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Prescribing for geriatrics in Tehran; is it appropriate and rational?
Mona Kargar1, Fatemeh Atrianfar2, Arash Rashidian3
1Research Center for Rational Use of Drugs, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran
|April 14, 2020
Summary
Over 31% of elderly patients in Tehran received potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), with benzodiazepines being most common. Interventions are needed to improve prescribing quality for older adults, particularly by general practitioners (GPs).
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Global population aging increases risks of adverse drug events in the elderly.
- Inappropriate medication use in geriatric patients is a significant health concern.
- Evaluating prescribing rationality is crucial for patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the rationality of drug prescribing in geriatric patients in Tehran.
- To determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in the elderly.
- To identify patterns of irrational prescribing in this population.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 1512 prescriptions for patients aged ≥ 65 years.
- Utilized Beers Criteria and WHO prescribing indices to identify PIMs.
- Data analyzed using SPSS with a significance level of P < 0.05.
Main Results:
- 31.2% of geriatric patients received at least one PIM.
- Benzodiazepines were the most frequent PIM class; General Practitioners (GPs) were the most frequent prescribers.
- Prescriptions with PIMs and antibiotics had a significantly higher mean number of drugs (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Significant prevalence of PIMs necessitates targeted interventions for geriatric prescribing.
- GPs require particular attention regarding prescribing practices, including brand-name and injectable medications.
- Improving rational drug use in the elderly is essential to reduce morbidity and adverse events.
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