A Study on Safe Use of Drugs in Older Adults Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital Using BEER's and STOPP Criteria
Author(s): Rachamsetty Kavya*, Srikanth Kumar Karumanchi, Manchikalapati Bhargavi, Boyina Revathi, Marri Jalaiah, Rayini Venkata Sai Mounica and D. Dhachinamoorthi
Abstract
Chronic diseases and polypharmacy are common in the elder ageing population as they use many drugs for various health conditions. BEER’s 2015 and STOPP’s criteria were used to assess older individuals reasonable pharmaceutical use in a tertiary care institution. At Sri Ramachandra Hospital, Chennai conducted a 6-month prospective observational studyon 188 patients 65 and older admitted to the Inpatient General Medicine Ward. Demographics, medical history, diagnosis, and prescriptions were documented. Beers and STOPP criteria assessed medications. The study population had a mean age of 68.7 years ± 4.7 years, with a majority aged 65-69. 37.2% had diabetes. Beers criterion identified 18% of Potentially Inappropriate Pharmaceuticals (PIMs) and STOPP criteria 9.6%. Beers criteria revealed PIM use in the sample population: Amitriptyline (3.1%), levetiracetam (1.1%), chlorpheniramine (8%), trihexyphenidyl (0.5%), alprazolam (1.6%), chlordiazepoxide (1.6%), clonazepam (1.6%), and diazepam (1.1%). Diltiazem, glimepiride, alprazolam, chlordiazepam, clonazepam, losartan, aspirin, and clobazam were found by STOPP criteria. Healthcare practitioners should be trained in geriatric pharmacology and use Beers and STOPP criteria in geriatric prescribing. These tools should support clinical discretion rather than replace it.
