अमूर्त

Assessment of appropriate medication- use by 2015 Beers criteria among elderly critically ill patients in Jordan.

Eman Elayeh*, Nailya Bulatova, Sumaya Abuloha, Maysam Abu Raqeeq & Shayma Abdullah

Background: Inappropriate prescribing can cause significant morbidity and mortality in geriatric patients. Studies implementing the updated 2015 American Geriatrics Society (ACG) Beers Criteria in the identification of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) are lacking. In addition, there is limited information regarding PIM use in critically ill older adults. Objective: To investigate the prevalence, patterns and determinants of PIM among elderly critically ill patients in Jordan. Setting: critical care unit (surgical, medical, cardiac) at Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan Method: A cross-sectional study conducted over a 5- month period. Patients 65 years and older, taking at least one medication and admitted to critical care unit, were included. PIM were identified and classified in accordance with the American Geriatrics Society 2015 Beers Criteria. Results: One hundred and fifty-four patients were included (55.8% males), the mean age was 75.4 ± 7.1 years. The median number of prescribed medications was 11 (IQR=6). The use of at least one PIM was identified in 51 (33.1%). In 90 cases (58.4%), medications to be used with caution in older adults were also evaluated. Patients who received at least one PIM were prescribed a higher total number of medications in the hospital (13 vs. 11.5, P<0.05). Diabetes was also significantly associated with PIM prescription (84.3% vs. 49.5%, P<0.005). Conclusion: PIM prevalence among ICU elderly patients was high (every third patient). The factors associated with PIM prescription included the total number of medications and presence of diabetes mellitus