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[Polypharmacy in the elderly - choosing wisely by using the FORTA list].
Martin Wehling1, Christina Throm1
1Klinische Pharmakologie an der Medizinischen Fakultät Mannheim der Universität Heidelberg.
Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)
|September 12, 2015
Summary
The Fit fOR The Aged (FORTA) list aids clinicians in optimizing medications for elderly patients with multiple conditions. This evidence-based approach helps prevent undertreatment, overtreatment, and mistreatment, improving geriatric pharmacotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Practice Guidelines
Context:
- Multimorbidity and polypharmacy pose significant risks to elderly patients.
- Optimizing medication regimens is crucial for improving health outcomes in older adults.
Purpose:
- To describe the procedural details for the successful application of the Fit fOR The Aged (FORTA) list.
- To illustrate how the FORTA list can guide drug selection and medication management in geriatric patients.
Summary:
- The FORTA list categorizes drugs as indispensable (A), beneficial (B), questionable (C), or to avoid (D) based on age-appropriateness, safety, and efficacy.
- The application involves detailed patient assessment, including disease grading, to guide FORTA-assisted drug selection, preventing overtreatment, undertreatment, and mistreatment.
- Subsequent steps include secondary analyses of dosing and contraindications, with medication schemes updated based on clinical effects and side effects.
Impact:
- Facilitates evidence-based prescribing for the elderly, enhancing medication safety and efficacy.
- Supports clinicians in navigating complex polypharmacy, potentially reducing adverse drug events and healthcare costs.
- Promotes a more personalized and effective approach to pharmacotherapy in geriatric populations.
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