[Suitability of pharmacological treatment in patients with multiple chronic conditions]

To identify tools for measuring the appropriateness of drug therapy useful in patients with multiple chronic conditions.

We performed a literature review.

The following database were consulted (December 2009): Pubmed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Spanish Medical Index (IME) to detect tools for measuring the appropriateness of treatment in patients with multiple chronic conditions, or otherwise elderly or polypharmacy.

Studies were identified both qualitative and quantitative methodology, both theoretical and field work, both original and revised work and included work from all areas of the health system. 108 articles were retrieved, of which we selected 59. The consultation of their references include 20 jobs allowed, resulting in a total of 59 articles.

Of all the tools identified, the researchers performed a selection of those with possible utility for classified PP. The articles were classified into implicit and explicit methods and the characteristics of the field works were tabulated.

We identified two implicit methods (MAI and Hamdy) and 6 explicit methods (Beers criteria, IPET, STOPP/START, ACOVE, CRIME and NORGEP). None was specific to patients with multiple chronic conditions. The questionnaire MAI, the Beers criteria and its modifications are most often used in literature. The advantages of explicit criteria means that many of them have been developed recently.

There are several tools to measure the appropriateness and none of them has been designed for a population of patients with multiple chronic conditions yet, which by its nature requires a specific approach spreads.