Prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications and prescription dynamics in elderly hospitalized patients in Spain
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: PURPOSE: In recent years, the need for a more appropriate prescription of medications in the older population has emerged as a significant public health concern. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) in hospitalized adults aged ≥ 75. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective descriptive observational study of patients at 16 hospitals in Spain. The study population included inpatients aged ≥ 75 admitted during a 7-day period (May 10 to 16, 2021). Data were obtained from the pharmacy databases of the participating hospitals. The list of PIMs was based on the Beers, STOPP-START, EU-PIM and PRISCUS criteria. RESULTS: A total of 4,183 patients were included. PIMs were detected in 23.5% (N = 1,126) of the cohort. The prevalence rates at the participating hospitals ranged from 10% to 42.5%. The PIM/patient ratio was 1.2. The most common PIMs were midazolam, dexketoprofen, diazepam, and doxazosin, all of which (except for doxazosin) were more common in women. Benzodiazepines accounted for 70% of all PIMs. In 35% of cases, the PIMs were initiated before hospital admission. Of the 818 PIMs initiated during hospitalization, the two most common were benzodiazepines (49%) and anti-inflammatory drugs (25%). At discharge, only 4.9% of the PIMs initiated during the hospital stay were still prescribed. CONCLUSION: In this population of older hospitalized patients, the overall prevalence of PIMs was moderate. However, the prevalence rate at the participating hospitals was highly variable. In most cases, PIMs prescribed prior to hospitalization for chronic conditions were not withdrawn during the hospital stay. No significant increase in PIMs was observed from pre-admission to post-discharge. These findings underscore the need for multidisciplinary interventions to optimize the pharmaceutical treatment in older adults in the hospital setting to reduce the consequences of PIMs in patients.
Source: BMC Geriatrics
Authors: T. Puig, L. Leache, N. M. González-Senac, E. Carreras, M. Gutiérrez-Valencia, L. Losa, J. L. Revuelta-Herrero, P. Marrero-Álvarez, M. de Miguel, A. Aguirrezabal Arredondo, A. Aranguren, A. Vilariño, V. E. Ruiz, I. Fernández, J. Bilbao, C. González-Guerrero, B. del Pino, N. Garin, on behalf of the MAPAC-MPC Network, Ignasi Bolíbar, Xavier Bonfill, Ascensión García, Ignasi Gich, M Jesús Quintana, Carolina Requeijo, Laura Samsó, Ivan Sola, Gerard Urrútia, Santiago Castejón-Hernández, Mariona Roca Andreu, Antonio Sánchez Hidalgo, Patricia Marrero, Dimelza Osorio, Maria Queralt Gorgas, Karla Salas-Gama, Ignasi García-Olivé, Irene Bretón Lesmes, Pedro Armario, Laura Losa López, Susana Álvarez Gómez, Jaime Barroso Castro, Amaya Calleja Bueno, Maialen Duque Rodriguez, Belén Moñino Blazquez, Jose Ignacio Pijoan Zubizarreta, Laura Serrano de Lucas, Maite Sarobe-Carricas, Iratxe Urreta-Barallobre, Maria Lourdes Vivanco Gómez, Montserrat Alonso Diez, Milagros Álvarez Lavín, Elixabete Ardanza Aramburu, Zuriñe Baskaran Kaltzagorta, Iker Elguezabal Ortuzar, Julia Fernández Uria, Isabel Fontán Basañez, Maialen Inclán Conde, Irune Loizaga Diaz, Ana Revuelta Amallo, Elena Ruiz de Velasco Artaza, Estíbaliz Tamayo Orbegozo, Clara Vila Gallego, Miren Arrieta Bernaras, Elena Olloquiegui Biurrarena, José Luis Salsamendi Pérez, Juan Erviti, Luis Carlos Saiz
Institutions: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Hospital de Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación en Red en Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau, Navarre Institute of Health Research, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Hospital de Sant Joan Despí Moisès Broggi, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, BioCruces Health research Institute, Osakidetza, Hospital de Cruces, Hospital de Basurto, Donostiako Unibertsitate Ospitalea, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat Ramon Llull
Language: English
Subfield: Geriatrics and Gerontology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,090
OpenAlex ID: W4402989719