, and a structured approach to follow-up which includes measurement of lung function and assessment of inhaler technique should be carried out in every asthmatic regardless of age. Finally, there is a great need for health services and those in the commercial sector that are involved in asthma care to ensure that future research and development rises to the challenge of an ageing population.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Predictors of medication use, compliance and symptoms of hypotension in a community-based sample of elderly men and women.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate use of prescription and non-prescription drugs, predictors of drug use and symptoms of postprandial and postural hypotension were examined in 765 men and 846 women. METHOD: A questionnaire mailed to 6324 subjects randomly chosen from the electoral roll. RESULTS: Drug use, both prescription and non-prescription, was greater (P < 0.0001) in women (mean 4.1 total drugs, CI 3.9, 4.3) than in men (3.5 drugs, CI 3.3, 3.7); 41% of women and 36% of men used at least four drugs. Total drugs used were significantly greater in women (standardized regression coefficient (b) = 0.101, P < 0.0001), and increased with the number of diagnoses (b = 0.461, P < 0.0001) and taking antidepressants (b = 0.160, P < 0.0001). Use of non-prescription drugs was also greater in women (b = 0.094, P < 0.0001) and in association with arthritis (b = 0.053, P = 0.036) but decreased with age (b = -0.013, P < 0.0001). Potentially important drug interactions occurred in 10% of subjects and included hypoglycaemic agents with b-blockers and asthma with b-blockers. Symptoms of postprandial hypotension, reported in 2.6% of subjects, increased with the number of drugs used (OR 1.17, CI 1.05, 1.31) and with diabetes (OR 2.27, CI 1.05, 4.89). Symptomatic postural hypotension, recorded by 13% of subjects, related significantly to age (OR 1.04, CI 1.02, 1.06), tranquillisers (OR 1.98, CI 1.11, 3.54), antidepressants (OR 2.23, CI 1.30, 3.84) and ACE inhibitors (OR 2.14, CI 1.42, 3.22). CONCLUSION: Reduction in the number and frequency of drug doses and better knowledge about drugs may improve compliance. Observed associations with polypharmacy or hypotension suggest possible approaches to decreasing drug-related illness and limiting the adverse effects of hypotension in the elderly.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

Patients with and without intellectual disability seeking outpatient psychiatric services: diagnoses and prescribing pattern.

BACKGROUND: The present study examined the presenting problem of psychiatric outpatients, and resulting diagnostic and prescribing patterns, comparing patients with intellectual disability (ID) with non-ID (N-ID) patients seen in the same clinic. METHODS: This study was a retrospective medical chart review of information in the first psychiatric diagnostic evaluation for the most recent 100 adult patients with mild ID, 100 patients with moderate, severe or profound ID, and 100 matching N-ID patients. RESULTS: There were significant differences in rates of medical illness, disabilities, history of marriage, children, independent living, and family history of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Individuals with ID were more likely to present with aggression, self-injurious behaviour or physical complaints, whereas N-ID subjects presented more frequently with depression and anxiety complaints. For all groups, depressive disorders were the most frequent class of diagnoses. For those with ID, antipsychotics were used in 32% of subjects, with mood stabilizers in 28% and antidepressants in 27%. The N-ID subjects were most frequently prescribed antidepressants (40%) and anxiolytics (22%). Polypharmacy did not differ significantly among groups. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric practitioners relied on the diagnostic examination to formulate their diagnosis, whereas the chief complaint reflected the view of caregivers of the subjects with ID. In contrast to previous studies, outpatient providers frequently diagnosed depression, and the prescribing pattern showed increased usage of antidepressants and mood stabilizers.

Ambulatory Care↗

PubMed2001

Fatal adverse drug events: the paradox of drug treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Study patient characteristics, morbidity patterns and drug regimens associated with fatal adverse drug events (FADEs) amongst medical department inpatients. DESIGN: An observational, descriptive study using aggregated medical records, autopsies and pre and postmortem drug analyses. SETTING: A department of internal medicine at a Norwegian county hospital. SUBJECTS: All patients dying in the department over a 2-year period. RESULTS: The incidence of FADEs were 18.2% (133/732). Compared with non-FADE cases, FADE cases were older, used more drugs both on admission and at death, and had higher comorbidity (P < 0.001). Drugs suspected to cause or contribute to fatal outcome were mainly those used for treating chronic pulmonary diseases (terbutaline, theophylline), antithrombotic drugs (aspirin, warfarin, heparines) and drugs for treating coronary heart disease and heart failure (e.g. diuretics, nitrates, angiotensin converting enzymes (ACE) inhibitors, calcium channel blockers). Bronchodilatory drugs, antithrombotic drugs and cardiovascular drugs account for 26, 31 and 30 FADE cases, respectively. Patients dying from gastrointestinal diseases had the highest relative FADE occurrence (42%), cancer patients the lowest occurrence (4%). Serious drug-drug and drug-disease interactions were frequently suspected. Various degrees of inappropriateness in choice of drug, dosage or administration route were seen in 50% of FADE cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a high incidence of FADEs associated with high age, high comorbidity and polypharmacy, and partly to inappropriate drug prescribing or use. Treatments frequently associated with FADEs were bronchodilatory treatment of patients with both chronic obstructive lung disease and coronary heart disease, vasodilatory treatment in patient with endstage heart failure and the combination of several antithrombotic drugs. A systematic strategy is needed to avoid unnecessary adverse drug events (ADEs).

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Massive overdose with controlled-release carbamazepine resulting in delayed peak serum concentrations and life-threatening toxicity.

INTRODUCTION: Peak serum levels following overdose with immediate-release formulations of carbamazepine have been reported to occur up to 2 days postingestion. We report a case of poisoning with carbamazepine controlled-release resulting in peak levels 96 h postingestion. CASE REPORTS: A 31-year-old female presented following a suspected polypharmacy overdose. She was haemodynamically stable with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3 and was endotracheally intubated in the emergency department. A single-dose of activated charcoal was administered on admission and her neurological status improved gradually Results of qualitative urine drug screen available 24 h postadmission to the intensive care department revealed benzodiazepines and carbamazepine. The serum carbamazepine concentration at this time was 66 micromol/L (therapeutic 17-42 micromol/L). A history of therapy with controlled-release carbamazepine was discovered. Repeat-dose activated charcoal and whole-bowel irrigation were commenced, but poorly tolerated. Serum carbamazepine levels continued to rise and gastrointestinal tract decontamination was ceased due to the presence of an ileus. By day 4, the serum carbamazepine concentration peaked at 196 micromol/L. This was associated with coma, generalized intermittent seizure activity and hypotension. Charcoal haemoperfusion was commenced due the presence of end-organ toxicity and failed gastrointestinal tract decontamination. Serum carbamazepine concentrations fell from 176 to 106 micromol/L after 1 h of haemoperfusion and the patient was rousable to voice and could obey commands at this time. She confirmed ingestion of 300 Tegretol-CR (200 mg) on extubation and was discharged without long-term sequelae. CONCLUSION: Unrecognized poisoning with controlled-release carbamazepine has the potential to produce significant delayed carbamazepine toxicity and delayed peak serum carbamazepine concentrations. This may occur much later than previously reported with immediate-release carbamazepine preparations.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Clinical management of diabetic nephropathy.

From the viewpoint of nephrologists dealing with diabetic patients with ESRD and the associated complications and devastating prognosis, the need to reduce the incidence, and delay the rate of progression of diabetic nephropathy is obvious. Studies published within the last year have provided support for views that seem intuitively obvious; that improved glycaemic control and reduced blood pressure are associated with delayed onset and delayed progression of diabetic nephropathy. These reports have also demonstrated the difficulty of achieving ideal blood pressure targets and glycaemic control in diabetic patients. Thus, even with available therapy it is likely that improved compliance and achieving targets will have a major impact on disease outcome. There is evidence in several subgroups that ACEi are beneficial over other agents and the favourable side-effect and efficacy profile of these agents makes it reasonable to suggest that they should be used 'first line' in all patients with diabetes unless specifically contra-indicated. However, the failure to readily achieve blood pressure targets and the need for polypharmacy suggest that novel agents are required. We believe that statin therapy will have a major impact on CVD in diabetic patients and is also likely to delay progression; studies assessing the combined affect of anti-hypertensive and statin therapy specifically on the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy will be necessary before evidence-based recommendations can be made. The role for newer agents and targeting high risk groups using genetic markers remains uncertain but we await there development with interest. The future can only get better for patients with DN.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cost-effectiveness analysis of pharmaceutical care in a medicare drug benefit program.

OBJECTIVES: Although there has recently been substantial interest in a Medicare drug benefit program, little attention has focused on ensuring improved access to medication monitoring for Medicare beneficiaries. Using a societal perspective, we evaluated the impact pharmacists could have on inappropriate prescribing, patient compliance, and medication-related morbidity and mortality within a Medicare drug benefits program. METHODS: A cost-effectiveness analysis from a societal perspective was performed. A comprehensive MEDLINE search for relevant literature identified data sources and model parameters. RESULTS: In the base case, a pharmaceutical care benefit in the elderly population would cost US dollars 2100 (year 2000 prices) per life-year saved, which is highly cost-effective. Reasonable changes in model parameters did not raise the cost-effectiveness ratio above US dollars 13000 per life-year saved. CONCLUSION: Despite limitations in both the quantity and the specificity of data available, pharmaceutical care appears to be a highly cost-effective augmentation to a Medicare drug benefit program. This result is robust to model parameter changes. This model is conservative in that it does not include ongoing benefits from medication monitoring or increased elderly drug utilization and polypharmacy as the Medicare drug program is phased in.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗

PubMed1999

Primary headaches in HIV-infected patients.

Headache in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection may indicate life-threatening illnesses such as opportunistic infections or neoplasms. Alternatively, such patients may develop benign self-limiting headaches. Hence, defining the various types of headache in these patients is essential for proper management. This study describes the clinical characteristics of primary headaches occurring in a group of HIV-infected patients. Of 115 patients seen from 1990 to 1996, 44 (38%) had headaches. Primary headaches were present in 29 (66%) patients and secondary causes were identified in 15 (34%). Among those with primary headaches, migraine occurred in 22 (76%), tension-type headache in 4 (14%), and cluster headache in 3 (10%) patients. Half of those with migraine (n=ll), 1 patient with tension-type headache, and 1 patient with cluster headache developed chronic daily headaches which were severe and refractory to conventional headache or antiretroviral therapy. We conclude that primary headaches in patients with HIV infection are: (1) the commonest type of headache; (2) may present for the first time in individuals with severe immunosuppression; (3) usually bear no relationship to antiretroviral drug therapy; (4) polypharmacy, depression, anxiety, and insomnia are commonly associated comorbidities; (5) frequently do not respond to conventional management and carry a poor prognosis; and (6) do not require neuroradiological and/or cerebrospinal fluid evaluations.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Felbamate urolithiasis.

PURPOSE: To report a case of felbamate (FBM) urolithiasis. METHODS: Urographic imaging [sonography, abdominal computed tomography (CT), intravenous pyelogram, voiding cystourethrogram] and urologic procedures (cystoscopy with lithotripsy, ureteral stent) to define and capture the stones. Stone identification was by infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. RESULTS: A 15-year-old boy had painful hematuria, bilateral ureteral obstruction, and urinary retention. Kidney, bladder, and ureteral stones were found, and ureteral stent placement was required to relieve obstruction. The stone material was identified as FBM by chemical analysis. Stone formation ceased with discontinuation of FBM. CONCLUSIONS: FBM urolithiasis can occur, and possible contributory factors include high felbamate dosage, drug polypharmacy, and risk factors for forming stones of other types. FBM urolithiasis may be heralded by crystalluria.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

The effects of adjunctive topiramate on cognitive function in patients with epilepsy.

PURPOSE: We investigated possible cognitive effects of topiramate (TPM) in polypharmacy on patients with intractable epilepsy. METHODS: Study 1 evaluated 22 consecutively admitted patients whose antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on admission to the Montreal Neurological Hospital included TPM. Performance on neuropsychological tests administered on and subsequently off TPM was analyzed. Four patients also were tested before taking TPM, allowing comparisons off, then on, and then off the drug again. Measures included intellectual function, verbal and nonverbal memory, language, word and design fluency, somatosensory sensitivity, and motor skills. In Study 2, 16 patients at the Minnesota Epilepsy Group were tested first off, then on TPM with nine cognitive tasks that measured concentration, verbal fluency, language, and psychomotor speed. RESULTS: In Study 1, significant (p < or = 0.01) improvements were observed off TPM on 13 measures including verbal and nonverbal fluency and certain verbal and perceptual tasks. Notably, verbal learning and memory were unaffected; a limited effect was observed on nonverbal memory. Patients tested 3 times scored better in both tests off TPM compared with on this drug. In Study 2, declines on TPM were observed on all measures, significantly (p < or = 0.05) for tests of fluency, sustained concentration, and visual motor processing speed. CONCLUSIONS: TPM was associated with declines in fluency, attention/concentration, processing speed, language skills, and perception; working memory but not retention was affected. As the two studies used an opposite order of testing on versus off TPM, our results clearly show a performance decrement while patients are taking TPM, without respect to which condition is tested first.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Broadening the perspective: treating the whole patient.

Seizures are not the only obstacles that individuals with epilepsy must overcome. Treatment of epilepsy must take into consideration that patients with epilepsy often face some form of depression, such as peri-ictal depression, ictal depression, interictal depression, or postictal depression, as well as an elevated risk of suicide. Elderly patients, in particular, require special consideration, since aging affects pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; women of childbearing age also require additional counseling. Treatment strategies that focus only on seizure reduction are inadequate and unsuccessful in up to one half of all patients with epilepsy. Epilepsy requires broad treatment strategies that address the needs of the whole patient. Age, genetic factors, gender, diet, use of alcohol and nicotine, comorbidities, and polypharmacy all are important factors to consider in determining a successful epilepsy treatment strategy. Epilepsy affects many aspects of psychosocial function, and optimal outcomes require that the needs of the whole patient be adequately addressed.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

PubMed2001

Suboptimal prescribing in older inpatients and outpatients.

Investigators searched Medline and HealthSTAR databases from January 1, 1985 through June 30, 1999 to identify articles on suboptimal prescribing in those age 65 years and older. A manual search of the reference lists from identified articles and the authors' article files, book chapters, and recent reviews was conducted to identify additional articles. The definitions for various types of suboptimal prescribing (polypharmacy, inappropriate, and underutilization) are numerous, and measurement varies from study to study. The literature suggests that suboptimal prescribing is common in older outpatients and inpatients. Moreover, there is significant morbidity and mortality associated with suboptimal prescribing for these older patients. Evidence from well-controlled studies suggests that multidisciplinary teams and clinical pharmacy interventions can modify suboptimal drug use in older people. Future research is necessary to measure and test other methods for tackling this major public health problem facing older people.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

The relationship between body mass index and self-reported functional limitation among older adults: a gender difference.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether there is a gender difference in how body mass index (BMI) relates to self-reported functional limitation. Also, to evaluate whether the method of categorizing BMI changes the observed results. DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort study. SETTING: Rural Pennsylvania. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 7,120 male (n = 3,312) and female (n = 3,808) community-dwelling older adults enrolled in a Medicare managed-risk contract. MEASUREMENTS: All subjects completed a modified Level II Nutrition Risk Screen upon enrollment in the health plan. Height and weight were obtained by nursing personnel during an enrollment clinic visit. Subjects who reported 10 or more pounds weight loss in the previous 6 months were excluded. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between BMI and self-reported functional limitation separately for each sex, adjusting for age, depression, and polypharmacy. Two schemes were used to categorize BMI: equally distributed sex-specific quintiles and arbitrary division based on National Institutes of Health (NIH) Obesity Guidelines. RESULTS: How BMI relates to functional limitation depends upon both sex and method of categorizing BMI. When BMI was considered in gender-specific quintiles, women in the highest quintile of BMI had increased risk of functional impairment; there was no relationship between BMI and functional limitation for men. When BMI was categorized by the NIH obesity guidelines, both men and women with BMI >40 had significantly increased risk of functional limitation. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanisms behind gender discrepancy in self-reported functional limitation remain unclear. Studies may need to consider men and women separately, because how BMI relates to function depends on gender. Further research is needed to evaluate how changes in weight and body composition during middle and old age affect functional status.

Aged↗