[Two out of three persons living in nursing homes for the elderly are treated with at least ten different drugs. A survey of drug prescriptions in the northeastern part of Skane].

Polypharmacy and high usage of psychotropic drugs have been seen in Swedish nursing homes for elderly. An increasing number of older people are prescribed inappropriate amounts, types and combinations of drugs. Adverse effects including sedation, confusion and increased risk of falls tend to occur in this population. In an analysis of the medication of 762 elderly persons living in community based nursing homes in the northeastern part of Skåne was found that two-thirds of the residents were prescribed ten or more drugs. One-third was prescribed on a regular basis three or more psychotropic drugs. Compared to recent Swedish studies it was found that lesser amounts of neuroleptics, anticholinergic drugs and long-acting bensodiazepines were used. The purpose of the study was to investigate the current situation concerning the quality and quantity of medication of elderly people in nursing homes in this part of Skåne. Thereafter draw plans for suitable actions to be taken to improve the use of drugs for the benefit of our older patients. It is important to instruct all personnel in the changes of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics during the aging process. Further surveys of the medication in nursing homes are needed and should be held on a regular basis to increase the awareness of the physicians to the hazards of inappropriate drug use in an aging population.