Yue Li1, Jue Hu2, Yu-Zhang Gao3, Feng Zhou4, Zheng-Hua Zhu5, Bao-Fu Zhang6, Kan Zhu7, Jian-Guo Zhu8, Jing-Jing Zhang9. 1. The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Department of Pharmacy, Suzhou, China. 2. Tongxing Community Health Service Center of Huqiu Street in Suzhou Gusu District, Suzhou, China; Community Health Administrative Center of Suzhou Gusu District, Suzhou, China. 3. Community Health Administrative Center of Suzhou Gusu District, Suzhou, China. 4. Hengjie Community Health Service Center of Shuangta Street in Suzhou Gusu District, Suzhou, China. 5. Caixiangyicun Community Health Service Center of Jinchang Street in Suzhou Gusu District, Suzhou, China. 6. Tongxing Community Health Service Center of Huqiu Street in Suzhou Gusu District, Suzhou, China. 7. Loujiang Community Health Service Center of Pingjiang Street in Suzhou Gusu District, Suzhou, China. 8. The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Department of Pharmacy, Suzhou, China. 15950005195@163.com. 9. The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Department of Pharmacy, Suzhou, China; China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China. zjjsuzhou@126.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To assess the prevalence and associated risk of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) prescribing in community-dwelling elderly patients in China and to examine the most frequently used PIMs. This will provide a reference for the formulation of medication manuals for the community-dwelling elderly and further standardize the use of medications in elderly patients. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective study from April 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020. Data from elderly patients aged ≥65 years were collected from the Hengjie (N=2,294), Loujiang (N=3,972), and Tongxing communities (N=1,969) in Suzhou. The frequency of PIMs was detected using the 2019 Beers criteria and the 2017 Chinese criteria. Chi-square (for categorical variables), ANOVA (for continuous variables as applicable), and logistic regression were used to describe and identify potential predictors of PIMs. RESULTS: A total of 8,235 elderly patients were examined. Using the Chinese criteria, the prevalence of PIMs was 37.07%, which was slightly higher than that found using the 2019 Beers criteria (32.16%). The most prescribed PIMs were estazolam (21.53%) and insulin (4.60%) based on the Chinese criteria. Logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age, polypharmacy, and comorbid disease of patients were associated with a high risk of PIMs. Furthermore, the educational background and professional title of physicians were also associated with PIMs. CONCLUSIONS: Given the high prevalence of PIMs in the Chinese community-dwelling elderly population, the implementation of evidence-based interventions to promote rational clinical drug use could improve their quality of life.
BACKGROUND: To assess the prevalence and associated risk of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) prescribing in community-dwelling elderly patients in China and to examine the most frequently used PIMs. This will provide a reference for the formulation of medication manuals for the community-dwelling elderly and further standardize the use of medications in elderly patients. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective study from April 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020. Data from elderly patients aged ≥65 years were collected from the Hengjie (N=2,294), Loujiang (N=3,972), and Tongxing communities (N=1,969) in Suzhou. The frequency of PIMs was detected using the 2019 Beers criteria and the 2017 Chinese criteria. Chi-square (for categorical variables), ANOVA (for continuous variables as applicable), and logistic regression were used to describe and identify potential predictors of PIMs. RESULTS: A total of 8,235 elderly patients were examined. Using the Chinese criteria, the prevalence of PIMs was 37.07%, which was slightly higher than that found using the 2019 Beers criteria (32.16%). The most prescribed PIMs were estazolam (21.53%) and insulin (4.60%) based on the Chinese criteria. Logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age, polypharmacy, and comorbid disease of patients were associated with a high risk of PIMs. Furthermore, the educational background and professional title of physicians were also associated with PIMs. CONCLUSIONS: Given the high prevalence of PIMs in the Chinese community-dwelling elderly population, the implementation of evidence-based interventions to promote rational clinical drug use could improve their quality of life.