Anticholinergic and Sedative Medication Burden in Croatian Older Adults: EuroAgeism Cohort Findings

Use of anticholinergic and sedative medications is potentially inappropriate in older adults due to associated adverse effects, including impaired cognitive and physical function. This study evaluated anticholinergic and sedative burden in Croatian community-dwelling older adults using the Drug Burden Index (DBI) and examined its association with self-reported health and healthcare utilization over 12 months. This observational, cross-sectional study, part of the EuroAgeism H2020 ESR 7 project, included conveniently sampled adults ≥ 65 years from community pharmacies in three Croatian regions. Data were collected using a standardized research questionnaire. DBI was used to quantify exposure to anticholinergic and sedative medications. Multivariate regression analyses examined associations between DBI and health outcomes, using logistic regression for binary outcomes and linear regression for self-reported health. Among 388 participants (63.7% female, median age 73), most had multimorbidity (median five diagnoses) and polypharmacy (63.9%), while 57% used at least one DBI medication—most commonly diazepam (15.5%) and tramadol (14.7%). High DBI (≥1) independently predicted more emergency department (ED) visits (OR = 2.45) and worse self-rated health (B = −0.26), but not hospitalization. High DBI in older adults was associated with more ED visits and poorer self-rated health, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to reduce anticholinergic and sedative use in this vulnerable population.