Psychobehavioral symptoms are one of the main causes of institutionalization. After the first months of institutionalization, it could be a good opportunity to consider deprescribing psychotropics, at the same time person-centered non-pharmacological measures should be implemented. Also, if dementia stage is moderate or advanced, acetylcholinesterase- olyph-inhibitor (AchEI) should be deprescribed.

To evaluate the difference between the number of psychotropic drugs in institutionalized patients and those who are at home.

We selected all the patients admitted in the Acute Geriatric Unit of “Hospital Universitario de Navarra” during May and June of two consecutive years (2021 and 2022). We collected demographic, administrative, functional and pathological variables, as well as delirium predisposing factors, drugs on admission and discharge and Drug-Burden-Index (DBI). A descriptive study was carried out and our hypothesis was analyzed.

658 patients were recluted with a medium age of 87.8, 55.6% were females, 44.5% had dementia and 22% were Institutionalized. The mean hospital stay was 5.8 days and 11.7% died. Functionally, the mean Barthel was 56.5 and Lawton 1.49. Regarding comorbidities: arterial hypertension (81%), Osteoarthritis (55%), heart failure (51%), dislipemia (47%), chronic kidney disease (42%), auricular fibrillation (39%), osteoporosis (33%) and diabetes (31%). Regarding geriatric syndromes: polypharmacy (87,5%), sleep disturbances (48%), hearing loss (43%), chronic pain (41,5%), visual loss and constipation (38%) and depression (33%). The main delirium predisposing factors were: age more than 80 (93.5%), olypharmacy, neurological disease (47%), altered senses, chronic pain and depression. Comparing psychotropic use between institutionalized and non institutionalized: psychotropics (78%vs69%), night psichotropics (72%vs63%), neuroleptics (37%vs18,5%), AchEI (13%vs6,5%), antiepileptics (21%14%). All of them p<0.05. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the use of benzodiazepines, antidepressant or antiparkinsonian.

Nowadays, institutionalized patients have more phsychotropic drugs than non-institutionalized ones, especially neuroleptics. Moreover, they are more frequent in patients with severe dementia. Maybe, the explanation is DEPRESCRIPTION AVOIDANCE due to an acute fear of a behavioral decompensation. We recommend educating in non-pharmacological measures and insisting on an adequacy of pharmacological prescriptions periodically.