Abstract
Background
Elderly patients are prone to potentially inappropriate medication use (PIMU); its use have been associated with multiple adverse consequences. As a result, it is crucial to determine the magnitude and factors associated with PIMU. The present study was mainly aimed to determine and assess the magnitude and predictors of potentially inappropriate medications use in elderly patients on follow-up at the chronic care clinic of Jimma medical center.
Methods
A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted involving 219 patients aged 65 years and above on treatment follow-up. Data was collected using checklist. The 2019 updated American Geriatric Society (AGS) Beers Criteria® and Screening Tool of Older People’s Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions criteria and Screening Tool to Alert Doctors to Right Treatment (STOPP/START) criteria (version 2) were employed to assess PIMU. SPSS IBM (v22) was used for data entry and analysis. Categorical variables were described using frequency and percentage, whereas continuous variables were described using mean with standard deviation (SD) or median with interquartile range (IQR). Logistic regression was conducted to identify predictors of PIMU.
Results
The average number of medications prescribed per patient was 4.0 (IQR = 2.0). At least one PIMU was identified in 182 (83.1%) and 99 (45.2%) patients, based on Beers and STOPP criteria, respectively. Additionally, potential prescription omission (PPO) was observed in 24 (10.9%) patients. The risk of Beers PIMU was increased with age [AOR = 1.21, p < 0.001], hypertension [AOR = 4.17, p < 0.001], and Polypharmacy [AOR = 14.10, p < 0.001], while a decrease in the risk was noted in patients with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke [AOR = 0.133, p = 0.01] and asthma [AOR = 0.03, p < 0.001]. Using STOPP criteria, hypertension [AOR = 2.10, p = 0.04], diabetes mellitus [AOR = 2.26, p = 0.04], ischemic heart disease [AOR = 2.84, p = 0.04], peripheral neuropathy [AOR = 10.61, p < 0.001], and Polypharmacy [AOR = 6.10, p < 0.001] significantly increased the risk of PIMU.
Conclusions
Regardless of the screening tool used to assess, the present study revealed PIMU in the large proportion of the participants. Multiple medication use and certain disease condition had increased the probability of PIMU. Thus, it is imperative to use screening tools to review medications prescribed for each hospitalized elderly patients so as to reduce adverse consequences of PIMU.
Effect of total exemption from medical service co-payments on potentially inappropriate medication use among elderly ambulatory patients in a single center in Japan: a retrospective cross-sectional study