Prevalence Of Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing Research Articles

A Prevalence Study of Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing in Irish Long-Term Care Residents

Older individuals often suffer from multiple co-morbidities and are particularly vulnerable to potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP). One method of defining instances of PIP is to use validated, evidence-based, explicit criteria. Two sets of criteria have gained international recognition: the Screening Tool of Older Persons' potentially inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP) and Beers' criteria. The study aims were to (1) determine the prevalence of PIP in older residents residing in long-term care (LTC) facilities in the greater Cork region of Ireland using these tools; (2) assess the applicability of the STOPP and Beers' criteria and compare the prevalence of PIP determined by each set of criteria; and (3) investigate the association between the occurrence of PIP determined by both tools and the number of medications prescribed, age, sex and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score. All 15 publically funded LTC facilities in the greater Cork region of Ireland were approached, and 14 agreed to participate. Residents aged ≥65 years were included. Exclusion criteria included terminally ill residents or residents receiving respite care. The prevalence of PIP was determined by applying the STOPP and Beers' criteria to each resident's medication profile. Two multivariate logistic regression models examined the association between the occurrence of PIP as determined by STOPP criteria and by Beers' criteria and the number of drugs prescribed, age, sex and CCI score. The sample population in this study included 732 residents from 14 LTC facilities; the median age was 85 years (interquartile range [IQR] 79-89) and 514 residents (70.2 %) were female. The total number of medications prescribed was 8,325 (median 11, IQR 9-14; range 2-25). At least one instance of PIP was experienced by approximately 70 % of patients when evaluated using the STOPP criteria, while the corresponding figure was 53.4 % using Beers' criteria. STOPP identified 1,280 instances of PIP relating to 1,140 potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), while Beers' criteria identified 833 instances of PIP relating to 704 PIMs. Multivariate regression analysis, taking age, sex, disease burden and number of medications into consideration, showed a significant positive association between the number of medications and PIP as defined by STOPP (odds ratio [OR] 1.295, 95% CI 1.223, 1.372; p < 0.001) and Beers' criteria (OR 1.263, 95% CI 1.201, 1.327; p < 0.001). Significant negative associations were also found between CCI score and the occurrence of PIP as defined by STOPP (OR 0.857, 95% CI 0.760, 0.966; p < 0.05) and the occurrence of PIP as defined by the Beers criteria (OR 0.843, 95% CI 0.754, 0.943; p < 0.05). In this LTC population, STOPP criteria identified a higher percentage of PIMs and a higher prevalence of PIP than the Beers criteria. The higher prevalence of PIP determined using the STOPP criteria is of uncertain relevance, but may be because STOPP was designed and validated for use in an Irish setting.

Potentially inappropriate prescribing in older residents in Irish nursing homes

STOPP/START was formulated to identify potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) and potential prescribing omissions (PPOs) in older people. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of PIP and PPO in older Irish patients in residential care using STOPP/START. data were collected prospectively from seven publicly funded nursing homes within the Munster Region of Ireland over 3 weeks. Data recorded included: current medication, current medical conditions, previous medical conditions, biochemistry, sex and age. STOPP/START was applied to each patient record. of the 313 patients recruited, 74.4% (233) were female, mean age (± SD) 84.4 (± 7.5) years. The total number of medicines prescribed was 2,555 [range: 1-16; median: 8 (IQR 6-10 )]. STOPP identified 329 instances of PIP in 187 (59.8%) patients and START identified 199 PPOs in 132 (42.2%) patients. The number of medicines prescribed was positively associated with PIP identified by STOPP (rs = 0.303, P < 0.01). Age, sex and the number of medicines prescribed were not associated with prescribing omissions using START. a high proportion of patients recruited were prescribed at least one potentially inappropriate medicine, or had an omission of a clinically indicated medicine. Incorporating these tools into every-day practice could play a pivotal role in improving prescribing in this cohort.

Potentially inappropriate prescribing and cost outcomes for older people: a cross-sectional study using the Northern Ireland Enhanced Prescribing Database

We sought to estimate the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) in the Northern Ireland (NI) population aged ≥70years, to investigate factors associated with PIP and to calculate total gross cost of PIP. A retrospective cross-sectional population study was carried out in those aged ≥70years in 2009/2010 who were in primary care in NI. Data were extracted from the Enhanced Prescribing Database, which provides details of prescribed and dispensed medications for each individual registered with a general practitioner. Twenty-eight PIP indicators from the Screening Tool of Older Persons potentially inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP) criteria were applied to these data. PIP prevalence according to individual STOPP criteria and the overall prevalence of PIP were estimated. The relationship between PIP and polypharmacy, age and gender was examined using logistic regression. Gross cost of PIP was ascertained. The overall prevalence of PIP in the study population (n = 166,108) was 34%. The most common examples of PIP identified were proton pump inhibitors at maximum therapeutic dose for >8weeks (17,931 patients, 11%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs >3months (14,545 patients, 9%) and long-term long-acting benzodiazepines (10,147 patients, 6%). PIP was strongly associated with polypharmacy, with those receiving seven different medications being fivefold more likely to be exposed to PIP than those on zero to three medications (odds ratio 5.04, 95% confidence interval 4.84-5.25) The gross cost of PIP was estimated to be <euro>6,098,419 Consistent with other research, the prevalence of PIP was high among the study cohort, increased with polypharmacy and was associated with significant cost.

Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing in Older People with Dementia in Care Homes

Older people in general and care home residents in particular are at high risk of suboptimal or inappropriate prescribing. To date, research into potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) has not focused on care home residents and/or has not utilized the recently developed and validated Screening Tool of Older Persons' potentially inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP) criteria. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of PIP in older people with dementia living in six residential care homes in England, using the STOPP criteria. A retrospective analysis was conducted using medication data collected for older people with dementia in six residential care homes in England who participated in the prospective, longitudinal EVIDEM - End of Life (EoL) study. Of the 133 residents recruited to the study, medication administration records were available for and reviewed at two timepoints (approximately 16 weeks apart) for 119 residents and 110 residents, respectively. The prevalence of PIP at these timepoints was determined using 31 of the 65 STOPP criteria applicable when there is no access to residents' medical records. At the first timepoint, 68 potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) were identified. Fifty-five residents (46.2%) were prescribed one or more PIM(s), eleven (9.2%) were prescribed two or more PIMs and two (1.7%) were prescribed three PIMs. Thirteen of the 31 STOPP criteria utilized in this study (41.9%) were used to identify PIP. Long-term (i.e. >1 month) neuroleptics (antipsychotics) were the most frequently prescribed PIMs (n = 25; 21.0%), followed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for >3 months, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) at maximum therapeutic dosage for >8 weeks, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in patients with dementia and long-term (i.e. >1 month), long-acting benzodiazepines. At the second timepoint, 57 PIMs were identified; 45 residents (40.9%) were prescribed one or more PIM(s) and 10 (9.1%) were prescribed two or more PIMs, but only one resident (0.9%) was prescribed three PIMs. Of the 31 STOPP criteria utilized in this study, ten (32.3%) were used to identify PIP. Long-term (i.e. >1 month) antipsychotics were again the most frequently prescribed PIMs (n = 21; 19.1%), followed by PPIs at maximum therapeutic dosage for >8 weeks, NSAIDS for >3 months and TCAs in patients with dementia. A significant correlation was found at both timepoints between the number of medicines prescribed and occurrence of PIP. This study found that over two-fifths of older people with dementia residing in six residential care homes in England were prescribed at least one PIM at each timepoint. Long-term (i.e. >1 month) antipsychotics, NSAID use for >3 months and PPI use at maximum therapeutic dosage for >8 weeks were the most prevalent PIMs. Regular medication review that targets, but is not limited to, these medications is required to reduce PIP in the residential care home setting. The STOPP criteria represent a useful tool to facilitate such review in this patient population.

Prescrições geriátricas inapropriadas e polifarmacoterapia em enfermarias de clínica médica de um Hospital-Escola

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a prevalência do uso de prescrições potencialmente inapropriadas (PPI) e polifarmacoterapia na clientela idosa hospitalizada nas enfermarias de clínica médica do Hospital Universitário Lauro Wanderley (HULW), Universidade Federal da Paraíba. METODOLOGIA: Estudo observacional e transversal com análise das prescrições geriátricas realizadas por médicos residentes em clínica médica no HULW. A amostra foi composta pela totalidade dos pacientes idosos internados nas enfermarias do HULW entre maio de 2007 e maio de 2008. Para identificar PPI, foram adotados os Critérios de Beers-Fick. Definiu-se polifarmacoterapia como o uso de mais de cinco medicamentos por prescrição. RESULTADOS: Avaliaram-se as prescrições de 79 pacientes de 60 a 94 anos (70,4 +/- 7,3), 59,5% do sexo masculino. O número de medicamentos usados variou de 2 a 12 (6,1+/-2,0) por paciente. As classes terapêuticas mais prescritas foram as relacionadas aos aparelhos digestório (83,6%), cardiovascular (63,9%) e nervoso (49,2%). Os princípios ativos mais prescritos foram metoclopramida, ranitidina, dipirona e captopril. A maioria dos pacientes, 36 (59%), apresentou polifarmacoterapia. Mais da metade dos pacientes (54,1%,) recebeu pelo menos uma prescrição inapropriada, com maior frequência de nifedipina, butilescopolamina e diazepam. CONCLUSÕES: Identificaram-se, além de uma alta prevalência de PPI e polifarmacoterapia, excesso de prescrições de antiulcerosos e antieméticos na amostra estudada. Estes resultados indicam que maior atenção deve ser dada à prescrição para pacientes idosos. A difusão do conceito de uso inapropriado para pacientes idosos mediante educação continuada para médicos residentes poderia facilitar a adoção dos critérios de Beers-Fick, ainda não conhecidos por toda a comunidade médica.

Potentially inappropriate prescribing and cost outcomes for older people: a national population study

Optimization of drug prescribing in older populations is a priority due to the significant clinical and economic costs of drug-related illness. This study aimed to: (i) estimate the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) in a national Irish older population using European specific explicit prescribing criteria; (ii) investigate the association between PIP, number of drug classes, gender and age and; (iii) establish the total cost of PIP. This was a retrospective national population study (n= 338 801) using the Health Service Executive Primary Care Reimbursement Service (HSE-PCRS) pharmacy claims database. The HSE-PCRS uses the WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system and details of every drug dispensed and claimants' demographic data are available. Thirty PIP indicators (STOPP) were applied to prescription claims for those >or=70 years in Ireland in 2007. STOPP is a physiological system based screening tool of older persons' potentially inappropriate prescriptions assessing drug-drug and drug-disease interactions, dose and duration. In our study population PIP prevalence was 36% (121 454 claimants). The main contributors to this were: 56 560 (17%) prescribed proton pump inhibitors at maximum therapeutic dose for >8 weeks, 29 691 (9%) prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatories for >3 months, 17 676 (5%) prescribed long-acting benzodiazepines for >1 month and 16 201 (5%) prescribed duplicate drugs. The main determinant of PIP was polypharmacy. The likelihood of PIP increased with a significant linear and quadratic trend (P < 0.0001) with the number of drug classes.The maximum net ingredient cost of PIP was estimated to be euro38 664 640. Total PIP expenditure was estimated to be euro45 631 319, 9% of the overall expenditure on pharmaceuticals in those >or=70 years in 2007. The findings identify a high prevalence of PIP in Ireland with significant cost consequences.

Potentially inappropriate prescriptions for older patients in long-term care.

BackgroundInappropriate medication use is a major healthcare issue for the elderly population. This study explored the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIPs) in long-term care in metropolitan Quebec.MethodsA cross sectional chart review of 2,633 long-term care older patients of the Quebec City area was performed. An explicit criteria list for PIPs was developed based on the literature and validated by a modified Delphi method. Medication orders were reviewed to describe prescribing patterns and to determine the prevalence of PIPs. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors of PIPs.ResultsAlmost all residents (94.0%) were receiving one or more prescribed medication; on average patients had 4.8 prescribed medications. A majority (54.7%) of treated patients had a potentially inappropriate prescription (PIP). Most common PIPs were drug interactions (33.9% of treated patients), followed by potentially inappropriate duration (23.6%), potentially inappropriate medication (14.7%) and potentially inappropriate dosage (9.6%). PIPs were most frequent for medications of the central nervous system (10.8% of prescribed medication). The likelihood of PIP increased significantly as the number of drugs prescribed increased (odds ratio [OR]: 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33 – 1.43) and with the length of stay (OR: 1.78, CI: 1.43 – 2.20). On the other hand, the risk of receiving a PIP decreased with age.ConclusionPotentially inappropriate prescribing is a serious problem in the highly medicated long-term care population in metropolitan Quebec. Use of explicit criteria lists may help identify the most critical issues and prioritize interventions to improve quality of care and patient safety.