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Objective: To assess the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication [PIM] prescribed among elderly patients in the primary care unit of a university hospital in southern Thailand and identify the associated factors.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted retrospectively in the primary care unit of a university hospital. The medical records of all the patients aged 60 years or older that visited the primary care unit during the year of 2016 were included. PIM was identified based on the 2015 Updated Beers Criteria. The prevalence of PIM was described and the associated factors were analyzed.
Results: Of 490 elderly patients, 64.1% were female and the median age was 66.3 years. The prevalence of PIM was 40.4%. The most common type of PIM was medications to avoid for many or most elderly patients (49.8%). Factors associated with PIM prescriptions were female gender, visited the PC clinic, received an increased number of medications, had some underlying disease, and presented with acute illness.
Conclusion: The prevalence of PIM was high among elderly patients in the primary care unit of a university hospital in southern Thailand. This is an alarming result for a medical school. Physicians should be aware when prescribing medications to patients who have associated factors.
Keywords: Elderly patient, Inappropriate medication, Beers Criteria