Drug-related problems and potentially inappropriate medications use in Indian geriatric patients receiving chemotherapy in the medical oncology unit of a tertiary care hospital

Introduction : Elderly patients are the most common group who use heath care facilities. This study assesses the prevalence of polypharmacy and use of potentially inappropriate medications in elderly patients presenting to the geriatric clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Kerala for first time. Materials and methods : The study was a hospital based retrospective study. The data from patients presenting to Geriatrics clinic from period of 1 st January 2016 to 31 st December 2016 were retrieved from the medical records and assessed for polypharmacy (taking >5 medications at a time) and potentially inappropriate drugs in accord with modified 2012 Beer’s criteria. Results : A total of 275 patients were included in the study of which 110 (40%) were males and 165 (60%) were females. The prevalence of polypharmacy found to be 22.9%. 63 out of total 275 patients took more than 5 medications at a time. 81 (29.5%) out of 275 patients had at least one potentially inappropriate medication. Conclusion : The prescription of potentially inappropriate medications is a serious problem which can affect overall quality of health care. Hence regular medication review and reconciliation practices should be implemented to prevent this to an extent.

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A STUDY OF DRUG UTILIZATION PATTERN OF THE GERIATRIC PATIENTS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF GERIATRIC MEDICINE IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN ASSAM, INDIA

Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research ◽

10.22159/ajpcr.2017.v10i2.14762 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 122 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lakhimi Borah ◽

Diptimayee Devi ◽

Prasanjit Kumar Debnath ◽

Dibyajyoti Deka

Keyword(s):

Elderly Patients ◽

Drug Utilization ◽

Tertiary Care Hospital ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Beers Criteria ◽

Potentially Inappropriate Medications ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Age Group ◽

Utilization Pattern ◽

Inappropriate Medications

Objective: To investigate the drug utilization pattern and the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) using updated AGS Beers criteria 2012 among the elderly patients who attended the geriatric outpatient departments as well as admitted indoor patients ina tertiary care Hospital at Guwahati, Assam, India.Method: A hospital based prospective, observational and cross sectional study, involving patients aged 65 years and above was planned and conducted over a period of 6 months from January 2016 to June 2016. Patients were visited daily, interviewed and case records were collected. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Office Excel Sheets.Results: A total of 150 patients aged 65 years and above were analyzed. 97 patients (65%) were males and 53 (35%) were females. Majority of the patients (61 numbers, 41%) belonged to the age group of 65-70 years, and least were in the age group of 86-90 years (13 numbers, 9%). Prescription of five or more medications (polypharmacy) was observed in 117 (78%) patients. Majority of the patients presented with diseases of cardiovascular system (25.7%). Using WHO drug use indicators, the average number of drugs per prescription was found to be 5.6. The percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name was 86%. The percentage of encounters in which antibiotics were prescribed was 61%. Injection was prescribed was 65% cases and the percentage of drugs prescribed from the NLEM (National List of Essential Medicines of India) was 96%. 43 patients received PIMs from Beers list; majority were belonging to category 1. Spironolactone was most commonly prescribed PIM.Conclusion: Irrational prescribing practices and polypharmacy were detected in our study.Prescribers should be educated about rational use of drugs and Beers criteria for elderly. Keywords: Beers criteria, WHO prescribing indicators, Potentially inappropriate medications, Elderly patients, Polypharmacy

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Pediatric Drug-Related Problems in an Indian Tertiary Care Hospital

Applied Drug Research, Clinical Trials and Regulatory Affairs ◽

10.2174/2667337108666211029122255 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 08 ◽

Author(s):

Qaiser Jahan ◽

K. Pallavi ◽

R. Hamshika ◽

Varun Talla ◽

Jupally Venkateshwar Rao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pediatric Patients ◽

Tertiary Care Hospital ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Drug Related Problems ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Pediatric Department ◽

Root Cause ◽

Patient Morbidity ◽

Tertiary Care Hospitals

Background: Improper drug usages expose patients to drug-related problems (DRPs) and can be the cause of patient morbidity and even mortality, especially frequent in hospitalized patients and pediatric groups. Objective: The objective of the present study was to identify and assess the drug-related problems in the pediatric department of tertiary care hospitals. Methods: The cross-sectional, observational study was carried out for six months included pediatric in-patients of age ≤15 years of either gender in pediatric units of tertiary care hospitals of India. The enrolled pediatric patients were observed for any drug-related problem that were further recorded and classified using the DRP registration format taken from Cipolle et al. The assessment of therapy was done by using positional statements from standard organizations and guidelines. Main outcome measure: Incidences of drug-related problems and their assessment and root cause analysis. Results: A total of 970 DRPs were identified in 296 patients, with an overall incidence of 49.3%. The incidence of DRPs was maximum in the age group of 2-12 years of children (51.2%). Patients who took six or more drugs were around eight (OR:8.41 , 95% CI: 5.22 to 13.55) times more likely to have DRPs compared to those patients who took less than six drugs. The incidences of DRPs were more in patients who were hospitalized for ≥ 7 days. Conclusion: The present study revealed significantly higher incidences of DRPs in hospitalized pediatric patients necessitating the involvement of clinical pharmacists in the pediatric department of tertiary care hospitals.

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