[Prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication in hospitalized elderly patients by using explicit criteria]. / Prevalencia de medicación potencialmente inapropiada en pacientes ancianos hospitalizados utilizando criterios explícitos.

INTRODUCTION: Potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) prescribing in older adults is quite prevalent and is associated with an increased risk for adverse drug events, morbidity, and utilization of health care resources. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and type of PIM in polypharmacy elderly patients on admission and discharge and the factors associated with their prescription. Just as the applicability of various explicit criteria selected from the literature and adapted to our area. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study for 12 months (March 2010-February 2011) on 179 polypharmacy elderly patients admitted to an Internal Medicine Department. We created a list of 50 PIM using a Delphi approach based on previous published criteria (Beers, Stopp, BMC and Priscus). Through patient interviews, review of medical records and discharge reconciliation report, we identified the prevalence of PIM in the patients. We also analyzed the relationship between different factors and the prescription of PIM. RESULTS: The prevalence of patients with PIM on admission and discharge were 71% and 48%, respectively. Out of the 50 selected PIM, 27 and 26 were detected on admission and discharge, respectively (55.5% and 57.69% included on STOPP criteria). We detected two factors associated with PIM prescription at discharge: severe-total dependence (OR = 1.8) and prescription of more than 11 drugs (OR = 2). CONCLUSIONS: PIM prevalence in our population is very high (70%), especially at hospital admission. These findings support the need for measures aimed at improving the quality of prescriptions, especially on dependent patients with polypharmacy.

INTRODUCCIÓN: En personas mayores la prescripción de medicamentos potencialmente inapropiados (PIM) es muy elevada y se asocia con mayor riesgo de eventos adversos, morbilidad y utilización de recursos sanitarios. El objetivo del presente estudio es conocer la prevalencia y tipo de PIM en pacientes ancianos polimedicados al ingreso y alta hospitalaria, los factores asociados a su prescripción y la aplicabilidad de distintos criterios explícitos seleccionados de la bibliografía y adaptados a nuestro ámbito. MÉTODO: Se realiza estudio observacional transversal durante 12 meses (marzo 2010-febrero 2011), sobre 179 pacientes ancianos polimedicados, ingresados en un servicio de Medicina Interna. Como herramienta para detectar la prescripción inadecuada se seleccionaron 50 PIM a partir de la bibliografía (criterios Beers, Stopp, BMC y Priscus) utilizando una técnica Delphi. A través de entrevista con el paciente, revisión de historias clínicas e informe de conciliación se identificaron los PIM previamente seleccionados. Posteriormente se analizó la relación entre distintos factores y la prescripción de PIM. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de pacientes con PIM al ingreso fue de 71% y al alta de 48%. De 50 PIM seleccionados, sólo se detectaron 27 y 26 tipos (55,5% y 57,69% criterios STOPP) al ingreso y al alta respectivamente. Los factores asociados a la prescripción de PIM al alta fueron: dependencia severa-total (OR = 1,8; IC 95% 1,0-3,4) y nº de medicamentos mayor de 11 (OR = 2; IC 95% 1,1-3,7). CONCLUSIONES: La prevalencia de PIM en nuestra población es muy elevada (70%) especialmente al ingreso hospitalario, estos resultados apoyan la necesidad de adoptar medidas enfocadas a mejorar la calidad de la prescripción prioritariamente en pacientes dependientes y polimedicados.

[Monitoring polymedicated elderly patients in a health care unit]. / Seguimiento del paciente anciano polimedicado en un área de salud.

OBJECTIVE: Implement a coordinated strategy for the family care unit and the pharmacy division in order to enable revising treatment in polymedicated patients. To this end, we have developed a software tool permitting the patient's primary doctor to have a quick, summarised description of the patient's updated pharmacological treatments, and detect iatrogenic risks and/or dosage adjustments and pharmacotherapy advice. METHODS: In this study, polymedicated patients are defined as those taking 10 or more medications during at least one month. Development phases: Design of a guide form to assist the family doctor in reviewing treatments. Development of a pharmacotherapy report (FTR) as a complementary document to assist the doctor in reviewing treatments. Implementation of a coordinated loop between the family doctor and the pharmacist. Review of work instructions and distribution to involved staff members. RESULTS: The target population of the study consists of 1897 polymedicated patients. We issued 1897 reports, containing the following: 8530 recommendations (10% alerts from regulatory authorities, 31% recommendations regarding high-risk drugs in elderly patients, 7% information on new treatments and 52% recommendations on proper drug use); 399 highly relevant drug interactions; and 5036 recommendations for dose adjustment. These pharmacotherapy reports permit treatment to be revised for nearly 100% of the selected population. CONCLUSION: The development and implementation of software tools for monitoring polymedicated patients enables us to create FTRs that facilitate routine medical reviews of pharmacological treatment in a fairly wide range of patients.