Characteristics of potentially inappropriate prescribing of drugs in elderly polypathological patients

Paula Carlota Rivas-Cobas, Nieves Ramírez-Duque, Mercedes Gómez Hernández, Juana García, Antonia Agustí, Xavier Vidal, Francesc Formiga, Alfonso López-Soto, Olga H. Torres, Antonio San-José

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7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

© 2016 SESPAS Objective To analyse potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) in elderly polypathological patients (PP). Method Multicentre observational, prospective study of 672 patients aged 75 years and older hospitalised in Internal Medicine between April 2011 and March 2012. The Beers, STOPP-START and ACOVE criteria were used to detect potentially inappropriate prescribing and the results of PP and non-PP patients were compared. Results Of the 672 patients included, 419 (62%) were polypathological, of which 89.3% met PIP criteria versus 79.4% of non-polypathological patients (p <0.01). 40.3% of polypathological patients met at least one Beers criteria, 62.8% at least one STOPP criteria, 62.3% at least one START criteria and 65.6% at least one ACOVE criteria. The rate of potentially inappropriate prescribing was higher in polypathological patients regardless of the tool used. Conclusions Given the high rate of potentially inappropriate prescribing in polypathological patients, strategies to improve prescribing adequacy must be developed.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)327-331
JournalGaceta Sanitaria
Volume31
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2017

Keywords

  • Adequacy
  • Elderly
  • Inappropriate prescription
  • Multimorbidity
  • Polypathology
  • Polypharmacy
  • Potentially inappropriate prescribing

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