Potentially inappropriate medication in geriatric patients: the Austrian consensus panel list

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Pharmacology
• Public Health

Background:

• Inappropriate medication prescription in geriatric patients is a significant risk factor for adverse drug reactions.
• This practice leads to increased hospital admissions and healthcare expenditures.
• A consensus-based list of medications to avoid can improve prescribing quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a consensus-based list of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) specifically for geriatric patients in Austria.
• To consider local market characteristics and prescribing patterns in the development of the PIM list.
• To provide a practical tool for clinicians to enhance medication safety in older adults.

Main Methods:

• A two-round Delphi process involving eight geriatric medicine experts was employed.
• Experts rated the appropriateness of medications using a 5-point Likert scale.
• Statistical criteria were used to classify drugs as potentially inappropriate, with a second round for reevaluation and new suggestions.

Main Results:

• The final list includes 73 drugs identified as potentially inappropriate for geriatric patients.
• These medications were selected due to unfavorable benefit/risk profiles or unproven effectiveness.
• The list provides therapeutic alternatives and detailed drug information.

Conclusions:

• The developed Austrian list of potentially inappropriate medications can aid clinicians in improving geriatric prescribing.
• The list aims to enhance medication safety and reduce adverse events in older patients.
• Further validation studies are necessary to confirm the list's effectiveness.