Potentially Inappropriate Medications Prescribing among Elderly Patients in Jordan

Ahmad Al-Azayzih

Abstract

Background: Due to aging, along with its associated physiological changes, older adults are extremely vulnerable to be afflicted with multiple chronic conditions (Multimorbidity).  Accordingly, prescribing a large number of drugs to older adults would be inevitable.  Resulted complex drug regimens can lead to prescribing of Potentially Inappropriate Medications (PIMs) with subsequent negative health and economic outcomes. Aim: The main aim of this study is to measure the prevalence and predictors of PIMs prescribing among Jordanian elderly outpatients, using the last updated version of the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers Criteria (2015 version). Methods: A Unicenter, retrospective cross-sectional study conducted over three months period.  Our study included patients aged 65 years or above who visited the outpatient clinics at King Abdullah University hospital (KAUH) and were prescribed at least one oral medication during the study period.  PIMs were identified for these patients and further classified according to the 2015 AGS Beers Criteria. Results: A total of 4622 eligible elderly adults were evaluated in this study, of whom 62.5% (n=2891) were found to have at least one PIM prescribed during the three months study period.  69% of identified PIMs were medications to be used with caution in elderly, 22% were medications to avoid in many or most older adults, 6.3% were medications to be avoided or  have their dosage adjusted based on kidney function in older adults, 2.04% medications were  to  avoid in elderly patients with specific diseases/syndromes, and 1.6% were potentially clinically important non-anti-infective drug-drug interactions to be avoided in older adults.  Female gender and polypharmacy were found to be significant predictors of PIMs use among elderly.  Conclusion: Potentially Inappropriate Medication prescribing is common among Jordanian elderly outpatients.  Female gender and polypharmacy are associated with more PIMs prescribing and so need further attention.           Biography: Dr. Al-Azayzih is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at United Arab Emirates University, Al Ainm UAE. His current Research projects focuses on Pharmacovigilance, Medication Errors, and Adverse Drug Events Evaluation . He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Degree from Jordan University of Science and Technology in 2007. He then earned a Ph.D. in Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics from the University of Georgia- College of Pharmacy in 2014.Dr. Al-Azayzih is a Board Certified in Oncology Pharmacy since May, 2014.  He has authored has authored 20 original research publications in various Journals including, International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, biochemical biophysical acta, Nanomedicine, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Journal of Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, Pharmacy Practice, and others. He has authored more than 30 abstracts and Papers, presented in local, national and international conferences and received several awards for research and academic excellence.     Speaker Publications:   1. “Knowledge and Attitude of Medical Residents Towards Cancer Clinical Trials in Jordan”; International Journal of General Medicine / 2020 / Volume 13:337-342   2. “Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Utilization Patterns and Risk of Adverse Events due to Drug-Drug Interactions among Elderly Patients: A Study from Jordan”; Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal / 2020 / 10.1016/j.jsps.2020.03.001   3. Potentially inappropriate medications prescribing according to Beers criteria among elderly outpatients in Jordan: a cross sectional study”; Pharmacy Practice / 2019 / 10.18549/PharmPract.2019.2.1439     10th International Conference on Clinical Research and Clinical Trials; Amsterdam, Netherlands- March 18-19, 2020. Abstract Citation: Potentially Inappropriate Medications Prescribing among Elderly Patients in Jordan, Euro Clinical Trials 2020, 10th International Conference on Clinical Research and Clinical Trials; Amsterdam, Netherlands- March 18-19, 2020 (https://clinicaltrials.pharmaceuticalconferences.com/abstract/2020/potentially-inappropriate-medications-prescribing-among-elderly-patients-in-jordan)