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Drug Repurposing Hypothesis Generation Using the "RE:fine Drugs" System
Published on: December 11, 2016
Inappropriate drug prescriptions for elderly residents of board and care facilities
1Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
Objectives:
Using 1993 data, this study examines the prevalence of presumptively inappropriate prescriptions among residents, aged 65 and older, of board and care homes.
Methods:
Inappropriate drug prescriptions were identified through the use of established criteria developed for application to older nursing home residents and to community-dwelling elderly. This research used a sample of 2054 elderly residents from 410 facilities in 10 states. Weighted analyses were performed with SUDAAN, which accounted for the complex, multistage sampling design.
Results:
Depending on the criterion applied, between 20% and 25% of residents had at least one inappropriate prescription. Propoxyphene, long-acting benzodiazepines, dipyridamole, and amitriptyline were prescribed most frequently. Residents with inappropriate drug prescriptions had more complex drug regimens prescribed on a routine basis.
Conclusions:
The results are a conservative estimate of the extent of inappropriate drug prescribing and utilization in board and care facilities. Increased involvement by pharmacists and physicians in systematic drug utilization review is warranted.
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