Evaluation of inappropriate drug use in geriatric patients using the TIME-to-STOP/TIME-to-START criteria in a tertiary hospital

This study aimed to determine the frequency and factors affecting inappropriate drug use and polypharmacy in geriatric patients. The data on 318 geriatric patients hospitalized between January 1, 2020, and July 1, 2020, in the internal medicine clinic of a tertiary hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Inappropriate drug use was evaluated according to the Turkish Inappropriate Medication Use in the Elderly (TIME) TIME-to-STOP/ TIME-to-START criteria. Of the 318 patients, 157 (49.4%) used at least one potentially inappropriate drug. The most frequently used inappropriate drugs according to TIME-to-START criteria were related to (B) the central nervous system (n = 28; 53.89%), (A) the cardiovascular system (n = 26; 33.33%), and (I) supplements (n = 24; 30.77%). The most frequently used inappropriate drugs according to TIME-to-STOP criteria were related to (B) the central nervous system (n = 258; 45.18%), (C) the gastrointestinal system (n = 224; 39.23%), and (D) the respiratory system (n = 44; 7.71%). A total of 225 (70.8%) patients engaged in polypharmacy at least once. Conclusion: There is a high rate of potentially inappropriate drug use and polypharmacy among Turkish geriatric patients. The use of published guidelines should be expanded in Turkey.