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Drug utilisation in Dutch nursing homes
K N van Dijk1, C S de Vries, P B van den Berg
1Department of Social Pharmacy and Pharmacoepidemiology, University Centre for Pharmacy, Groningen Institute for Drug Studies (GIDS), A. Deusinglaan 2, 9713 AW Groningen, The Netherlands.
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
|February 9, 2000
Summary
Drug utilization in Dutch nursing homes is high, with many elderly residents using medications chronically. Prescribing and dosages for psycholeptic drugs, laxatives, and diuretics warrant careful re-evaluation due to potential risks.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Pharmacology
- Pharmacoepidemiology
- Nursing Home Medicine
Background:
- High drug utilization is common in nursing home residents.
- Understanding medication patterns is crucial for patient safety and quality of care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify and evaluate drug utilization among elderly residents in Dutch nursing homes.
- To identify frequently used drug classes and assess patterns of chronic use.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of computerized medication data from 2355 residents (≥65 years) in six Dutch nursing homes.
- Determination of drug group usage, patient characteristics, dosages, and drug use chronicity.
- Focus on the ten most frequently prescribed therapeutic drug groups.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of drug use: 89% (nervous system), 77% (alimentary tract/metabolism), 56% (cardiovascular system).
- Eight of ten drug groups were used >50% of the time, with chronic use of psycholeptics (83%), diuretics (81%), and laxatives (80%).
- Relatively low dosages for most drugs, except for loop diuretics (28% of residents) which were often high-dose.
Conclusions:
- Nursing home drug utilization is high, with significant chronic medication use.
- Re-evaluation of prescribing and dosages for psycholeptics, laxatives, loop diuretics, and ulcer-healing drugs is recommended.
- Potential risks of adverse effects and drug-drug interactions necessitate careful review.