Factors associated with inappropriate high risk drug use in elderly patientshospitalized
Abstract
Objectives: To measure the frequency of inappropriate drugs at high risk in prescribing admission of inpatients and to assess factors associated with this event.
Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study between the months January to December 2007, with records of patients older than 60 years admitted to the General Hospital of Vitória da Conquista. Demographic data, hospitalization and prescription were collected from hospital records and the Hospitalization Authorization (AIH).Inappropriate drugs were detected in the prescription of admission from the application of the Beers Criteria. The descriptive analysis, univariate and multivariate was performed to determine the association between variables.
Results: The study population consisted of 747 elderly patients, whose average age was 74 ± 10 years. The mean hospital stay of patients studied was 12 ± 11 days, and the average cost of them was U.S. $ 404.96.In univariate analysis, no association between the presence of inappropriate drugs and the cost of hospitalization. In multivariate analysis exposure to inappropriate medication was associated with polypharmacy and sex.
Conclusion: The inappropriate use of medication is associated with polypharmacy and sex. Given the importance of the problem, it is recommended to enhance the ability of recognition. The Beers criteria are important for the improvement of pharmacotherapy in the elderly, but are not complete list of drugs for therapeutic protocols adopted in Brazil.
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