Evaluation of the Appropriateness of Prescribing in Geriatric Patients in Government Teaching Hospital, Karnataka

Abstract Introduction: Aging encompasses not only physical but also psychosocial changes. It may lead to up/downregulation of the pharmacological targets responsible for the action of drugs. The elderly comprise one of the most vulnerable age groups. Determining optimal treatment regimens for the elderly patients is quite a challenging task. Therefore, incorporating the use of a simple, inexpensive, and time-efficient tool in routine medical practice can be very helpful to guide prescribing practice and reduce inappropriate prescribing in the geriatric population. This study illuminates the loopholes in the current pattern of geriatric prescribing and could be a guiding platform to ensure quality healthcare for future prescriptions. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the appropriateness of prescribing using the Beer’s criteria, and to observe the rationality of the prescription as a whole using Phadke’s criteria. Materials And Methods: A prospective observational study was undertaken for 1 year. One thousand patients aged 65 years or above admitted to various wards in a tertiary care hospital were included in the study. Data were evaluated for the appropriateness of prescribing using Beers Criteria and Phadke’s criteria. Results: While analysing the drug use pattern, using Beers Criteria, 41% of the prescriptions contained one or more potentially inappropriate drugs. As per the Phadke’s criteria, only 18.5% of prescriptions were rational. Conclusion: The study concluded polypharmacy was a common practice and inappropriate prescribing is a major problem encountered by the elderly people.