Effect of discontinuing antipsychotic medications on the risk of hospitalization in long-term care: a machine learning-based analysis.

Journal: BMC medicine
Published Date: Aug 20, 2025

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Antipsychotic medications are frequently prescribed to older residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) despite their limited efficacy and considerable safety risks. While discontinuation of these drugs might help reduce their associated morbidity, the impact of stopping antipsychotics on the risk of hospitalization has not been studied yet. The study aimed at estimating the effect of antipsychotic discontinuation on the risk of hospitalization in older LTCF residents and at identifying relevant factors influencing such effect.

Authors

  • Mikko Nuutinen
    Nordic Healthcare Group, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Riikka-Leena Leskelä
    Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Nordic Healthcare Group, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Daniela Fialová
    Department of Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
  • Ira Haavisto
    Nordic Healthcare Group, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Harriet Finne-Soveri
    Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Jokke Häsä
    Data and Analytics Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Johanna Edgren
    Department of Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Hein van Hout
    VUMC - University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  • Daniel E da Cunha Leme
    School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
  • John P Hirdes
    School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
  • Graziano Onder
    Department of Cardiovascular, Endocrine-metabolic Diseases and Aging, Instituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
  • Rosa Liperoti
    Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

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