Application of the 2015 Beers Criteria Operationalized for Portugal in Institutionalized Elderly: A Cross-Sectional Study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.13030

Keywords:

Aged, Inappropriate Prescribing, Institutionalization, Portugal, Potentially Inappropriate Medication List

Abstract

Introduction: The consumption of potentially inappropriate medicines is high among institutionalized elderly, predisposing to potential drug interactions, adverse drug events, risk of iatrogenic cascade, increased morbidity and mortality and health costs. Medication review is a promising strategy for therapeutic optimization, although scarcely documented in Portugal. The aim of this study was to characterize, using explicit criteria, the existence of potentially inappropriate medicines, among institutionalized elderly, and to calculate the eventual cost savings, with their discontinuation.
Material and Methods: Descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted in three residential homes for the elderly, from different geographic regions, based on a random sample of 33 health records. In order to characterize the existence of potentially inappropriate medicines, we used the 2015 Beers criteria, revised by the American Geriatrics Society and in the Portuguese version.
Results: On average, 11 drugs are prescribed to elderly residents of three residential structures for the elderly. All health records contain potentially inappropriate medicines (mean 4.8 ± 2.0 per resident), with anxiolytics (17.7%), antidepressants (17.7%) and antipsychotics (15.8%) being the most prevalent. Its reduction would result in an average monthly savings of €9.6 per resident.
Discussion: The consumption of potentially inappropriate medicines is higher than the literature describes, and the cost of medicines is high. The involvement of nurses in the process of drug management and reconciliation, in coordination with the physician, could be an effective strategy. This is the first study using the latest Portuguese version of the Beers criteria, which makes the comparability of the results difficult.
Conclusion: The consumption of potentially inappropriate medicines is high, which suggest the need for adoption of improvement measures.

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Author Biographies

Sofia Peixoto, Departamento de Gerontologia e Cuidado Geriátrico. Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Porto.

Mestrando do curso de gerontologia e cuidado geriátrico

Armando Almeida, Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Saúde. Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Porto.

PhD (Nursing); MNursSci (Advanced Nursing); CHN (Community Health Nursing Specialist); RN (Registered Nurse) - professor, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Saúde, Porto, Portugal.

Ana Caramelo, Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Saúde. Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Porto.

PhD (Nursing), professor, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Porto, Portugal.

Lígia Mendes, Departamento de Medicina Geral e Familiar. Assistência Social Adventista. Lisboa.

Médica de Clinica Geral e Familiar

Published

2021-11-02

How to Cite

1.
Peixoto S, Almeida A, Caramelo A, Mendes L. Application of the 2015 Beers Criteria Operationalized for Portugal in Institutionalized Elderly: A Cross-Sectional Study. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2021 Nov. 2 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];34(11):741-8. Available from: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/13030

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Original