Indications for prescription and deprescription in multimorbid independently living elderly outpatients

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Global trend to population ageing is associated with inevitable increase of polypharmacy in multimorbid elderly population. Purpose To estimate the level and structure of comorbidity and pharmacotherapy in independently living patients of different age groups with high and extreme cardiovascular risk, when observed in outpatient clinics Methods 282 consecutive patients of high cardiovascular risk have been enrolled. Inclusion criteria were: SCORE ≥5%, documented history of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), acute or transient cerebrovascular accident (CVD), coronary artery intervention, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), stable angina, intermittent claudication, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) or type 1 DM with diabetic nephropathy, angiogram or ultrasound proved atherosclerotic plaques, total serum cholesterol level ≥8 mmol/L, blood pressure ≥180/110 mmHg and signed voluntary informed consent form. Current clinical conditions, pharmacologic treatment and indications for prescription and deprescription were studied. STOPP criteria for prescribing potentially non-recommended drugs in people over 65 years of age, START criteria for not prescribing necessary drugs in people over 65 years of age, non-recommended in elderly people over 65 drug list were used to assess polypharmacy. According to the WHO age classification, there were three groups: Group 1 (aged 45 to 59), Group 2 (aged 60 to 74) and Group 3 (aged 75 +). Results There were no differences in the frequency of statins administration (p=0.72) and antiplatelet agents (p=0.49) between 3 groups. Polypragmasia (administration of more than 5 drugs) was registered in 150 patients (53%) and was significantly more common in Group 3 (p=0.001). 48 cases of inadequate prescribing were registered in 46 (28%) elderly patients. 24 cases of prescribing potentially unacceptable medications for the elderly were reported. Conclusion Unavoidable polypragmasia was found in 53% multimorbid elderly patients. Irrational drug treatment was detected in 28% elderly patients STOPP criteria were met in 32.1% and START criteria were met in 30.4% cases. Polypragmasia being inevitable in elderly multimorbid patients, administration of any new medication should be performed after a thorough risk-benefits balance assessment. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.