A Rapid Mapping Review of Medication Burden in Adults with an Intellectual Disability: What We Know and What We Do Not Know

Sandra Marquis,1 Renée O’Leary,2 N Esmé Marquis,3 Jennifer Baumbusch4 1School of Public Health and Social Policy, Faculty of Health, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; 2 21st Century Literature Reviews, Victoria, BC, Canada; 3Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; 4School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaCorrespondence: Sandra Marquis, School of Public Health and Social Policy, Faculty of Health, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada, Email smarquis@uvic.caAbstract: This study asked the questions: what is known and what is not known about medication burden in adults with an intellectual disability. We used a rapid mapping review methodology to collate, describe and catalog the wide variety of evidence in this area. Ninety-one studies were included. Study characteristics, indicators of medication burden and sub-populations at increased risk were catalogued in a table and tabulated as tree maps. The authors concluded that there is evidence of a high medication burden in this population, and that the burden is highest in older adults with an ID, those living in supervised housing and those with diagnosed comorbidities and multi-morbidities. Areas that need further exploration are the total burden of medications used, including the age at which medications are first prescribed and the duration of medication use; the long-term effects of a high medication burden; and the long-term effects of anticholinergic burden. In addition, there is little information on the effects of demographic factors such as race and income.Plain Language Summary: This paper is a review of 91 studies about the amount and kinds of medications taken by adults who have an intellectual disability. The review was done to answer two questions. What do we know about medications and adults with an intellectual disability? What don’t we know about medications and adults with an intellectual disability? This is important because people with an intellectual disability often take a lot of different medications that can both help and harm them. If we know what medications they are taking, how much medication they are taking and for how long, we can help people with an intellectual disability have healthier lives.Keywords: intellectual disability, medication, psychotropic medication, polypharmacy, anticholinergic burden