Frequency of potentially inappropriate medications in Iranian elderly hospitalized patients

Background: Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) should not be prescribed to the elderly due to low effectiveness andadverse drug reactions. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of PIMs in the elderly admitted to educationalhospitals in Kerman, in ۲۰۲۳.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on ۱۵۰۰ elderly patients hospitalized in educational hospitals. The datacollection forms were completed according to the health information system (HIS) of the hospital, which includes the patient’sage and gender, drug information, and the name of the hospital and ward. PIMs prescriptions were assessed according to Zhan’scriteria. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version ۲۰.۰. The results were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD)and frequencies (percents).Results: Nearly ۱۷.۸% (n = ۲۶۷) of patients were treated with at least one PIMs included in the Zhan criteria. Among ۳۳۱ PIMs usedfor patients, ۴۳.۵% (n = ۱۴۴), ۲۳.۳% (n = ۷۷), and ۳۳.۲% (n = ۱۱۰) of drugs were classified as always avoid, rarely appropriate, andsome indication, respectively. Sedative-hypnotics, opioids, and antihistamines were the most prevalent PIMs with ۲۹.۵% (n = ۹۸),۲۵.۴% (n = ۸۴), and ۲۳.۳% (n = ۷۷) frequency. Approximately ۷۱.۴% (n = ۱۰) of patients who were admitted to the Oncologyward, and ۳۸.۹% (n = ۳۳) of patients who were admitted to the Critical Care Unit were treated with at least one PIMs.Conclusion: Today PIMs are a problem for elderly patients. Paying attention to PIMS in oncology, and critical care unit wards isimportant. More attention should be paid to sedative-hypnotics, opioids, and antihistamines as the most frequently prescribed PIMs

Keywords:

Aged , Potentially Inappropriate Medications , Hospitalization