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Medication use and prescribing considerations for elderly patients.
Bradley R Williams1, Jiwon Kim
1University of Southern California, School of Pharmacy, 1985 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9121, USA. bradwill@hsc.usc.edu
Dental Clinics of North America
|March 10, 2005
Summary
Older adults face high risks for medication-related problems due to physiological changes and complex medication regimens. Dentists must identify at-risk older patients and recognize medications that may cause adverse drug events.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Pharmacology
- Dental Medicine
Background:
- Older adults represent a growing demographic with increased medication consumption.
- Aging is associated with physiological changes that alter drug metabolism and response.
- Polypharmacy and comorbidities in older populations elevate the risk of adverse drug events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the heightened risk of medication-related problems in older adults.
- To emphasize the importance of dental practitioners recognizing at-risk older patients.
- To identify specific medications posing risks for adverse drug events in this population.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on aging, polypharmacy, and adverse drug events.
- Analysis of medication use patterns in older adult populations.
- Identification of risk factors for medication mishaps in geriatric patients.
Main Results:
- Older adults are at significant risk for medication-related problems.
- Institutionalized older adults, those with complex conditions, and non-adherent patients face the highest risks.
- Specific medications and drug interactions are common culprits in adverse events.
Conclusions:
- Dental professionals must be vigilant in assessing older patients for medication-related risks.
- Early identification of susceptible individuals and problematic medications is crucial for patient safety.
- Integrating medication review into dental practice can mitigate adverse health outcomes.