1.Medication Appropriateness among Older Persons Admitted to a General Hospital in Malaysia
Heng Ker Sin ; Tan Kit Mun ; Khor Hui Min ; Noor Azleen Ahmad Tarmizi ; Renukha Sellappans
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2022;18(No.5):122-129
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.
2.A summary of the Malaysian Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis, 2022
Terence Ing WEI ONG ; Lee Ling LIM ; Siew Pheng CHAN ; Winnie Siew SWEE CHEE ; Alan Swee HOCK CH’NG ; Elizabeth GAR MIT CHONG ; Premitha DAMODARAN ; Fen Lee HEW ; Luqman bin IBRAHIM ; Hui Min KHOR ; Pauline Siew MEI LAI ; Joon Kiong LEE ; Ai Lee LIM ; Boon Ping LIM ; Sharmila Sunita PARAMASIVAM ; Jeyakantha RATNASINGAM ; Yew Siong SIOW ; Alexander Tong BOON TAN ; Nagammai THIAGARAJAN ; Swan Sim YEAP
Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia 2023;9(2):60-69
Objectives:
The aim of these Clinical Practice Guidelines is to provide evidence-based recommendations to assist healthcare providers in the screening, diagnosis and management of patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis (OP).
Methods:
A list of key clinical questions on the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of OP was formulated. A literature search using the PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Databases of Systematic Reviews, and OVID electronic databases identified all relevant articles on OP based on the key clinical questions, from 2014 onwards, to update from the 2015 edition. The articles were graded using the SIGN50 format. For each statement, studies with the highest level of evidence were used to frame the recommendation.
Results:
This article summarizes the diagnostic and treatment pathways for postmenopausal OP. Risk stratification of patients with OP encompasses clinical risk factors, bone mineral density measurements and FRAX risk estimates. Non-pharmacological measures including adequate calcium and vitamin D, regular exercise and falls prevention are recommended. Pharmacological measures depend on patients’ fracture risk status. Very high-risk individuals are recommended for treatment with an anabolic agent, if available, followed by an anti-resorptive agent. Alternatively, parenteral anti-resorptive agents can be used. High-risk individuals should be treated with anti-resorptive agents. In low-risk individuals, menopausal hormone replacement or selective estrogen receptor modulators can be used, if indicated. Patients should be assessed regularly to monitor treatment response and treatment adjusted, as appropriate.
Conclusions
The pathways for the management of postmenopausal OP in Malaysia have been updated. Incorporation of fracture risk stratification can guide appropriate treatment.