Identification and evaluation of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in hospitalized geriatric patients using Beers criteria.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to identify and evaluate potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) in geriatric patients using Beers criteria and also to identify adverse drug events (ADEs) due to PIMs and various drug-drug interactions. METHODS: The medications in the prescriptions of patients above 60 years of age, their dosage regimen respective of their diagnosis were analyzed. Each medication was then checked with Beers list tables, and any medication if mentioned in the Beers list, was noted along with its strength of recommendation and quality of evidence. Any adverse drug event (ADE) due to PIM was identified. Causality of the events was assessed by Naranjo's Scale. The number of drug-drug interactions per prescription and the severity of each interaction were also analyzed. The collected data from 200 subjects were subjected to statistical treatments using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 16.0 for WINDOWS. RESULTS: Based on the Beers criteria 2012, 106 out of 200 (53%) prescriptions had at least one PIM prescribed. A sum of 1690 medications was prescribed as a whole for the entire study subjects. Among which, 134 PIMs were identified. Most commonly prescribed PIMs were benzodiazepines (39, 19.5%), followed by sliding scale use of insulin (31, 15.5%), and prazosin at a rate of 11.5% (23). A total of 10 ADEs were identified during the study. The average number of drug interactions observed among total samples was found to be 3.0±6.0 with 0±5.0 serious interactions, 2±4.0 significant interactions requiring close monitoring, and 0±6.0 minor interactions. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows high prevalence of prescribing PIMs in hospitalized elderly patients; PIM also caused incidence of ADEs; and serious drug-drug interactions were scarce among the patients.

Drug use evaluation of diabetes mellitus in hospitalized patients of a tertiary care referral hospital.

BACKGROUND: Many drugs are available for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and are sometimes prescribed in combination. Irrational use of drugs is increasing expenditure and strain on health budgets. The aim of this study was to determine patient demographic characteristics, analyze prescription patterns of antidiabetic drugs, distribution of complications of diabetes, distribution of co-existing illnesses, distribution of common symptoms of diabetes and distribution of adverse drug reactions. METHODS: A study was carried out for 11 months in diabetic inpatients in the General Medicine Department. Data of 200 patients were collected and evaluated. RESULTS: The pattern of drug prescription in diabetes shows that insulin (80.5%) was most frequently prescribed followed by biguanides (23%), sulfonylureas (22.5%), thiazolidinediones (11%), dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-4) inhibitors (9.5%) and meglitinides (5.5%). The percentage of patients on diet control therapy was found to be 3%. Combination therapy was prescribed to 26.5% and monotherapy to 65% of patients; 47.5% of these patients were male and 52.5% were female. The most common co-existing illness was found to be hypertension (53.5%). In addition, 67% of patients had irregular blood sugar monitoring and the remaining 33% had regular (either 4 or 6 hourly) monitoring. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the prescribing trend is moving away from monotherapy with insulin and sulfonylureas and towards combination therapies. There is also a significant increase in prescriptions of newer oral antidiabetic drugs, such as DPP-4 inhibitors and insulin analogs. Most inpatients had their blood glucose checked irregularly and haphazardly by ward staff. This study strongly highlights the need for patient education or counseling on use of antidiabetic and concomitant drugs, monitoring of blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, diet control and correction of diabetic complications.