Table 2. Australian prospective cohort studies of community dwelling older people (n = 13).
| Study Name (Abbreviation) Study period (waves completed to date, waves with medication use assessed) | Primary research question (methodology) | Recruitment method (#) Sample size at baseline; Percent of older adults | Primary medication exposure question/s (recall period in bold) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45 and Up (45 & Up) [11] 2006-ongoing (2,2) | Broad determinants of health (Survey) | Random sample (M) 267,153; 40% ≥ 65 yrs | All waves: Have you taken any medications, vitamins or supplements for most of the last 4 weeks? |
| Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) [15] 2006-ongoing (5, 5) | Factors influencing development of Alzheimer's Disease (Clinical assessment & survey) | Media appeal and physician recruitment 1,112; 84% ≥ 65 yrs | All waves: Do you currently take any medications (including non-prescription; i.e. herbal supplements, vitamins etc)? |
| Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ALSA) [12] 1992–2010 (11, 6) | Factors associated with age-related changes in health (Clinical assessment & survey) | Random sample (E) + spouse of primary respondents (aged ≥ 65 yrs) & other household members ≥ 70 yrs invited 2,087; 100% ≥ 70 yrs | Wave 1: … any medicines prescribed by a doctor that you have taken or were supposed to take in the last two weeks…. all other medicines not prescribed by a doctor such as aspirin, headache pills, laxatives, cough and cold medicines, vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements. (Do not include ointments.); Wave 3: Are you still taking [medications identified in Wave 1]?. … new medicines you have started taking in the last two years. These include… [as per Wave 1]; Wave 6, 7, 9: as per Wave 1; Wave 11: as per Wave 1 or consent for administrative claims data |
| Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health (ALSWH) [21] * 1996-ongoing (7, 7) | Influences of health among women (Survey) | Random sample (M) 12,400; 100% ≥ 70 yrs | Wave 1–3: During the past 4 weeks, how many different types of medication (eg tablets/medicine) have you used which were prescribed by a doctor; Wave 1–2: During the past 4 weeks, how many different types of medication (eg tablets/medicine) have you used which were bought without a prescription at the chemist, supermarket or health food shop; Wave 4: Write down the names of all you medications prescribed by a doctor (no recall period specified); Wave 5–7: Consent for administrative claims data |
| Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDIAB) [16] 1999–2012 (3, 3) | Natural history of diabetes (Clinical assessment & survey) | Random sample (ABS CDs) 11,200; 21% ≥ 65 yrs (subset analyses of 65–74 & ≥ 75 yrs) | Wave 1: Are you currently taking tablets for high blood pressure? Are you currently taking tablets to lower your cholesterol/triglycerides?; Wave 2–3: … all prescription medications used in the last three months for a period of at least 2 weeks |
| The Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) [17] 1992–2007 (4, 4) | Visual impairment & eye diseases (Clinical assessment & survey) | Door-to-door census: all dwellings in selected area 3,654; 53% ≥ 65 yrs | Wave 1: … tablets or vitamins you’ve taken in the last week.; Wave 2: (data collection tool unavailable); Wave 3: … the tablets, vitamins or other medications you are currently taking.; Wave 4: (data collection tool unavailable) |
| Canberra Longitudinal Study of Ageing (CLS) [18] 1990–2002 (4, 4) | Depression & cognitive impairment (Clinical assessment & interview) | Random sample (E) + sample from nursing homes & hostels for the elderly 1,100; 100% ≥ 70 yrs | All waves: Are you currently taking any tablets for high blood pressure?; Wave 2: Was the ever a long period when you took… aspirin daily of almost daily? … non-aspirin pain relievers daily of almost daily? … non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds daily of almost daily?; Wave 3 & 4: Was the ever a period of a year or more when you took… aspirin daily of almost daily? Has this been in the last 4 years? … non-aspirin pain relievers daily of almost daily? Has this been in the last 4 years? … non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds daily of almost daily? Has this been in the last 4 years? |
| Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP) [22] 2005-ongoing (2, 2) | Men’s health & ageing (Clinical assessment & survey) | Random sample (E) 1,700; 100% ≥ 70 yrs | All waves: …any medication, (taken) daily or almost daily, for at least the past month? This includes both prescription and non-prescription medication. |
| Health In Men Study (HIMS) [23] 1996-ongoing (5, 5) | Men’s health & ageing (Clinical assessment & survey) | Random sample (E) 12,203; 100% ≥ 65 yrs | Wave 1: In the last month have you been… taking tablets for blood pressure?. . . taking tablets or other treatment for angina? …on aspirin tablets to prevent or treat heart disease? … taking medication prescribed by a doctor to lower your blood cholesterol?; Wave 2: … all the tablets, inhalers, and other medicines you are currently taking… include any non-prescription medicine you may have obtained from a chemist or supermarket; Wave 3: … all of your current medicines prescribed by a doctor… include tablets, capsules, aspirin, liquids or syrups or mixtures, puffers, sprays, nebulisers, creams, ointments, pastes, patches, suppositories, injections, etc taken now.; Wave 4&5: … all of your current medicines prescribed by a doctor. . . include tablets, capsules, aspirin, liquids /syrups /mixtures, puffers, sprays, nebulisers, creams, ointments, pastes, patches, suppositories, injections, etc taken now. AND … all of your current medicines, vitamins etc bought from a pharmacy (chemist) without a prescription. . . include tablets, capsules, aspirin, liquids /syrups /mixtures, puffers, sprays, nebulisers, creams, ointments, pastes, patches, suppositories, etc taken now. |
| Hunter Community Study (HCS) [13] 2004-ongoing (3, 3) | Assess factors important in the health, well-being, social functioning & economic consequences of ageing (Clinical assessment & survey) | Random sample (E) 3,253; 55% ≥ 65 yrs | All waves: … ALL your current medications (including tablets, medicines, painkillers, antacids…. ALL the current vitamins/ minerals/ herb preparations that you take. |
| Melbourne Longitudinal Studies on Healthy Ageing (MELSHA) [14] 1994–2005 (11, 1) | Biomedical, psychological, behavioural & social influences on ageing (Clinical assessment & survey) | Random sample (E) 1,000; 100% ≥ 65 yrs | Wave 1: … any medicines prescribed by a doctor that you have taken or were supposed to take in the last two weeks… anything else that you have taken to relieve pain, to help you sleep or to relax in the last two weeks? |
| South Australian Dental Longitudinal Study (SADLS) [19]1991–2002 (4, 3) | Assess oral health status of older people (Clinical assessment & survey) | Random sample (E) 1,650; 75% ≥ 65 yrs | All waves: … any prescribed medicines or medicines bought over the counter… that you have taken or were supposed to take regularly in the past 2 weeks |
| Sydney Memory and Ageing Study (MAS) [20] 2005-ongoing (4, 4) | Examine characteristics & prevalence of MCI** & determine change in cognitive function over time (Clinical assessment & survey) | Random sample (E) 1,037; 100% ≥ 70 yrs | All waves: … all of your current medications, including over-the-counter medications e.g. vitamins and herbal/natural therapy |
* ALSWH: surveys relating to “Older cohort” (DOB: 1921–1926) only
** MCI: Mild Cognitive Impairment
#: M: Medicare Australia enrolment database, E: Electoral Role, ABS CDs: Australian Bureau of Statistics Collector Districts