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Update on drug-related problems in the elderly
Joseph T Hanlon1, Catherine I Lindblad, Emily R Hajjar
1Institute for the Study of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy, Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. hanlo004@tc.umn.edu
The American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy
|November 24, 2004
Summary
Drug-related problems are prevalent in elderly patients, affecting medication safety and well-being. Recent studies highlight the need for quality indicators to improve prescribing practices and reduce adverse events in this population.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Pharmacology
- Medication Safety
- Public Health
Background:
- Pharmacotherapy in the elderly offers significant benefits but is often complicated by drug-related problems.
- These issues can compromise treatment efficacy and patient well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent literature on drug-related problems in the elderly.
- To examine the development of quality indicators for medication use in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE for articles published between 2002 and March 2003.
- Keywords included drug-related problems, inappropriate prescribing, and adverse drug events in the elderly.
Main Results:
- Studies indicated that 5.0% of ambulatory elderly patients experienced adverse drug events annually.
- Approximately 20.0% of ambulatory elderly individuals and 16.0% in assisted living used inappropriate medications, often due to drug-disease interactions.
- Quality indicators for elderly medication use were developed, addressing issues like drug avoidance, dosing, duplication, interactions, and monitoring.
Conclusions:
- Drug-related problems are a significant concern in the elderly population.
- Published data and developed quality indicators offer valuable guidance for healthcare practitioners and future research directions.