Michael Fralick1, Emily Bartsch1, Christine S Ritchie2,3, Chana A Sacks2,4. 1. Division of General Internal Medicine, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 2. Department of Medicine, Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 3. Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 4. Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Inappropriate prescribing of medications is common in health care, and is an important safety concern, especially for older adults, who have a high burden of comorbidity and are at greater risk for medication-related adverse events. This study aims to estimate the extent and cost of potentially inappropriate prescribing of medications to older adults in the United States. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program data set (2014-2018). PARTICIPANTS: Older adults who were enrolled in Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program between 2014 and 2018. MEASUREMENTS: Potentially inappropriate medications were identified using the 2019 American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria®. RESULTS: In 2018, 7.3 billion doses of potentially inappropriate medications were dispensed. The most common medications by number of doses dispensed were proton pump inhibitors, benzodiazepines, and tricyclic antidepressants, and the top five unique medications by reported spending were dexlansoprazole, esomeprazole, omeprazole, dronedarone, and conjugated estrogens. From 2014 to 2018, 43 billion doses of potentially inappropriate medications were dispensed, with a reported spending of $25.2 billion. CONCLUSION: Potentially inappropriate medication use among older adults is both common and costly. Careful attention to potentially inappropriate medication use and deprescribing when clinically appropriate could reduce costs and potentially improve outcomes among older adults.
OBJECTIVES: Inappropriate prescribing of medications is common in health care, and is an important safety concern, especially for older adults, who have a high burden of comorbidity and are at greater risk for medication-related adverse events. This study aims to estimate the extent and cost of potentially inappropriate prescribing of medications to older adults in the United States. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program data set (2014-2018). PARTICIPANTS: Older adults who were enrolled in Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program between 2014 and 2018. MEASUREMENTS: Potentially inappropriate medications were identified using the 2019 American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria®. RESULTS: In 2018, 7.3 billion doses of potentially inappropriate medications were dispensed. The most common medications by number of doses dispensed were proton pump inhibitors, benzodiazepines, and tricyclic antidepressants, and the top five unique medications by reported spending were dexlansoprazole, esomeprazole, omeprazole, dronedarone, and conjugated estrogens. From 2014 to 2018, 43 billion doses of potentially inappropriate medications were dispensed, with a reported spending of $25.2 billion. CONCLUSION: Potentially inappropriate medication use among older adults is both common and costly. Careful attention to potentially inappropriate medication use and deprescribing when clinically appropriate could reduce costs and potentially improve outcomes among older adults.
Authors: Federica Galimberti; Manuela Casula; Lorenza Scotti; Elena Olmastroni; Daniela Ferrante; Andrealuna Ucciero; Elena Tragni; Alberico Luigi Catapano; Francesco Barone-Adesi Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-18 Impact factor: 3.390