Abstract
Objective: The current study aims to evaluate prescribing pattern and potentially inappropriate medicine (PIM) among elderly patients in a tertiary care hospital of western Nepal.
 Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient department of Manipal Teaching Hospital of Western Nepal. The World Health Organization prescribing indicators and Beers’ 2015 updated criteria were assessed to analyze the result.
 Results: The mean±standard deviation of the age was 73.47±6.42 years and the majority of patients were in the age group 65–74 (58.81%). Male preponderance (male: female=1.20:1) was found. The value of prescribing indicator includes the average number of drug per prescription (4.91), percentage of generic name prescription (3.40%), percentage of antimicrobials prescribed (19.40%), percentage of injections prescribed (2.70%), and percentage of the drug from essential drug list of Nepal (42.22%). At least one PIM was prescribed to 87 (21.6%) patients. Non-cyclooxygenase-selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (44%) and anticholinergics (18%) were the most frequently prescribed PIMs.
 Conclusions: Polypharmacy, PIMs, and potential drug-drug interaction were prevalent in this study. It is recommended that all the doctors, pharmacists, other concerned health-care professionals, patients, policymakers, and all other stakeholders must be aware of these situations and a multidisciplinary approach must be developed for the promotion of rational use of drugs.
Highlights
In this 21st century, there is an increment in the life expectancy of the majority of the population around the world; due to improved nutrition, sanitation, medical advances, health care, education, and economic wellbeing [1]
Non-cyclooxygenaseselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (44%) and anticholinergics (18%) were the most frequently prescribed potentially inappropriate medicine (PIM)
Polypharmacy, PIMs, and potential drug-drug interaction were prevalent in this study
Summary
In this 21st century, there is an increment in the life expectancy of the majority of the population around the world; due to improved nutrition, sanitation, medical advances, health care, education, and economic wellbeing [1]. People aged over 65 years are generally more likely to be on multiple medication or polypharmacy than younger people as they have a higher prevalence of chronic illness, disability, and dependency [4,5]. Due to reasons such as multiple comorbidities and multiple prescribing habits of physicians, polypharmacy is an increasingly serious global problem in the current health-care system. Polypharmacy in the elderly exposes them to adverse consequences such as greater health-care costs, increased risk of adverse drug events, drug-drug interactions (DDIs), medication non-adherence, reduced functional capacity, and multiple geriatric syndromes [6,7,8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
