Deprescribing preventive medications in older adults with advanced frailty, dementia, or limited life expectancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Key Points

• To evaluate the effects of deprescribing preventive medications on health outcomes in older adults with advanced frailty, dementia, or limited life expectancy.
• Conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis using databases like PubMed and Embase.
• Included eligible randomized controlled trials and observational studies.
• Analyzed primary outcome of all-cause mortality and secondary outcomes such as hospitalization and quality of life.
• Deprescribing did not significantly increase the risk of all-cause mortality, hospitalization, or major adverse cardiovascular events.
• There were no notable increases in risks of fractures or falls.
• Slightly increased systolic blood pressure was observed with antihypertensive deprescribing.

Abstract