Related Experiment Videos
Polypharmacy--we make it worse! A cross-sectional study from an acute admissions unit
T M Betteridge1, C M Frampton, D L Jardine
1Department of General Medicine, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Abstract:
Although polypharmacy is a major problem in the elderly, very few data have been published from Australasia. We retrospectively audited 68% of elderly patients admitted acutely to our medical unit (n= 424, mean age 80.3 ± 8 years) during a 30-day period (September, 2008). We found that long-term medications increased during hospital stay from 6.6 ± 4 to 7.7 ± 4 (P < 0.001). Adverse drug reactions were responsible for 24 admissions (5.7%). Polypharmacy is made worse by acute admission to hospital.
Related Concept Videos
Dosage Regimens: Partial Pharmacokinetic Parameters
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Drug Therapy
Antianxiety Medications