DNA Testing, Decision Support, May Reduce Hospitalizations Among Elderly on Multiple Medications

The elderly take an average of 14 prescribed medications each year, increasing their risk for adverse drug interactions that could land them in the hospital. A study published in the Journal of Medical Economics finds that older adults who underwent DNA testing, and whose results were processed through the YouScript decision support tool created by Genelex, had 71 percent fewer emergency department visits and 39 percent fewer hospitalizations during a three-month follow up period. Lead author Diana Brixner, a professor of pharmacotherapy at the University of Utah and director of outcomes at the Center for Clinical and Translational Science explains the need for the study, what remains to be done, and where she hopes the research will lead.