The prevention of adverse drug reactions in older subjects.
Curr Drug Metab
; 12(7): 652-7, 2011 Sep.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21495975
ABSTRACT
Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are a public health problem in older subjects, being responsible for a significant morbidity, disability and mortality. Older subjects are more susceptible to develop ADRs mainly due to polypharmacy, multimorbidity and inappropriate prescribing. The prevention of these drug related negative events represents an important aim for physicians treating older patients. Several strategies could potentially be employed, including state of the art education of medical students and physicians concerning principles of geriatric medicine and appropriate prescription in older subjects, reduction of inappropriate drug use by means of computerized decision support systems, pharmacist involvement and comprehensive geriatric assessment, and finally the identification of at risk older patients. However, there is currently a lack of scientific evidence demonstrating that these strategies can achieve a reduction in ADRs and therefore future intervention studies should be performed to evaluate the best intervention to decrease the burden of drug related problems in the older population.
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Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Drug Interactions
/
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
/
Inappropriate Prescribing
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Curr Drug Metab
Journal subject:
METABOLISMO
/
QUIMICA
Year:
2011
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy