Abstract

Background: The elderly population is growing rapidly worldwide. Many are suffering from multimorbidity. Inappropriate prescribing in the elderly can cause substantial morbidity and results in clinical and economic burden to patients and society at large. Gaining insight into physicians prescribing patterns to recognize prescribing problems is the fundamental first step in trying to improve the quality of prescribing.

Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the appropriateness of prescriptions using Beers criteria 2015.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted at a medicine in-patient department of a tertiary care hospital over a period of 3 months. All the in-patients aged above 60 years were included in the study. The World Health Organization core prescribing indicators were used to analyze the prescriptions. Potentially inappropriate medicines (PIM) were identified using the Beers criteria.

Results: A total of 300 in-patient prescriptions were studied. Of these 178 (59.34%) were male patients. 222 (74%) were 65–75 years age group. A total of 2175 drugs were prescribed. Average drug exposure per patient was 7.25. Based on 2015 Beers criteria, 86 (28.6%) of them had one or more PIM. Among 2175 prescribed drugs, 48 drugs were identified as drugs that generally should be avoided in older adults and 76 medications were to be used with caution in elderly.

Conclusion: Polypharmacy and PIMs are prevalent. There is a need for guidelines for the use of drugs in the elderly, and further studies are needed on this issue.

Key words: Beers Criteria; Elderly; Drug Use Pattern; Potentially Inappropriate Medication; Polypharmacy