[Identification of polypharmacy-associated risks among nursing home residents]

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Clinical Pharmacy
• Psychogeriatrics

Background:

• Multimorbidity in older adults often necessitates intensified pharmacotherapy.
• Increased medication use can exacerbate multimorbidity, particularly through drug interactions and adverse effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess pharmacotherapy risks in mentally ill seniors residing in nursing homes.
• To evaluate the utility of clinical decision support software (CDSS) and negative medication lists in identifying at-risk patients.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study included 918 mentally ill seniors (mean age 79.3 years).
• Pharmacotherapy risks were assessed using mediQ (a CDSS) and the PRISCUS list (potentially inappropriate medications).

Main Results:

• 76.3% of patients faced clinical risk for drug interactions via mediQ.
• 2.2% were at potentially high risk for drug interactions.
• Approximately 25% received potentially inappropriate medication according to the PRISCUS list.

Conclusions:

• Identifying patients at risk is complex, highlighting the need for careful medication review.
• Thorough verification of clinical indications and close monitoring are essential to prevent adverse drug effects.
• CDSS and negative lists can aid in managing pharmacotherapy risks in elderly patients.