Risks of Potentially Inappropriate Medications Post-Hospitalization for Older Adults

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society sought to measure the risk of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) prescribed to older adults at the time of their release from the hospital, reports EurekAlert . The team analyzed information from medical and surgical patients to asses the link between PIMs and the risk of four outcomes — harmful drug problems, emergency department visits, rehospitalization, and death after release. The study involved 2,402 subjects who were about 76 years old overall, had been diagnosed with five health conditions, and had been prescribed about eight different drugs at the time of their release. Almost two-thirds had been prescribed at least one PIM at discharge, including both new PIMs and/or those continued from before hospitalization. Most were prescribed one PIM, and 1,176 were re-prescribed at least one of their previous PIMs. Almost 50 percent were prescribed with at least one new PIM. Nearly 10 percent of subjects had a potentially harmful drug reaction and 36 percent visited the emergency department, were readmitted to the hospital, and/or died in the 30 days post-hospitalization. The researchers concluded that older adults who have been hospitalized and prescribed PIMs are at a higher risk for potentially harmful drug reactions and the other considered outcomes.