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Published on: September 30, 2020
Pharmaceutical Interventions During Inpatient Care in a French Geriatric Hospital
Diana Lopez-Leret1, Joël Schlatter1
1Pharmacy, Hospital of Paul Doumer - Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, 60140 Labruyère, France.
Die Pharmazie
|July 30, 2026
Summary
Clinical pharmacists identified drug-related problems in older adults through medication reviews. Interventions focused on dose and drug selection, improving pharmacotherapy safety for this vulnerable population.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric pharmacotherapy
- Clinical pharmacy practice
- Medication safety
Background:
- Aging alters drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, increasing polypharmacy risks in older adults.
- Clinical pharmacists play a crucial role in medication review to enhance prescribing safety.
- Characterizing drug-related problems is vital for optimizing pharmacotherapy in the elderly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze pharmaceutical interventions and characterize potential drug-related problems in older adults.
- To identify common causes and drug categories involved in medication errors.
- To provide insights for improving medication safety in geriatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of electronic health records from 2019-2025.
- Identification of potentially inappropriate and high-risk medications.
- Categorization of drug-related problems using the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe classification.
Main Results:
- 12,856 pharmaceutical interventions were performed, with 65% acceptance by prescribers.
- Mean patient age was 87.5 years; 60.2% were female.
- Top drug-related problems involved dose selection (39.8%), drug selection (14.3%), and treatment safety (9.3%).
- Nervous system (24.7%), digestive (21.5%), and cardiovascular (13.6%) drug classes were most frequently involved.
Conclusions:
- Pharmaceutical interventions are essential for preventing prescribing errors in older adults.
- Understanding drug-related problems aids in ensuring safe pharmacotherapy.
- This study highlights key medication risks to alert healthcare providers and caregivers.
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