Abstract

Thongchai Jaa Nichkhun*, Akara F. Sombat, Winai Ampol Chatree and Sorapong K. Mitr

Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are a common problem in older adults and are associated with negative outcomes. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of and the factors associated with the use of PIMs by elderly patients in an outpatient setting of the tertiary care hospital. A retrospective medical record audit was randomly reviewed in 308 elderly patients in 2010. Beers criteria (2003) and the screening tool of older persons’ potentially inappropriate prescriptions (STOPP) were used to identify PIMs. The results showed that the median number of medicines per patient was 5.6 (inter-quartile ranges 3.5 to 7). Prevalence of PIMs determined by Beers criteria and STOPP was 19.2 and 31.5%. The only factor that exhibited associations was the higher number of prescription medications based on STOPP criteria (odds ratio 1.2, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 1.4), p<0.05. PIMs are highly prevalent among older adults in the tertiary care setting and are associated with greater number of medications based on STOPP. Beers criteria are a less sensitive tool than STOPP to detect PIMs for Thai older adults.