Korean J Clin Pharm.  2015 Sep;25(3):159-165. 10.0000/kjcp.2015.25.3.159.

Risk Factors of Potentially Inappropriate Medications and Cost by Polypharmacy among Elderly Patients of a Community Pharmacy near a Top Tier General Hospital

• Kim A
• Kim HA
• Rhie SJ

• KMID: 2226407
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/kjcp.2015.25.3.159

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Polypharmacy is one of the main causes of inappropriate medication use, adverse drug-related events and cost. It aimed to investigate the status of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication (PIM), the factors affecting polypharmacy and cost in elderly outpatients. METHOD: A pharmacy claim data were retrospectively analyzed with elderly patients prescriptions at a pharmacy located near a top tier general hospital. The numbers of medications per person, prevalence of polypharmacy and PIM according to the 2012 Beers criteria and Korea PIM list, medication cost and the factors affecting polypharmacy were investigated.
RESULTS
Forty-six percentages of the elderly outpatients received polypharmacy and over 21% of them had medications listed in Beers or Korean PIM. In multiregressional analysis, we found that age, gender and insurance types were affective factors of polypharmacy. (p < 0.001, 0.047, 0.009, respectively). The cost of polypharmacy with PIM in elderly outpatients was increased with age. Various approaches of interventions would be further required.

Keyword

polypharmacy; potentially inappropriate medication; elderly; community pharmacy

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Beer
Hospitals, General*
Humans
Insurance
Korea
Outpatients
Pharmacies*
Pharmacy
Polypharmacy*
Prescriptions
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors*