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KMID : 0828520120160030133
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Journal of the Korean Geriatrics Society
2012 Volume.16 No. 3 p.133 ~ p.140
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Polypharmacy in Older Patients Admitted to a General Hospital
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Seo Duck-Sung
Yoon Jong-Lull
Kim Sung-Jae
Park Ji-Sang
Lee Wha-Jin
Kim Mee-Young
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Abstract
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Background: The elderly population is rapidly growing in Korea. According to the high prevalence of chronic disease in older persons, the issue of polypharmacy becomes one of the main problems in geriatric care. In this study, we tried to investigate the current status of inappropriate multiple drug prescriptions in older patients who admitted to general hospital.
Methods: From July 1st 2010 to July 31th 2010, total 163 admitted patients of 65 years old or over to one general hospital were investigated. Subjects were examined with structured questionnaire survey and were reviewed with medical records and all medications taken by patients were analyzed. The inappropriate prescriptions were evaluated by Beers criteria and drug-drug interactions guidelines.
Results: Among the 163 participants, 146 patients took daily medication in previous week, and the average numbers of pills taken by these patients were 7.95. 24 cases(16.4%) of inappropriate prescriptions were identified by Beers criteria and 19 cases(13.0%) manifested a potential risks for drug-drug interaction. Total 7 cases(4.8%) of overlapping prescription of similar efficacy were also identified. And the risk of inappropriate prescription increased when older patient visited to 2 or more physicians(p<0.01).
Conclusion: Considerable cases of the prescriptions probable to adverse events in older patients were identified which suggests physicians` thoughtful alertness for harmful effect of polypharmacy and the necessity of well-structured drug monitoring system for older persons. Dedicated personal physician system for older patient should be considered also to reduce inappropriate prescriptions.
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KEYWORD
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Elderly, Polypharmacy, Drug interaction, Beers criteria
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