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Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing among Elderly Outpatients: Evaluation of Temporal Trends 2012–2018 in Piedmont, Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Federica Galimberti

    (IRCCS MultiMedica, Sesto S. Giovanni, 20099 Milan, Italy)

  • Manuela Casula

    (IRCCS MultiMedica, Sesto S. Giovanni, 20099 Milan, Italy
    Epidemiology and Preventive Pharmacology Service (SEFAP), Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Lorenza Scotti

    (Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy)

  • Elena Olmastroni

    (Epidemiology and Preventive Pharmacology Service (SEFAP), Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Daniela Ferrante

    (Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy)

  • Andrealuna Ucciero

    (Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy)

  • Elena Tragni

    (Epidemiology and Preventive Pharmacology Service (SEFAP), Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Alberico Luigi Catapano

    (IRCCS MultiMedica, Sesto S. Giovanni, 20099 Milan, Italy
    Epidemiology and Preventive Pharmacology Service (SEFAP), Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Francesco Barone-Adesi

    (Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy)

Abstract

Pharmacological intervention is one of the cornerstones in the treatment and prevention of disease in modern healthcare. However, a large number of drugs are often prescribed and used inappropriately, especially in elderly patients. We aimed at investigating the annual prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIPs) among older outpatients using administrative healthcare databases of the Piedmont Region (Italy) over a seven-year period (2012–2018). We included all Piedmont outpatients aged 65 years or older with at least one drug prescription per year. Polypharmacy and the prevalence of PIPs according to the ERD list explicit tool were measured on an annual basis. A range between 976,398 (in 2012) and 1,066,389 (in 2018) elderly were evaluated. Among them, the number of subjects with at least one PIP decreased from 418,537 in 2012 to 339,764 in 2018; the prevalence significantly reduced by ~25% over the study period. The stratified analyses by age groups and sex also confirmed the downward trend and identified several differences in the most prevalent inappropriately prescribed drugs. Overall, despite a reduction in PIP prevalence, one out of three older outpatients was still exposed to inappropriateness, highlighting the extensive need for intervention to improve prescribing.

Suggested Citation

  • Federica Galimberti & Manuela Casula & Lorenza Scotti & Elena Olmastroni & Daniela Ferrante & Andrealuna Ucciero & Elena Tragni & Alberico Luigi Catapano & Francesco Barone-Adesi, 2022. "Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing among Elderly Outpatients: Evaluation of Temporal Trends 2012–2018 in Piedmont, Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:6:p:3612-:d:774148
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bo Ram Yang & Hye-Yeon Um & Min Taek Lee & Myo Song Kim & Sun-Young Jung, 2021. "Characterizing tramadol users with potentially inappropriate co-medications: A latent class analysis among older adults," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(2), pages 1-13, February.
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