Prevalence of Potentially Inappropriate Medication and Its Associated Factors in Elderly Patients in the Primary Care Unit of a University Hospital of Southern Thailand

Thareerat Ananchaisarp MD1, Panya Chamroonkiadtikun MD1, Narucha Komolsuradej MD1

Affiliation : 1 Family Medicine Unit, Department of Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand

Objective : To assess the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication [PIM] prescribed among elderly patients in the primary care unit of a university hospital in southern Thailand and identify the associated factors.
Materials and Methods : A cross-sectional study was conducted retrospectively in the primary care unit of a university hospital. The medical records of all the patients aged 60 years or older that visited the primary care unit during the year of 2016 were included. PIM was identi(cid:976)ied based on the 2015 Updated Beers Criteria. The prevalence of PIM was described and the associated factors were analyzed.
Results : Of 490 elderly patients, 64.1% were female and the median age was 66.3 years. The prevalence of PIM was 40.4%. The most common type of PIM was medications to avoid for many or most elderly patients (49.8%). Factors associated with PIM prescriptions were female gender, visited the PC clinic, received an increased number of medications, had some underlying disease, and presented with acute illness.
Conclusion : The prevalence of PIM was high among elderly patients in the primary care unit of a university hospital in southern Thailand. This is an alarming result for a medical school. Physicians should be aware when prescribing medications to patients who have associated factors.

Keywords : Elderly patient, Inappropriate medication, Beers Criteria

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