Inappropriate medication use and polypharmacy in older people

BMJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. m2023 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doron Garfinkel ◽  
Aaron Bilek
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Inappropriate Medication ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Inappropriate Medication Use

scholarly journals Potentially inappropriate medication use: the Beers’ Criteria used among older adults with depressive symptoms

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daphne Lee ◽  
Nataly Martini ◽  
Simon Moyes ◽  
Karen Hayman ◽  
Monica Zolezzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Older People ◽  
Inappropriate Medication ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Potentially Inappropriate Medication ◽  
Beers Criteria ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Inappropriate Medication Use

INTRODUCTION: The ageing population means prescribing for chronic illnesses in older people is expected to rise. Comorbidities and compromised organ function may complicate prescribing and increase medication-related risks. Comorbid depression in older people is highly prevalent and complicates medication prescribing decisions. AIM: To determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication use in a community-dwelling population of older adults with depressive symptoms. METHODS: The medications of 191 community-dwelling older people selected because of depressive symptoms for a randomised trial were reviewed and assessed using the modified version of the Beers’ Criteria. The association between inappropriate medication use and various population characteristics was assessed using Chi-square statistics and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The mean age was 81 (±4.3) years and 59% were women. The median number of medications used was 6 (range 1–21 medications). The most commonly prescribed potentially inappropriate medications were amitriptyline, dextropropoxyphene, quinine and benzodiazepines. Almost half (49%) of the participants were prescribed at least one potentially inappropriate medication; 29% were considered to suffer significant depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale =5) and no differences were found in the number of inappropriate medications used between those with and without significant depressive symptoms (Chi-square 0.005 p=0.54). DISCUSSION: Potentially inappropriate medication use, as per the modified Beers’ Criteria, is very common among community-dwelling older people with depressive symptoms. However, the utility of the Beers’ Criteria is lessened by lack of clinical correlation. Ongoing research to examine outcomes related to apparent inappropriate medication use is needed. KEYWORDS: Depression; depressive symptoms; inappropriate prescribing; older adults

scholarly journals Potentially inappropriate medication use in older people with cancer: Prevalence and correlates

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 439-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura K. Saarelainen ◽  
Justin P. Turner ◽  
Sepehr Shakib ◽  
Nimit Singhal ◽  
Jonathon Hogan-Doran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Inappropriate Medication ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Potentially Inappropriate Medication ◽  
Cancer Prevalence ◽  
Inappropriate Medication Use

scholarly journals Use of potentially inappropriate medications among ambulatory home-dwelling elderly patients with dementia: A review of the literature

2017 ◽  
Vol 150 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tejal Patel ◽  
Karen Slonim ◽  
Linda Lee
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Inappropriate Medication ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Potentially Inappropriate Medication ◽  
Potentially Inappropriate Medications ◽  
Inappropriate Medication Use ◽  
Inappropriate Medications

Background: Older adults with dementia are at high risk for drug-related adverse outcomes. While much is known about potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults, its prevalence and characteristics among those with dementia are not as well elucidated. We conducted a literature review to examine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication use among home-dwelling older adults with dementia. Our secondary aim was to determine the most frequently implicated medications and factors associated with potentially inappropriate medication use. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts were searched between 1946 and 2014 for articles that referenced potentially inappropriate medication use and types of dementia. One reviewer screened all titles and abstracts from the initial search and full-text articles after the initial screen for eligibility, then 2 reviewers independently abstracted data from included studies. Results: Searches yielded 81 articles, of which 7 met inclusion criteria. Prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication use varied from 15% to 46.8%. No single drug or drug class was reported consistently across all studies as the most frequent potentially inappropriate medication, but anticholinergics and benzodiazepines, drugs that affect cognition, were among the most common medications or pharmacological classes listed. Discussion: Older adults with dementia may be particularly vulnerable to potentially inappropriate medications because of cognitive impairment from their condition and the greater likelihood of experiencing adverse events from medications. Given this population’s greater susceptibility to adverse events, more intense medication and patient monitoring may be warranted, especially among those taking anticholinergics and benzodiazepines, as these drugs can contribute to cognitive impairment.

Polypharmacy and Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Blacks with Diabetes Mellitus Presenting to the Emergency Department

2021 ◽  
pp. 089826432110455
Author(s):  
Ginah Nightingale ◽  
Emily M. Scopelliti ◽  
Robin Casten ◽  
Monica Woloshin ◽  
Shu Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Inappropriate Medication ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Potentially Inappropriate Medication ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Inappropriate Medication Use ◽  
Sectional Analysis

Background: Medication-related problems in older Blacks with diabetes mellitus (DM) are not well established. Objectives: To describe the frequency of medication-related problems in older Blacks with DM presenting to the emergency department (ED). Methods: The study was a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a randomized controlled trial evaluating Blacks aged ≥60 years of age presenting to the ED. Polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use, and anticholinergic score were evaluated. Results: Of 168 patients (median age = 68, range 60–92), most ( n = 164, 98%) were taking ≥5 medications, and 67 (39.9%) were taking a PIM. A majority ( n = 124, 74%) were taking a medication with an anticholinergic score ≥1. Number of medications was correlated with number of PIMs ( r = .22, p = .004) and anticholinergic score ( r = .50, p < .001). Conclusion: Polypharmacy and PIM use was common in older Blacks with DM.

scholarly journals Prevalance Of Inappropriate Medication Use In Elderly In A Community Pharmacy

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. A78
Author(s):  
A. Yucel ◽  
P.M. Clark ◽  
L. Ozbay ◽  
E. Yucel
Keyword(s):  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Inappropriate Medication ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Inappropriate Medication Use
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