ABSTRACT
Background: Use of inappropriate medication is an important problem in present geriatric clinical practice. No specific potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) tools are available considering the availability of drugs in India. Aim and objective were to assess prevalence and pattern of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in elderly inpatients by updated Beers criteria 2015 and EU(7) PIM list 2015.Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on medical records of elderly patients (?65 yrs) admitted in the internal medicine wards and intensive care units (ICU) over a period of 6 weeks. The medications were evaluated for the PIM use as per Beers criteria and EU(7) PIM list.Results: A total of 225 patients (mean age- 71.48 yrs) were admitted in internal medicine wards and ICU during study period. Total 184 PIM belonged to 33 different medications were used during study period. The prevalence of PIM in internal medicine wards and ICUs were 51.96% and 57.14%, respectively. The prevalence of PIM was significantly higher with the EU(7) PIM list than Beers criteria (49.77% vs. 21.77%) [p<0.0001]. The commonly prescribed PIM were dextromethorphan (13.33%), ranitidine (11.11%) and glipizide (10.22%).Conclusions: Elderly patients frequently receive PIM. EU(7) PIM list identifies more PIM among elderly inpatients than Beers criteria.