Potentially inappropriate medication use among older outpatients-prevalence and contributing factors: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND

Adverse outcomes associated with potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use are prevalent among older adults.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine the frequency of PIM use older outpatients and assess its association with chronic comorbidities and geriatric syndromes using the screening tool of older persons' prescriptions (STOPP) and screening tool to alert to right treatment (START) version 3 criteria.

DESIGN AND

SETTING

This retrospective study included patients aged 65 years or older who attended geriatric outpatient clinics between January and June 2024.

METHODS

PIM use was evaluated using the STOPP/START version 3 criteria. Polypharmacy was defined as the use of five or more medications.

RESULTS

Among the 107 patients (median age, 77 years; range, 65-91), 71% (n = 76) used PIM, with a median of two PIMs per patient (range, 0-6). PIM use was significantly more prevalent among patients with polypharmacy (odds ratio [OR] = 3.986; 95% CI: 1.493-10.639; p = 0.006). Analyses based on the STOPP criteria also revealed significant associations of PIM use with dementia (OR = 13.240; 95% CI: 1.504-116.529; p = 0.02), polypharmacy (OR = 4.352; 95% CI: 1.476-12.827; p = 0.008), and a history of falls (OR = 3.131; 95% CI: 1.017-9.634; p = 0.047).

CONCLUSION

Polypharmacy was significantly associated with greater odds of PIM use among older adults. Based on the STOPP version 3 criteria, dementia and a history of falls were also associated with increased PIM use in this population.