[Potentially inappropriate medication in elderly in a first level hospital, Bogota 2007]

To describe the potentially inappropriate medications in the elderly (PIME) treated at outpatient consultation in the first level in Bogota in 2007.

A cross sectional study was developed, updated in 2002 Beers criteria were used as PIME. The information was obtained from a random sample of 423 outpatients older than 65 years attending at 16 primary care units, reviewing last recorded in year in the clinical history.

The average number of drugs prescribed was 3,017, 71.9 % of the patients were on polymedication. Drug groups more frequently prescribed were those acting on cardiovascular (33.9 %), alimentary tract and metabolism (17.6 %) and musculoskeletal (10.6 %) system. According to the Beers criteria 21.5 % of patients received PIME. There was an association of polypharmacy with PIME. PIME was more frequent in patients with diagnoses of musculoskeletal and circulatory system diseases and drugs prescription with action on the musculoskeletal, nervous and respiratory system. Drugs that can cause problems not classified as PIME by Beers were prescribed to 25.1 % of patients.

The PIME is a frequent problem, it is necessary to adapt and complement the Beers criteria to local situation, and beside to describe the PIME is necessary to study its causes.