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. 2014 Sep;33(3):E39-48.
doi: 10.1111/ajag.12136. Epub 2014 Mar 20.

Are older Western Australians exposed to potentially inappropriate medications according to the Beers Criteria? A 13-year prevalence study

Sylvie D Price  1 , C D'Arcy J Holman, Frank M Sanfilippo, Jon D Emery
Affiliations
Free article

Are older Western Australians exposed to potentially inappropriate medications according to the Beers Criteria? A 13-year prevalence study

Sylvie D Price et al. Australas J Ageing. 2014 Sep.
Free article

Abstract

Aim: To examine time trends and factors associated with exposure to potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) by the Beers Criteria.

Methods: PIM consumption days accumulated from the pharmaceutical claims of 251 305 Western Australians aged ≥65 years (1993-2005) and person follow-up times produced counts/rates. Logistic/Poisson regression generated odds/rate ratios.

Results: A total of 187 616 participants (74.7%) took ≥1 PIM (1993-2005), the cohort consuming 109 415 PIM daily doses/1000 person-years. Annual exposure decreased from 45-47% to 40%, and annual consumption rate declined from 117 836 to 90 364 daily doses/1000 person-years. Temazepam had the highest exposures (>17 000 daily doses/1000 person-years). Number of medications taken (OR 35.03; 95% CI 34.37-35.71 for ≥10 vs. 0-2 drugs), annual drug intake (2.08; 2.04-2.12 for highest vs. lowest quartile), and high-level residential aged care (1.96; 1.91-2.01) were most predictive of PIM exposure.

Conclusions: PIM exposure remains high in older Western Australians. Our findings identify patients most at risk and medications to consider on Australia-specific PIM lists.

Keywords: Western Australia; aged; inappropriate prescribing; prevalence; risk factor.

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