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Drug-drug interactions in the elderly.
Ingeborg K Björkman1, Johan Fastbom, Ingrid K Schmidt
1Apoteket AB (Swedish National Corporation of Pharmacies), Stockholm, Sweden. ingeborg.bjorkman@sos.se
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|October 26, 2002
Summary
Potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are frequent in elderly individuals taking multiple medications, with nearly half experiencing at least one interaction. These interactions pose risks of subtherapeutic effects or adverse reactions, necessitating increased monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Pharmacology
- Clinical Pharmacy
- Public Health
Background:
- Elderly individuals often use multiple medications, increasing the risk of drug-drug interactions (DDIs).
- Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of DDIs in this population is crucial for patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in elderly outpatients across six European countries.
- To identify variations in DDI prevalence and types among these countries.
Main Methods:
- Data from 1601 elderly participants in an 18-month pharmaceutical care intervention study were analyzed.
- A computerized program was utilized to detect potential DDIs in drug use data.
Main Results:
- The average elderly person used 7.0 drugs, with 46% having at least one potential DDI.
- An average of 0.83 potential DDIs per person was identified, with nearly 10% requiring avoidance.
- Risks of subtherapeutic effects and adverse reactions from DDIs were equally common.
Conclusions:
- Potential DDIs are a common aspect of medication regimens in the elderly polypharmacy population.
- Clinical attention should focus on detecting and managing specific drug combinations with likely negative effects.
- Further research is needed to explore the reasons for observed international differences in potential DDIs.