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[Polypharmacy among elderly patients in Luxemburg]
Bulletin De La Societe Des Sciences Medicales Du Grand-Duche De Luxembourg
|March 8, 2016
Summary
In Luxembourg, general practitioners (GPs) prescribed more polypharmacy and inappropriate medications, including benzodiazepines, to elderly patients than medical specialists in 2008. This highlights the critical role of GPs in managing senior medication safety.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Context:
- Suspected overprescription of medications to patients over 65 years old.
- Need to assess medication practices in the elderly population.
Purpose:
- To inventory polypharmacy and identify inappropriate drug prescriptions for patients aged 65 and older in Luxembourg during 2008.
Summary:
- Analysis of 2008 data from Luxembourg's social security medical control administration revealed that general practitioners (GPs) prescribed polypharmacy to 17.91% of elderly patients and inappropriate drugs to 13.69%, significantly more than medical specialists. Benzodiazepines and analogues like lorazepam, zolpidem, and lormetazepam were identified as common inappropriate medications.
- GPs' drug therapies cost more per patient (€641.26) compared to medical specialists (€559.12).
Impact:
- Established the pivotal role of general practitioners in the drug therapy of the elderly.
- Highlighted higher rates of polypharmacy and inappropriate prescribing by GPs compared to specialists.
- Identified benzodiazepines and analogues as frequently prescribed inappropriate medications for seniors.
