Medication Appropriateness among Older Persons Admitted to a General Hospital in Malaysia
https://doi.org/10.47836/mjmhs.18.5.17
- Author:
Heng Ker Sin
1
;
Tan Kit Mun
2
;
Khor Hui Min
2
;
Noor Azleen Ahmad Tarmizi
3
;
Renukha Sellappans
1
Author Information
1. School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylors University, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
2. Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
3. Faculty of Medicine, Sungai Buloh Campus, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Aged, Inpatients, Geriatrics, Potentially Inappropriate Medication List, Prevalence
- From:Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences
2022;18(No.5):122-129
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: Many tools have been developed to determine medication appropriateness in older persons including
the 2015 American Geriatric Society (AGS) Beers criteria and the Screening Tool of Older People’s Prescriptions
(STOPP) criteria. We aimed to determine and compare the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications
(PIMs) based on the Beers criteria 2015 and the STOPP criteria v2 among older persons admitted to a general hospital in Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study comprising of 160 patients aged 65 years old and above admitted
to the general medical wards of a tertiary teaching hospital were recruited. Beers criteria 2015 and the STOPP criteria v2 were used to evaluate participants’ medication list on admission, during hospitalisation and on discharge
for PIMs. Prevalence of PIMs which was calculated as the total number of patients with one or more PIMs over the
total number of patients. Results: The prevalence of PIMs identified by Beers criteria 2015 on admission, during
hospitalisation and on discharge were 54.85%, 64.40% and 48.80% respectively. The prevalence of PIM based on
STOPP criteria v2 were 33.08%, 47.50% and 42.50% respectively. The most prevalent PIMs according to Beers
criteria 2015 and STOPP criteria v2 were diuretics, tramadol, ticlopidine, proton pump inhibitor, benzodiazepines
and antipsychotics. Conclusion: The prevalence of PIMs use is high among hospitalised older persons in Malaysia.
While it is not possible to avoid all PIMs listed in the Beers and STOPP criteria, clinicians should exercise caution in
prescribing drugs such as benzodiazepines, antipsychotics and proton pump inhibitors for older persons weighing
the risk versus benefit of the drugs.
- Full text:11.2022my1336.pdf
