A Prospective Analytical Study on Medication Assessment in Geriatrics Using Beer Criteria -At A Tertiary Care Hospital

Geriatric patients are especially vulnerable to adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and inappropriate medication use due to age-related physiological changes and the presence of multiple comorbidities. These age-related changes have significant implications for the clinical management of older adults, as alterations in metabolism and variations in drug response often require adjustments in medication dosages. To mitigate these risks, healthcare professionals rely on various guidelines and criteria, among which the Beers Criteria is widely recognised. Objective- This study was intended to assess the medications utilised by the geriatric demographic with the aim of discerning potentially inappropriate medications, as outlined by the Beer’s criteria.Materials and method- We conducted a prospective observational study for a period of 6 months, reviewing a total of 287 patient prescriptions of age above 65 years to asses the use medications based on 2023 updated Beers criteria.Result- The study population was predominantly male, with a significant majority (62.4%) falling within the age group of 65-75 years. The most common comorbidities among patients were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and thyroid disorders.A total of 2156 were prescribed from which 606 drugs were present in category 1, 162 drugs in category 2, 118 drugs in category 3 and 121 drugs in category 5.The most frequently prescribed drugs were Pantoprazole, Acetaminophen, Ondansetron, Telmisartan, and Glimepiride. Pantoprazole was the most prevalent potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) in category 1, followed by Glimepiride, Aspirin, Diclofenac, and Nifedipine. In category 2, Zolpidem, Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Tramadol, and Ibuprofen were the most prescribed drugs. Tramadol was the most prevalent PIM in category 3, followed by Antipsychotics, SSRIs, Diuretics, and Antidepressants. . In category 5, NSAIDs, Levetiracetam, and Tramadol were the most frequently prescribed drugs.Conclusion- this study concludes that the geriatrics are at significant risk of receiving potentially inappropriate medication, with the majority of potentially inappropriate medication identified were from category 1 of Beers criteria.The findings of this study highlight the need for increased awareness and careful monitoring of medication use in elderly patients to minimise the risk of adverse drug events and improve patient outcomes.