Clinical implications from drug-drug and drug-disease interactions in older people

Abstract

This clinical review summarizes the evidence in relation to clinical outcomes from drug-drug and drug-disease interactions in older people. Exposure to drug-drug interactions is associated with increased risk of hospitalization-related outcomes in older people. Drug-disease interactions have been linked with adverse drug interactions and adverse drug events in studies of older people. Although the prevalence of drug-drug and drug-disease interactions is common in older people, there are very limited empirical data on important clinical outcomes from drug-drug and drug-disease interactions. Clinical implications of interactions between drugs and geriatric syndromes such as frailty, falls, cognitive impairment, immobility and urinary incontinence should also be considered in older people.