Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
European Journal of Geriatrics and Gerontology, cilt.7, sa.1, ss.21-28, 2025 (Scopus)
Objective: Anticholinergic burden (ACB) could be an important factor that may exacerbate or contribute to geriatric syndromes in older adults. Our objective was to examine the prevalence of ACB and the relationship between ACB and geriatric syndromes among community-dwelling older adults focusing on commonly used medications with anticholinergic side effects. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years and above, residing in Altındağ, Ankara, Türkiye, were screened. Comprehensive geriatric assessment was applied to all participants, and their ACB scores were calculated using the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale. The participants were then categorized as no ACB (score =0), low ACB (score =1), and high ACB (score ≥2). Results: Five hundred twenty one participants (median age: 68 years) were included. The prevalence of high ACB was 7.5%, with anticholinergic medication use observed in 24.6% of community-dwelling older adults. The three most prevalent drugs with anticholinergic effects used among participants were metoprolol, colchicine, and warfarin. A high ACB was significantly associated with various geriatric syndromes, including polypharmacy (p<0.001), urinary incontinence (p=0.046), frailty (p<0.001), probable sarcopenia (p<0.001), cognitive dysfunction (p=0.015), and depression (p<0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index, polypharmacy and frailty remained significant predictors of high ACB [odds ratio (OR)=5.317, p≤0.001 and OR=3.042, p=0.002]. Conclusion: A high ACB score was associated with a greater number of geriatric syndromes, particularly increasing the risk of polypharmacy and frailty among community-dwelling older adults. Cardiovascular medications made a significant contribution to the ACB in this population. Regular medication reviews, along with deprescribing or substituting drugs with anticholinergic effects, when possible, may help reduce the risk of developing geriatric syndromes, especially in frail older adults.