Analysis of clinical use of oral drugs in elderly geriatric inpatients / 中国医师进修杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the inappropriate use of oral drugs in elderly patients admitted in internal medicine, and to guide clinical rational drugs use in elderly patients. Methods One hundred inpatients′ data over 65 years were collected in the department of geriatrics. The potentially inappropriate use of oral drug were analyzed according to the Beers criteria published in 2012 and drugs instructions. Results In 100 patients, (5.81 ± 2.78) kinds of oral drugs had been taken per inpatient. One patient was involved out-of-label usage. There were potentially inappropriate uses of oral drugs in 21 patients. Inappropriate use of oral drugs in three patients were not related to diagnosis or disease, and in 4 patients were related to morbid state, 14 patients used drugs that need to be used with caution in older adults. Conclusions There are off-label uses and potentially inappropriate medications in clinical practice, so clinical doctors should examine and assess the uses of drugs. Clinical doctors should strengthen the understanding and application of the comprehensive geriatric assessment.