In this systematic review, we report on the effects of diuretic deprescribing compared to continued diuretic use. We included clinical studies reporting on outcomes such as mortality, heart failure recurrence, tolerability and feasibility. We assessed risk of bias and certainty of the evidence using the GRADE framework. We included 25 publications from 22 primary studies (15 randomized controlled trials; 7 nonrandomized studies). The mean number of participants in the deprescribing groups was 35, and median/mean age 64 years. In patients with heart failure, there was no clear evidence that diuretic deprescribing was associated with increased mortality compared to diuretic continuation (low certainty evidence). The risk of cardiovascular composite outcomes associated with diuretic deprescribing was inconsistent (studies showing lower risk for diuretic deprescribing, or comparable risk with diuretic continuation; very low certainty evidence). The effect on heart failure recurrence after diuretic deprescribing in patients with diuretics for heart failure, and of hypertension in patients with diuretics for hypertension was inconsistent across the included studies (low certainty evidence). In patients with diuretics for hypertension, diuretic deprescribing was well tolerated (moderate certainty evidence), while in patients with diuretics for heart failure, deprescribing diuretics can result in complaints of peripheral oedema (very low certainty evidence). The overall risk of bias was generally high. In summary, this systematic review suggests that diuretic discontinuation could be a safe and feasible treatment option for carefully selected patients. However, there isa lack of high-quality evidence on its feasibility, safety and tolerability of diuretic deprescribing, warranting further research.

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• Klíčová slova
• deprescribing, diuretics, heart failure, hypertension, patient‐relevant outcomes, systematic review,
• MeSH
• depreskripce * MeSH
• diuretika * škodlivé účinky   aplikace a dávkování   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hypertenze farmakoterapie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• medicína založená na důkazech MeSH
• randomizované kontrolované studie jako téma MeSH
• směrnice pro lékařskou praxi jako téma MeSH
• srdeční selhání * farmakoterapie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• systematický přehled MeSH
• Názvy látek
• diuretika * MeSH

Polypharmacy is currently a serious problem that causes decrease in adherence and increased number of hospitalizations and mortality. WHO addresses polypharmacy in the Medication Without Harm campaign. Other initiatives that deal with polypharmacy are the International Group for Reducing Inappropriate Medication Use & Polypharmacy (IGRIMUP) and Choosing Wisely campaign. The correct approach to address polypharmacy consists of its prevention, i.e. not prescribing inappropriate or unnecessary medication and providing clear timeframe for medication that should not be continued life-long. Further on we should actively seek patients suffering from polypharmacy and intervene it by deprescription. Correctly provided deprescription can be done by means of various tools beginning from simple lists of inappropriate drugs (Beers criteria, STOPP/START) to more comprehensive approaches that evaluate the importance of each particular drug in patient's medication list and help to identify the least important ones that are candidates for deprescription (Medication Appropriateness Index, Good Palliative Geriatric Practice Algorithm and others). When evaluating the appropriateness of pharmacotherapy, we always check if the treatment aim is achieved, if the indication persists, appropriateness of dosing and if the patient understands the pharmacotherapeutical regimen. By this approach we try to eliminate the pharmacotherapy with very low or no benefit for particular patient. Clinical pharmacologist or pharmacist can significantly help with this time-consuming process.

• Klíčová slova
• deprescription, Medication Appropriateness Index, Choosing Wisely, low value care,
• MeSH
• depreskripce MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nevhodné předepisování * prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• polypharmacy * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Pharmacist's geriatric assessment can provide valuable insights into potential deprescribing targets, while including important information on various health-related domains. Data collected from a geriatric assessment questionnaire, for 388 patients, from the Croatian cohort of the EuroAgeism H2020 ESR 7 international project, along with guideline-based deprescribing criteria, were used to analyse potentially inappropriate prescribing of four medication groups (benzodiazepines (BZN), proton pump inhibitors (PPI), opioids, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)), and to assess the deprescribing potential. Binary logistic regression was used to explore the effects of age, gender, number of medicines and diagnoses, self-reported health, frailty score, and healthcare utilization on the likelihood of needing deprescribing. More than half of participants (n = 216, 55.2%) are candidates for deprescribing, with 31.1% of PPI, 74.8% of NSAID, 75% of opioid, and 96.1% of BZN users meeting at least one criterion. Most common criteria for deprescribing were inappropriately long use and safety concerns. Women (aOR = 2.58; p < 0.001), those reporting poor self-reported health (aOR = 5.14; p < 0.001), and those exposed to polypharmacy (aOR = 1.29; p < 0.001) had higher odds of needing to have medicines deprescribed. The high rate of deprescribing potential warrants prompt action to increase patient safety and decrease polypharmacy. Pharmacist's geriatric assessment and deprescribing-focused medication review could be used to lead a personalised approach.

• Klíčová slova
• Deprescribing, Geriatric assessment, Geriatrics, Healthy ageing, Polypharmacy,
• MeSH
• antiflogistika nesteroidní MeSH
• depreskripce * MeSH
• farmaceuti MeSH
• geriatrické hodnocení MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nevhodné předepisování prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• samostatný způsob života MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antiflogistika nesteroidní MeSH

AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical decision-making for benzodiazepine deprescribing between a healthcare provider (HCP) and an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot GPT4 (ChatGPT-4). METHODS: We analysed real-world data from a Croatian cohort of community-dwelling benzodiazepine patients (n = 154) within the EuroAgeism H2020 ESR 7 project. HCPs evaluated the data using pre-established deprescribing criteria to assess benzodiazepine discontinuation potential. The research team devised and tested AI prompts to ensure consistency with HCP judgements. An independent researcher employed ChatGPT-4 with predetermined prompts to simulate clinical decisions for each patient case. Data derived from human-HCP and ChatGPT-4 decisions were compared for agreement rates and Cohen's kappa. RESULTS: Both HPC and ChatGPT identified patients for benzodiazepine deprescribing (96.1% and 89.6%, respectively), showing an agreement rate of 95% (κ = .200, P = .012). Agreement on four deprescribing criteria ranged from 74.7% to 91.3% (lack of indication κ = .352, P < .001; prolonged use κ = .088, P = .280; safety concerns κ = .123, P = .006; incorrect dosage κ = .264, P = .001). Important limitations of GPT-4 responses were identified, including 22.1% ambiguous outputs, generic answers and inaccuracies, posing inappropriate decision-making risks. CONCLUSIONS: While AI-HCP agreement is substantial, sole AI reliance poses a risk for unsuitable clinical decision-making. This study's findings reveal both strengths and areas for enhancement of ChatGPT-4 in the deprescribing recommendations within a real-world sample. Our study underscores the need for additional research on chatbot functionality in patient therapy decision-making, further fostering the advancement of AI for optimal performance.

• Klíčová slova
• ChatGPT-4, artificial intelligence (AI), benzodiazepines, chatbot, deprescribing,
• MeSH
• benzodiazepiny škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• depreskripce * MeSH
• klinické rozhodování MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• umělá inteligence * MeSH
• zdravotnický personál MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• benzodiazepiny MeSH

PURPOSE: To provide an overview of the current deprescribing attitudes, practices, and approaches of geriatricians and geriatricians-in-training across Europe. METHODS: An online survey was disseminated among European geriatricians and geriatricians-in-training. The survey comprised Likert scale and multiple-choice questions on deprescribing approaches and practices, deprescribing education and knowledge, and facilitators/barriers of deprescribing. Responses to the survey questions and participant characteristics were quantified and differences evaluated between geriatricians and geriatricians-in-training and between European regions. RESULTS: The 964 respondents (median age 42 years old; 64% female; 21% geriatricians-in-training) were generally willing to deprescribe (98%) and felt confident about deprescribing (85%). Despite differences across European regions, the most commonly reported reasons for deprescribing were functional impairment and occurrence of adverse drug reactions. The most important barriers for deprescribing were patients' unwillingness, fear of negative consequences, lack of time, and poor communication between multiple prescribers. Perceived risk of adverse drug reactions was highest for psychotropic drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cardiovascular drugs, and opioid analgesics. Only one in four respondents (23% of geriatricians and 37% of geriatricians-in-training) think education in medical school had sufficiently prepared them for deprescribing in clinical practice. They reported that their future deprescribing activities would probably increase with improved information sharing between various prescribers, deprescribing recommendations in guidelines, and increased education and training. Approximately 90% think that a paradigm shift is required for prescribers and patients, increasing focus on the possible benefits of deprescribing (potentially) inappropriate medications. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the outcomes of this survey, we recommend investing in improved inter-professional communication, better education and evidence-based recommendations to improve future patient-centered deprescribing practices.

• Klíčová slova
• Adverse drug effects, Deprescribing, Geriatric medicine, Medication review, Older adults, Online survey,
• MeSH
• depreskripce * MeSH
• geriatři MeSH
• internet MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nežádoucí účinky léčiv * MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• zvyky MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

AIMS: Community-based pharmacists are an important stakeholder in providing continuing care for chronic multi-morbid patients, and their role is steadily expanding. The aim of this study is to examine the literature exploring community-based pharmacist-initiated and/or -led deprescribing and to evaluate the impact on the success of deprescribing and clinical outcomes. METHODS: Library and clinical trials databases were searched from inception to March 2020. Studies were included if they explored deprescribing in adults, by community-based pharmacists and were available in English. Two reviewers extracted data independently using a pre-agreed data extraction template. Meta-analysis was not performed due to heterogeneity of study designs, types of intervention and outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 24 studies were included in the review. Results were grouped based on intervention method into four categories: educational interventions; interventions involving medication review, consultation or therapy management; pre-defined pharmacist-led deprescribing interventions; and pharmacist-led collaborative interventions. All types of interventions resulted in greater discontinuation of medications in comparison to usual care. Educational interventions reported financial benefits as well. Medication review by community-based pharmacist can lead to successful deprescribing of high-risk medication, but do not affect the risk or rate of falls, rate of hospitalisations, mortality or quality of life. Pharmacist-led medication review, in patients with mental illness, resulting in deprescribing improves anticholinergic side effects, memory and quality of life. Pre-defined pharmacist-led deprescribing did not reduce healthcare resource consumptions but can contribute to financial savings. Short follow-up periods prevent evaluation of long-term sustainability of deprescribing interventions. CONCLUSION: This systematic review suggests community-based pharmacists can lead deprescribing interventions and that they are valuable partners in deprescribing collaborations, providing necessary monitoring throughout tapering and post-follow-up to ensure the success of an intervention.

• Klíčová slova
• community pharmacist, community-based pharmacist, cost evaluation, deprescribing, medication, outcomes, systematic review,
• MeSH
• depreskripce * MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• farmaceuti * MeSH
• kvalita života MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• poskytování zdravotní péče MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• systematický přehled MeSH

BACKGROUND: General practitioners (GPs) should regularly review patients' medications and, if necessary, deprescribe, as inappropriate polypharmacy may harm patients' health. However, deprescribing can be challenging for physicians. This study investigates GPs' deprescribing decisions in 31 countries. METHODS: In this case vignette study, GPs were invited to participate in an online survey containing three clinical cases of oldest-old multimorbid patients with potentially inappropriate polypharmacy. Patients differed in terms of dependency in activities of daily living (ADL) and were presented with and without history of cardiovascular disease (CVD). For each case, we asked GPs if they would deprescribe in their usual practice. We calculated proportions of GPs who reported they would deprescribe and performed a multilevel logistic regression to examine the association between history of CVD and level of dependency on GPs' deprescribing decisions. RESULTS: Of 3,175 invited GPs, 54% responded (N = 1,706). The mean age was 50 years and 60% of respondents were female. Despite differences across GP characteristics, such as age (with older GPs being more likely to take deprescribing decisions), and across countries, overall more than 80% of GPs reported they would deprescribe the dosage of at least one medication in oldest-old patients (> 80 years) with polypharmacy irrespective of history of CVD. The odds of deprescribing was higher in patients with a higher level of dependency in ADL (OR =1.5, 95%CI 1.25 to 1.80) and absence of CVD (OR =3.04, 95%CI 2.58 to 3.57). INTERPRETATION: The majority of GPs in this study were willing to deprescribe one or more medications in oldest-old multimorbid patients with polypharmacy. Willingness was higher in patients with increased dependency in ADL and lower in patients with CVD.

• Klíčová slova
• Deprescribing, Multimorbidity, Old age, Polypharmacy, Primary health care,
• MeSH
• činnosti denního života MeSH
• depreskripce * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• multimorbidita MeSH
• polypharmacy MeSH
• praktičtí lékaři * MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH