The prevalence and risk factors of potentially inappropriate medication of elderly patients in our hospital

TAO Li-na; ZHANG Si-xi; QU Xiao-yu; SONG Yan-qing

Abstract：[ABSTRACT]Objective:To investigate potentially inappropriate medication used among the elderly patients in our hospital and analyze the related risk factors.Methods:We conducted a retrospective study by collecting data for 546 patients≥65 years old admitted to the department of geriatrics of our hospital between January to June of 2015. Potentially inappropriate medications were evaluated on the basis of the Beers criteria (2012 version). Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to reveal the associated risk factors of potentially inappropriate medications.Results: According to the Beers criteria, 81 patients (14.84%) got 87 potentially inappropriate medications, the number of potentially inappropriate medication independent and dependent of disease or condition were 57 and 11 respectively, and 19 patients were treated with cautious using drugs for elderly patients. Factors associated with greater likelihood of potentially inappropriate medication prescribing were older age (≥75 years), overall number of drugs prescribed (≥11) and payment by railway medicare. Factors associated with lower likelihood of potentially inappropriate medication prescribing were long-term hospitalization (≥11 d).Conclusion:Beers criteria is a well-established method for evaluating potentially inappropriate medications. Focusing on the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication prescribing and associated factors can help to detect inappropriate prescriptions, and reduce potentially inappropriate medication prescribing in geriatric patients.