*corresponding author
What is already known about this subject
In 2017, China published the ”Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medications use for the old adults in China”.
There is no medical institution in Huainan that has conducted investigations on PIMs for the old adults until now.
What this study adds
The survey investigated the PIMs for the old adults in our hospital, and also tested the applicability and practicability of the 72 drugs included in the ”Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medications use for the old adults in China”.
[Abstract ] Objective Analyze the potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) use in 372 old adult inpatients in our hospital. Methods According to the Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medications use for the old adults in China (2017 Edition) , a retrospective analysis of the medications in 372 old adult inpatients aged 65 years and above was performed to evaluate the occurrence of their PIMs use. Results The average age of the 372 inpatients was (74.67±6.95) years old, the average Inpatient days was (11.96±8.5) days, and the average number of illnesses per person was (4.92±2.55). Of 372 inpatients, 62.63% (233) inpatients had PIMs in the China-PIM list for the old adults , and 17.20% (64) inpatients had PIMs related to their diseases. Conclusion The proportion of PIMs among old adult inpatients in our hospital is relatively high. The hospital should pay attention to it and actively take measures to reduce the risk of PIMs for the old adults and ensure rational drug use in clinical medicine.
[Key words] The old adults;Potentially inappropriate medication;Rational drug use
Potentially inappropriate medications(PIMs) refer to that the potential adverse risks of using certain drugs which belong to the high-risk drug class [1] may exceed the predicted benefits. As old adults suffer from multiple diseases at the same time, they need to take a variety of drugs. There are potential risks in the interaction both between drugs and between drugs and the body. The use of scientific criteria to evaluate the PIMs in old adults patients can prevent adverse drug events(ADEs), and guide rational drug use in clinical medicine. In 1991, American geriatric expert Beers and others first published the PIM criteria for the old adults mainly for outpatients and long-term care patients,called the Beers Criteria [2], and is currently widely used internationally [3]. China has now entered an aging society. From 2014 to 2016, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University took the lead to initially develop the Preliminary Judgment Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Use of Drugs in the Disease State of the old adults in China by referring to the medication data of a large number of old adult patients over 60 years old[4] And the China PIM List for old adults [5], and tested the applicability and practicality of the China PIM List for old adults , and jointly issued the Judgement criteria of PIM for old adults in China in Beijing in 2017. PIMs can increase the risk of adverse drug reactions/events and other risks in the old adults, leading to increased rehospitalization and increased case fatality rate. Therefore, for the drugs listed in the Judgement criteria of PIM for old adults in China , measures should be taken to avoid the drug use, reduce the dose or increase monitoring in the treatment of old adults patients or under certain disease states.