Drug-induced taste disorders : analysis of prescriptions of patients living in two nursing homes in France

Drug-induced taste disorders : analysis of prescriptions of patients
living in two nursing homes in France

INTRODUCTION

C. JOYAU 1, G. VEYRAC 1, F. DELAMARRE-DAMIER 2, A. PASQUIER 1, J. PRIEZ 1, P. JOLLIET 1,3
(1) Clinical Pharmacology Department, Biology Institute, University Hospital, Nantes, France ;
(2) Coordinating physician of nursing home «Montfort», Saint Laurent sur Sèvre, France and Hospital Practioner,Cholet Hospital, France ;
(3) EA 4275 «Biostatistics, Pharmacoepidemiology and Subjectives Health Measures», Medicine University, Nantes


With the age, the acuteness of the senses changes, causing a progressive decline in the quality and the importance of perceived sensations. This change is not always perceived when the problem starts[1]. The taste is considered as a minor sense and it is often neglected. These disorders can lead to treatment noncompliance. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies, anorexia and increase of different diseases like diabetes, hypertension… Patients can be tempted to overeat sugar, salt, spices… to restore the taste. The discomfort associated with loss of taste can also lead to depression [2]. Taste disorders are a poorly studied effect and there is various etiologies. In fact, many diseases can cause such disorders such as damage of the nervous system, nutritional damage, endocrine damage, toxic cause ... [1]. In elderly receiving long-term medication, taste disorders are suspected as an adverse event in 11% of cases [3]. It is difficult in the nursing homes population, with dementia, to evaluate precisely these disorders.
The objective of this study is to identify the drugs that may cause taste disorders in a nursing home population.

 

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