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Frequency of medication errors in primary care patients with polypharmacy
Dara Koper1, Gustav Kamenski, Maria Flamm
1Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
Family Practice
|November 8, 2012
Summary
Medication errors are frequent in elderly patients with polypharmacy in primary care. Over 93% had non-evidence-based medications, and 37% of seniors took potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs).
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Primary Care
Background:
- Polypharmacy is common in elderly patients with chronic diseases.
- Increased medication use in older adults elevates risks of hospitalization, drug interactions, and adverse drug reactions.
- Over half of individuals aged 75 and older in developed countries have chronic conditions, with polypharmacy affecting 25-80%.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of medication errors among patients with polypharmacy receiving general practice care.
- To identify specific types of medication errors, including non-evidence-based prescriptions, dosing inaccuracies, and dangerous drug interactions.
- To assess the incidence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in elderly patients (≥65 years) within the polypharmacy cohort.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of medication regimens for 169 patients with polypharmacy across 22 general practitioner (GP) surgeries in Austria.
- Identification of medication errors, including non-evidence-based drugs, dosing errors, and severe drug interactions.
- Evaluation of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) using the PRISCUS list in patients aged 65 and older.
Main Results:
- Patients averaged 9.1±3.0 medications daily, with one patient taking 20.
- A high percentage (93.5%) had at least one non-evidence-based medication, averaging 2.7±1.66 unindicated medications per patient.
- Dosing errors occurred in 56.2% of patients, and 1.8% had severe (Category X) drug interactions requiring avoidance.
Conclusions:
- Medication errors are highly prevalent in primary care patients with polypharmacy.
- A significant proportion of elderly patients (37.3%) were prescribed potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs).
- Strategies such as external medication reviews are necessary to mitigate medication errors in this population.
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