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Older people often face an increased likelihood of managing multiple medications simultaneously, a phenomenon known as polypharmacy. This heightened need for medication can be attributed to the elevated risk of chronic diseases, which often require a combination of treatments for effective management.
Technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), offer promising solutions to address the complexities of polypharmacy among older adults. These innovations have the potential to significantly enhance medication management by providing tools that facilitate tracking, offer timely reminders for dosage, and even provide personalised health advice tailored to an individual’s specific needs.
One initiative in this field is a study funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) led by Dr Mohammed Mohammed, a senior lecturer in clinical pharmacy at the University of Auckland. This pioneering project aims to develop New Zealand’s first AI-powered digital tool to enhance medication safety for older adults. By leveraging AI capabilities, the tool seeks to minimise the risks associated with inappropriate or unnecessary prescriptions, thereby revolutionising healthcare delivery for this demographic.
Through the integration of technology and AI-driven solutions, such endeavours not only streamline medication management processes but also contribute to the overall well-being and quality of life for older individuals, ensuring they receive the optimal care they deserve.
With New Zealand’s ageing population on the rise, the need for personalised medication management has never been more critical. By 2028, approximately one million New Zealanders will be over the age of 65, with one in three taking five or more concurrent medicines, a phenomenon known as polypharmacy. While medications play a vital role in managing health conditions, inappropriate prescribing can lead to adverse effects such as falls, injuries, and hospitalisations among older adults.
The project seeks to address two major issues: prescribing medications unsuitable for elderly patients, which affects about half of older individuals, and omitting necessary medications, which affects about a third of older people.
Dr Mohammed explains that existing clinical decision-support tools need to be revised to address the complex medication-related issues older adults face. Moreover, tools developed overseas are not directly applicable to New Zealand due to differences in guidelines and pharmaceutical data.
The innovative digital tool will leverage AI to screen older New Zealanders at risk of inappropriate prescribing, providing clinicians with personalised recommendations at the point of care. This could involve alerts to start a new medication or cease a harmful or ineffective one. Significantly, the tool will consolidate patient information from various sources into a single system, enabling healthcare providers to ensure patients are on the proper medications.
Dr Mohammed emphasises the importance of user-friendliness in the tool’s design and the team’s plan to seek feedback from healthcare providers and patients. Additionally, essential resources will be embedded into the tool to provide patients with customised information, such as potential adverse withdrawal symptoms and self-care instructions.
HRC Chief Executive Professor, Sunny Collings, honours the research, noting its potential to transform medication management for older adults in New Zealand. By using innovative technology to support healthcare providers in offering personalised, safer prescription services, the project aims to reduce medication errors and associated healthcare costs, benefiting the health system.
This research represents a significant step forward in enhancing healthcare for older adults and showcases New Zealand’s commitment to leveraging AI technology for the betterment of society. Looking forward, this breakthrough opens up exciting possibilities for the future of healthcare in New Zealand, with the potential to improve the lives of older adults and reduce healthcare costs.
