Prevention of potentially inappropriate prescribing for elderly patients: a randomized controlled trial using STOPP/START criteria

Inappropriate prescribing is particularly common in older patients and is associated with adverse drug events (ADEs), hospitalization, and wasteful utilization of resources. We randomized 400 hospitalized patients aged ≥ 65 years to receive either the usual pharmaceutical care (control) or screening with STOPP/START criteria followed up with recommendations to their attending physicians (intervention). The Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI) and Assessment of Underutilization (AOU) index were used to assess prescribing appropriateness, both at the time of discharge and for 6 months after discharge. Unnecessary polypharmacy, the use of drugs at incorrect doses, and potential drug-drug and drug-disease interactions were significantly lower in the intervention group at discharge (absolute risk reduction 35.7%, number needed to screen to yield improvement in MAI = 2.8 (95% confidence interval 2.2-3.8)). Underutilization of clinically indicated medications was also reduced (absolute risk reduction 21.2%, number needed to screen to yield reduction in AOU = 4.7 (95% confidence interval 3.4-7.5)). Significant improvements in prescribing appropriateness were sustained for 6 months after discharge.     

Factors influencing the use of potentially inappropriate medication in older patients in Slovakia

Background: Although increasing attention has been given to the evaluation of use of potentially inappropriate medication in the older European Union (EU) member countries, information on this topic from Central and Eastern Europe is scarce. Objectives: The aims of the present study were: to identify risk factors enhancing the probability of use of potentially inappropriate medication in hospitalized older patients under the conditions of the Slovak healthcare system and to compare our results with previously published European studies. Methods: The evaluation was performed in 600 patients aged ≥65 years, hospitalized in a general hospital between 1 December 2003 and 31 March 2005. To identify the use of potentially inappropriate medication, the Beers 2003 criteria were applied. Particular socio‐demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as comorbid medical conditions were evaluated among possible factors enhancing the probability of use of potentially inappropriate medication. Results: At least one potentially inappropriate medication was prescribed to 126 (21%) of 600 patients. Multivariate analysis identified polypharmacy [odds ratio (OR) 2·38; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1·50–3·79], depression (OR 2·03; 95% CI: 1·08–3·82), immobilization (OR 1·87; 95% CI: 1·16–3·00) and heart failure (OR 1·73; 95% CI: 1·13–2·64) as factors associated with an increased risk of use of inappropriate medication. In contrast, patients aged ≥75 years had a lower risk of being prescribed potentially inappropriate medication (OR 0·58; 95% CI: 0·39–0·88). Conclusions: Polypharmacy, immobilization, heart failure and depression were documented as predictors of use of potentially inappropriate medication. In depressive patients, drugs other than antidepressants contributed to the extensive use of potentially inappropriate medication. The observed prevalence of use of potentially inappropriate medication in older hospitalized Slovak patients was lower than the prevalence previously documented in Poland and the Czech Republic, but higher than in Croatia and Turkey. The identified risk factors were consistent with previous findings from other parts of Europe.     

老年人潜在不适当用药Beers标准2019修订版解读

Beers标准是一个用于避免老年人潜在不适当用药的实用工具。该标准于1991年由老年医学专家Beers首次公布,自2011年开始由美国老年医学会(American geriatrics society,AGS)管理,每3年更新一次,最近AGS更新发布了2019版。Beers标准的主要目的在于指导医务工作者为老年患者选择适当药物,确保老年人用药安全。     

Comparison of tools for the assessment of inappropriate prescribing in hospitalized older people

Rational, aims and objective The aim of the present study was to compare the ease of use and the capability of four approaches [Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI), the Beers' criteria 2003, the Improved Prescribing in the Elderly Tool (IPET) and Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS)] in assessing changes in medication appropriateness in elderly patients over a period of hospitalization. Methods A retrospective observational study in two hospitals in Northern Ireland using the four measures was undertaken, involving a cohort of 192 patients (aged > 65 years). Medication appropriateness assessments were made at three stages during the patients' hospital ‘journey’, that is, at admission, during their inpatient stay and at discharge. The identifying rates of inappropriate prescribing in elderly patients in hospital used validated screening tools: MAI, the Beers' criteria 2003, the IPET and HEDIS. Results The MAI was the most comprehensive approach but was also the most time consuming to apply. Data derived using the MAI indicated clearly that there was improved medication appropriateness over the three hospital stay stages (P < 0.001). Although this trend was also significant for the Beers' criteria 2003 (P < 0.05) and the IPET (P < 0.05) approaches, the HEDIS was unable to differentiate changes in appropriateness over time. There was a good correlation between data derived using the MAI and the Beers' criteria 2003 and the IPET approaches; this correlation was not evident for the HEDIS. Conclusions The MAI is the most convincing tool in evaluating medication appropriateness, but is very time consuming to apply. Beers' criteria 2003 and the IPET perform to an acceptable standard within the clinical setting and are more practical in their application. The HEDIS, although simplest to apply, does not have the sensitivity to measure change in appropriateness over time.     

A comparison of pharmacists and physicians on the quality of prescribing for ambulatory hypertensive patients

This article discusses a quasi-experimental study of the quality of pharmacists' and physicians' drug prescribing for ambulatory hypertensive patients in a health maintenance organization. The null hypothesis was that there is no difference between pharmacists and physicians as to the quality of drug prescribing for hypertensive patients. Analysis revealed no difference in prescribing between the physician group and the pharmacist group on the scoring for the presence of drug interactions, appropriateness of quantities, dose, and patient directions. The pharmacist prescriber group did significantly better than the physician group, however, on choosing the appropriate drug, prescribing for a "positive effect on the patient's health," and overall appropriateness from combining all the above scales (p less than 0.05). The diastolic pressures of the patients assigned to the pharmacists' group were not significantly different from the physicians' group on pretest, but on posttest the diastolic pressures were slightly lower in the pharmacists' group (p less than 0.10).