Annual trends in the use of critical care medications in elderly, 2012–2016
| Year | 2012 (n=4642) | 2013 (n=4478) | 2014 (n=4513) | 2015 (n=4588) | 2016 (n=4456) | P value* |
| n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | ||
| Analgo-sedatives | 4129 (89.0) | 3972 (88.7) | 3940 (87.3) | 4010 (87.4) | 3890 (87.3) | <0.01 |
| Sedatives | 3679 (79.3) | 3511 (78.4) | 3440 (76.2) | 3516 (76.6) | 3367 (75.6) | <0.01 |
| Days of use | 4 (2–10) | 4 (2–9) | 4 (2–9) | 3 (2–8) | 3 (2–8) | <0.01 |
| Midazolam | 2947 (63.5) | 2822 (63.0) | 2798 (62.0) | 2801 (61.1) | 2701 (60.6) | <0.01 |
| Lorazepam | 1385 (29.8) | 1260 (28.1) | 1180 (26.1) | 1150 (25.1) | 1005 (22.6) | <0.01 |
| Propofol | 72 (1.6) | 58 (1.3) | 54 (1.2) | 57 (1.2) | 82 (1.8) | 0.37 |
| Analgesics total | 3060 (65.9) | 2956 (66.0) | 2893 (64.1) | 2924 (63.7) | 2911 (65.3) | 0.12 |
| Opioid analgesics | 2308 (49.7) | 2276 (50.8) | 2299 (50.9) | 2292 (50.0) | 2302 (51.7) | 0.20 |
| Daily MED (mg) | 21.6 (9.6–71.5) | 22.4 (9.1–69.4) | 21.3 (8.8–72.5) | 26.0 (9.6–88.3) | 30.0 (9.9–147.7) | <0.01 |
| Intravenous | 532 (11.5) | 542 (12.1) | 529 (11.7) | 525 (11.4) | 507 (11.4) | <0.01 |
| Daily MED (mg) | 15.0 (8.3–49.5) | 15.7 (8.3–51.3) | 15.0 (8.3–52.5) | 15.7 (8.3–60.0) | 16.5 (8.3–115.6) | <0.01 |
| Enteral | 2161 (46.6) | 2126 (47.5) | 2162 (47.9) | 2133 (46.5) | 2178 (48.9) | 0.12 |
| Daily MED (mg) | 15.0 (10.0–36.6) | 16.2 (9.5–42.5) | 15.2 (10.0–37.6) | 16.9 (9.8–41.4) | 16.7 (8.4–39.6) | 0.88 |
| Topical | 272 (5.9) | 283 (6.3) | 286 (6.3) | 328 (7.1) | 304 (6.8) | 0.02 |
| Daily MED (mg) | 60.0 (30.0–90.0) | 54.0 (30.0–108.0) | 51.3 (30.0–80.0) | 32.1 (30.0–60.0) | 47.6 (30.0–87.0) | <0.01 |
| Morphine | 880 (19.0) | 825 (18.4) | 813 (18.0) | 747 (16.3) | 667 (15.0) | <0.01 |
| Fentanyl | 495 (10.7) | 528 (11.8) | 503 (11.1) | 607 (13.2) | 550 (12.3) | <0.01 |
| Remifentanil | 70 (1.5) | 87 (1.9) | 104 (2.3) | 124 (2.7) | 357 (8.0) | <0.01 |
| Pethidine | 699 (15.1) | 674 (15.1) | 652 (14.4) | 619 (13.5) | 594 (13.3) | <0.01 |
| Non-opioid analgesics | 1658 (35.7) | 1536 (34.3) | 1455 (32.2) | 1439 (31.4) | 1625 (36.5) | 0.46 |
| Days of use | 4 (1–12) | 4 (1–14) | 4 (1–17) | 4 (1–15) | 5 (2–18) | <0.01 |
| AAP or NSAIDs | 1400 (30.2) | 1212 (27.1) | 1135 (25.1) | 1123 (24.5) | 1219 (27.4) | <0.01 |
| Anticonvulsants | 526 (11.3) | 581 (13.0) | 557 (12.3) | 532 (11.6) | 625 (14.0) | 0.01 |
| NMBAs | 1275 (27.5) | 1247 (27.8) | 1241 (27.5) | 1310 (28.6) | 1520 (34.1) | <0.01 |
| Days of use | 2 (1–4) | 2 (1–4) | 2 (1–4) | 2 (1–4) | 2 (1–3) | <0.01 |
| Vecuronium | 998 (21.5) | 903 (20.2) | 779 (17.3) | 748 (16.3) | 761 (17.1) | <0.01 |
| Rocuronium | 94 (2.0) | 115 (2.6) | 134 (3.0) | 211 (4.6) | 277 (6.2) | <0.01 |
| Cisatracurium | 152 (3.3) | 279 (6.2) | 364 (8.1) | 446 (9.7) | 373 (8.4) | <0.01 |
| Antipsychotics | 785 (16.9) | 803 (17.9) | 928 (20.6) | 967 (21.1) | 961 (21.6) | <0.01 |
| Days of use | 5 (2–17) | 6 (2–21) | 6 (2–18) | 6 (1–20) | 6 (2–20) | 0.45 |
| Haloperidol | 478 (10.3) | 466 (10.4) | 523 (11.6) | 557 (12.1) | 504 (11.3) | 0.01 |
| Quetiapine | 368 (7.9) | 453 (10.1) | 558 (12.4) | 568 (12.4) | 620 (13.9) | <0.01 |
| Risperidone | 112 (2.4) | 104 (2.3) | 96 (2.1) | 108 (2.4) | 118 (2.6) | 0.49 |
Data presented as n (%) or as median (IQR).
*P-value by Χ2 or Fisher’s exact tests for categorical variables, and by Kruskal-Wallis test for other continuous variables.
AAP, acetaminophen; MED, morphine-equivalent dose; NMBA, neuromuscular blocking agent; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.