JAMA Internal Medicine: Drug Prescribing Behavior Topic Collection http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/ en-us Mon, 10 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:44:54 GMT Silverchair editor@archinte.jamanetwork.com webmaster@archinte.jamanetwork.com Cumulative Changes in the Use of Long-Term Medications: A Measure of Prescribing Complexity http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleID=1696187 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Lam KD, Miao Y, Steinman MA. <span class="paragraphSection">Polypharmacy is a major concern in older adults, yet a simple cross-sectional count of medications does not capture the potential complications (and benefits) that occur when medications are started, stopped, and changed over time. The increased complexity that arises from multiple medication changes may lead to problems with adherence and confusion about proper medication use. In addition, because adverse drug reactions often occur relatively soon after a patient begins taking a medication, recent medication changes may involve increased risk of adverse drug events. In this study, we sought to longitudinally measure medication changes in a national sample of older veterans as a measure of prescribing complexity in older adults.</span> 1 2 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.7060 http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleID=1696187