The frequency of potentially inappropriate medication use according to the Beers' criteria in elderly people at the therapy departments of a multidisciplinary hospital

Aim. To analyze the frequency of potentially inappropriate medication use according to the Beers' criteria in elderly people at the therapy departments of a hospital. Subjects and methods. Case histories of 150 patients over 65 years of age (47 men and 103 women at the age of 79.0 +/- 15.5 years) treated at the therapy department of a multidisciplinary hospital were analyzed to estimate the frequency of potentially inappropriate medication use in elderly people according to the Beers' criteria in the 4-month period: from March to June 2013. Each treatment sheet was checked against the so-called Beers' list (supported by the American Geriatric Associated in 2012) to reveal the use of potentially inappropriate medications. Results. An average of 6.4 +/- 4.0 drugs was simultaneously used in the patients. In 61 (40.67%) patients, the treatment sheets showed 78 potentially inappropriate medications that should be avoided by the elderly. Twenty-one (14%) patients were noted to use 24 potentially inappropriate drugs that should be avoided by elderly patients with definite diseases and syndromes. Fifty (33.3%) patients were observed to have taken the drugs that should be used with great caution. Conclusion. The findings suggest that the elderly patients frequently receive potentially inappropriate medications; as a result their benefits can be overweighed by the risk.