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Tools in polypharmacy. Current evidence from observational and controlled studies
1Landeskrankenhaus Gmunden, Miller von Aichholzstr. 49, 4810, Gmunden, Austria. peter.dovjak@gespag.at
Zeitschrift Fur Gerontologie Und Geriatrie
|July 7, 2012
Summary
Managing polypharmacy in elderly patients with multiple chronic conditions is crucial. This paper reviews risk factors, prevalence, and health impacts, presenting tools like MAI, START, and STOPP to improve medication appropriateness.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Clinical Pharmacy
- Public Health
Background:
- Polypharmacy is a growing concern in the elderly population, often linked to multiple chronic diseases.
- Challenges include poor adherence, drug-drug interactions, drug-disease interactions, and inappropriate prescribing.
- This necessitates effective management strategies for this vulnerable demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the risk factors, prevalence, and health impacts of polypharmacy in the elderly.
- To identify and present practical tools for managing polypharmacy in clinical practice and geriatric settings.
- To highlight the importance of medication appropriateness in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Literature analysis of recent evidence on polypharmacy in the elderly.
- Review of intervention trials focusing on polypharmacy management tools.
- Presentation of established tools such as the Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI), Screening Tool to Alert Doctors to the Right Treatment (START), and Screening Tool of Older Persons' Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP).
Main Results:
- Polypharmacy presents significant challenges in elderly care, impacting health outcomes.
- Several validated tools exist to guide clinicians in optimizing medication regimens.
- These tools aid in identifying and rectifying inappropriate medication use in older patients.
Conclusions:
- Effective management of polypharmacy is essential for improving health outcomes in the elderly.
- Tools like MAI, START, and STOPP provide practical frameworks for clinical decision-making.
- Interdisciplinary approaches and comprehensive geriatric assessments are vital for safe and appropriate medication use.
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