Appropriate medication use in individuals aged 80 or more years

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Pharmacology
• Public Health

Background:

• France is experiencing a significant demographic shift with a rapidly growing elderly population.
• The segment of the population aged 80 and over is expanding dynamically.
• This demographic group often presents with multiple comorbidities, increasing the complexity of medication management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the challenges of prescribing for the aging population in France.
• To identify and mitigate issues of under-, over-, and inappropriate prescribing in elderly patients.
• To propose actionable recommendations for improving medication management in older adults.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of prescribing patterns in the elderly population.
• Review of current healthcare coordination and communication strategies.
• Development of recommendations based on identified prescribing challenges.

Main Results:

• Inappropriate prescribing (under-, over-, or incorrect medication use) is prevalent in patients aged 80 years and older in France.
• The growing elderly population, particularly those with multiple diseases, exacerbates prescribing issues.
• Current systems lack sufficient coordination and systematic drug re-evaluation for this demographic.

Conclusions:

• Urgent expert consensus is needed on prescribing guidelines for elderly patients.
• Systematic drug re-evaluation should be integrated into annual consultations for individuals aged 80+.
• Enhanced coordination and communication among healthcare institutions, professionals, and the pharmaceutical industry are crucial for optimizing geriatric pharmacotherapy.