E-ISSN 2231-3206 | ISSN 2320-4672
 

Original Research

Online Publishing Date:
20 / 12 / 2018

 


Assessing prescriptions for potentially inappropriate medications using Beer’s criteria in elderly in-patients at a tertiary care hospital

Shukrath Chandrappa, Divya R, Kavitha Rajarathna.


Abstract
Background: The elderly population is growing rapidly worldwide. Many are suffering from multimorbidity. Inappropriate prescribing in the elderly can cause substantial morbidity and results in clinical and economic burden to patients and society at large. Gaining insight into physicians prescribing patterns to recognize prescribing problems is the fundamental first step in trying to improve the quality of prescribing.

Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the appropriateness of prescriptions using Beers criteria 2015.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted at a medicine in-patient department of a tertiary care hospital over a period of 3 months. All the in-patients aged above 60 years were included in the study. The World Health Organization core prescribing indicators were used to analyze the prescriptions. Potentially inappropriate medicines (PIM) were identified using the Beers criteria.

Results: A total of 300 in-patient prescriptions were studied. Of these 178 (59.34%) were male patients. 222 (74%) were 65–75 years age group. A total of 2175 drugs were prescribed. Average drug exposure per patient was 7.25. Based on 2015 Beers criteria, 86 (28.6%) of them had one or more PIM. Among 2175 prescribed drugs, 48 drugs were identified as drugs that generally should be avoided in older adults and 76 medications were to be used with caution in elderly.

Conclusion: Polypharmacy and PIMs are prevalent. There is a need for guidelines for the use of drugs in the elderly, and further studies are needed on this issue.

Key words: Beers Criteria; Elderly; Drug Use Pattern; Potentially Inappropriate Medication; Polypharmacy


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Chandrappa S, R D, Rajarathna K. Assessing prescriptions for potentially inappropriate medications using Beer’s criteria in elderly in-patients at a tertiary care hospital. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2019; 9(2): 145-149. doi:10.5455/njppp.2019.9.1236011122018


Web Style

Chandrappa S, R D, Rajarathna K. Assessing prescriptions for potentially inappropriate medications using Beer’s criteria in elderly in-patients at a tertiary care hospital. https://www.njppp.com/?mno=20492 [Access: March 14, 2024]. doi:10.5455/njppp.2019.9.1236011122018


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Chandrappa S, R D, Rajarathna K. Assessing prescriptions for potentially inappropriate medications using Beer’s criteria in elderly in-patients at a tertiary care hospital. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2019; 9(2): 145-149. doi:10.5455/njppp.2019.9.1236011122018



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Chandrappa S, R D, Rajarathna K. Assessing prescriptions for potentially inappropriate medications using Beer’s criteria in elderly in-patients at a tertiary care hospital. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. (2019), [cited March 14, 2024]; 9(2): 145-149. doi:10.5455/njppp.2019.9.1236011122018



Harvard Style

Chandrappa, S., R, . D. & Rajarathna, . K. (2019) Assessing prescriptions for potentially inappropriate medications using Beer’s criteria in elderly in-patients at a tertiary care hospital. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol, 9 (2), 145-149. doi:10.5455/njppp.2019.9.1236011122018



Turabian Style

Chandrappa, Shukrath, Divya R, and Kavitha Rajarathna. 2019. Assessing prescriptions for potentially inappropriate medications using Beer’s criteria in elderly in-patients at a tertiary care hospital. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 9 (2), 145-149. doi:10.5455/njppp.2019.9.1236011122018



Chicago Style

Chandrappa, Shukrath, Divya R, and Kavitha Rajarathna. "Assessing prescriptions for potentially inappropriate medications using Beer’s criteria in elderly in-patients at a tertiary care hospital." National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 9 (2019), 145-149. doi:10.5455/njppp.2019.9.1236011122018



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Chandrappa, Shukrath, Divya R, and Kavitha Rajarathna. "Assessing prescriptions for potentially inappropriate medications using Beer’s criteria in elderly in-patients at a tertiary care hospital." National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 9.2 (2019), 145-149. Print. doi:10.5455/njppp.2019.9.1236011122018



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Chandrappa, S., R, . D. & Rajarathna, . K. (2019) Assessing prescriptions for potentially inappropriate medications using Beer’s criteria in elderly in-patients at a tertiary care hospital. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 9 (2), 145-149. doi:10.5455/njppp.2019.9.1236011122018