Genesis of polypharmacy and inappropriate STOPP prescriptions in the elderly

Authors

  • Marlene García Orihuela Facultad de Ciencias Médicas "Calixto García" https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5666-0874
  • Ana María Suárez Conejero
  • Jorge Marcial Otero Morales
  • Ismary Alfonso Orta
  • Grethell Caballero Conesa

Keywords:

polypharmacy, inappropriate prescription, elderly, drug

Abstract

Introduction. The most frequent medical act to try to diagnose, alleviate or cure most diseases is the pharmacological prescription. The complex situation of the elderly requires a comprehensive assessment to avoid inappropriate prescriptions and the presence of polypharmacy. Both aspects bring on dire consequences for the elderly, their family and the health care system. Objective: To identify inappropriate prescriptions and estimate the factors that favor polypharmacy at admission and discharge of hospitalized elderly people.
Method. Quasi-experimental research, before-after study, which collected information on biomedical, social and functional variables from the medical records of 200 hospitalized patients at the Center for Research on Longevity, Aging and Health. The STOPP criteria were used to identify potentially inappropriate prescriptions. Descriptive and inferential statistics tests were performed (α = 0.05).
Results. Drugs with anticholinergic properties (18.0%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (17.1%), and benzodiazepines (13.1%) were the most inappropriately prescribed drugs. Polypharmacy was present in 43.0% of the elderly at admission and comorbidity greater than six (OR = 7.34; p = 0.000), the condition of being alone (OR = 4.59; p = 0.033) and two or more inappropriate prescriptions (OR = 4.48; p = 0.000) were the variables with the greatest association with polypharmacy. At discharge, only comorbidity showed a clinical and statistical association (OR = 7.33; p = 0.000). The usefulness of the STOPP criteria in the investigation of inappropriate prescriptions in the treatment at admission and discharge of hospitalized Cuban elderly is confirmed. Comorbidity is the factor most associated with polypharmacy in the elderly in both stages.

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Author Biography

Marlene García Orihuela, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas "Calixto García"

Profesora Principal del Departamento de Clínicas

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Published

2020-10-12

How to Cite

García Orihuela, M., Suárez Conejero, A. M., Otero Morales, J. M., Alfonso Orta, I., & Caballero Conesa, G. (2020). Genesis of polypharmacy and inappropriate STOPP prescriptions in the elderly. Anales De La Academia De Ciencias De Cuba, 10(3), e925. Retrieved from https://revistaccuba.sld.cu/index.php/revacc/article/view/925

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 3 (2020): septiembre-diciembre

Section

Biomedical sciences

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