Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2025
10:05
Testing the Efficacy of Pharmacological Agents in a Pericardial Target Delivery Model in the Swine
Published on: July 7, 2016
8.4K
Prescribing Practices in Geriatric Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases.
Abdelmoneim Awad1, Haya Al-Otaibi2, Sara Al-Tamimi1
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, Kuwait City 13110, Kuwait.
Summary
Inappropriate prescribing of medications is common in elderly Kuwaiti patients with cardiovascular diseases, affecting over 60%. Polypharmacy and multiple chronic conditions are key predictors, necessitating targeted interventions to improve geriatric medication safety.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric pharmacotherapy and cardiovascular medicine.
- Medication safety and prescribing quality assessment.
Background:
- Inappropriate prescribing (IP) in the elderly leads to adverse drug events and hospitalizations.
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are prevalent in the elderly, often requiring complex medication regimens.
- Evaluating prescribing patterns, including potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and prescribing omissions (PPOs), is crucial for this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of PIMs and PPOs in geriatric patients with CVDs in Kuwait.
- To identify predictors of IP in this specific patient group.
- To analyze prescribing patterns based on different criteria (STOPP/START, Euro-FORTA).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, multi-center study of 605 elderly patients (≥65 years) with CVDs.
- Data collected from seven governmental hospitals in Kuwait, including specialized cardiac centers.
- Analysis of medical records using STOPP/START criteria for PIMs/PPOs and Euro-FORTA for medication categorization.
Main Results:
- Over 63% of patients used at least one PIM or had a PPO.
- Nearly 65% received PIMs categorized as C/D by Euro-FORTA.
- Polypharmacy (≥5 medications) and multiple chronic diseases (≥3) were significant predictors of IP and PPOs.
- Higher rates of PIMs and PPOs were observed in general hospitals compared to specialized cardiac centers.
Conclusions:
- Potentially inappropriate prescribing is highly prevalent among elderly cardiovascular patients in Kuwait.
- Polypharmacy, multiple comorbidities, and hospital type are significant factors influencing prescribing quality.
- Multifaceted interventions are needed to minimize inappropriate prescribing and enhance medication safety in this vulnerable population.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Cardiovascular Drugs: Classification based on Therapeutic Indications
3.0K
Cardiovascular diseases, encompassing a range of conditions, can significantly affect the heart's operations and the overall circulatory system. These conditions impair the heart's ability to pump blood, leading to a deficit in oxygen supply to crucial organs. Anomalies in the heart's electrical system, known as arrhythmias, can cause heartbeats to accelerate or slow down. Usually, heart rates increase during physical activity and decrease while resting or sleeping. However,...
3.0K
01:30Heart Failure V: Medical Management
19
Medical Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF)The primary goals of therapy for patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) include:Relieving symptomsOptimizing volume statusSupporting oxygenation and ventilationMaintaining cardiac output (CO) and end-organ perfusionIdentifying and addressing the cause of ADHFPreventing complicationsProviding patient education on factors precipitating HF exacerbationPlanning for dischargeOngoing monitoring and assessment...
19
01:29Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care
23
Managing cardiomyopathy involves addressing underlying or precipitating causes, treating heart failure with medications, and implementing dietary changes and a balanced exercise and rest regimen.Lifestyle ModificationsCardiomyopathy patients should adopt a low-sodium diet to reduce fluid retention and manage heart failure. A personalized exercise and rest plan helps maintain physical fitness without overstraining the heart. Avoiding alcohol and tobacco is essential to prevent further damage to...
23
01:27Coronary Artery Disease V: Interprofessional Care
22
Interprofessional care for coronary artery disease includes pharmacological therapy and revascularization procedures.Pharmacological therapy for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) aims to manage symptoms, prevent complications, and improve patient outcomes through various classes of medications:Antiplatelet Agents:Aspirin and Clopidogrel: These medications inhibit platelet aggregation, preventing blood clots, which is crucial for avoiding heart attacks and strokes. Doctors often prescribe these...
22
01:22Heart Failure Drugs: β-Blockers
412
β-adrenergic antagonists, commonly known as β-blockers, block the effects of sympathetic neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (ADR). They have several beneficial effects in heart failure treatment. They reduce heart rate, the force of contraction, and cardiac muscle relaxation. They also slow the atrial-ventricular conduction rate and raise the threshold for arrhythmias. The concentration of β-blockers determines their effects on bronchodilation,...
412
01:22Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies
22
Additional therapies for treating patients with heart failure (HF) may include procedural interventions, supplemental oxygen, the management of sleep disorders, and nutritional therapy.Procedural InterventionsImplantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: For patients at risk of life-threatening arrhythmias due to severe left ventricular dysfunction, an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) can detect and terminate these arrhythmias, preventing sudden cardiac death and improving survival rates.
22