Potentially Inappropriate Medications In Geriatric Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Concerns about inappropriate drug use are increasing in geriatric patients. Potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) lists are being updated accordingly. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of PIM in elderly Turkish hemodialysis patients and to assess the association of patient’s characteristic as risk factors for PIMs in this population. Patients aged 65 years and over who were treated at two different hemodialysis centers were included in the study. Medical and sociodemographic information of the patients was obtained from patient’s files and medical records. Patients’ files and SGK-Online Medulla System were used to identify medications used by patients. PIMs were defined by using the modified Beers’ criteria independent of diagnosis and Beers’ Kidney-List. A total of 110 patients (mean age 73.31±6.4 years) were included in the study. 69 of the patients were male (62.7%) and 41 female (37.3%). Only 47.3% of the patients were independent in daily functioning. The average number of medications received by the patients was 7.3. When the charts in the patient files were examined, it was determined that 54.5% of all patients used PIM. However, when all prescribed drugs were scanned online from the Medulla-SGK system, it was found that inappropriate drugs were prescribed in 70.9% of the patients. A statistically significant relationship was found between the use of PIM and the total number of drugs used and the number of hospital admissions. The prevalence rate of PIM in elderly Turkish hemodialysis patients was higher. It is necessary to raise awareness of this in terms of reducing unwanted drug interactions and contributing economically.