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Prevalence and predictors of potentially inappropriate prescribing in middle-aged adults: a repeated cross-sectional study

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posted on 2021-07-26, 16:04 authored by Amandeep Khatter, Frank MoriartyFrank Moriarty, Mark Ashworth, Stevo Durbaba, Patrick RedmondPatrick Redmond

Background: Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) is common in older adults and known to be associated with polypharmacy and multimorbidity. Less is known about the prevalence and causes of PIP in middle-aged adults.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and predictors of PIP in middle-aged adults.

Design and setting: A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted using primary care data in London.

Method: PIP was defined using the PRescribing Optimally in Middle-aged People's Treatments (PROMPT) criteria. Prescribing and demographic data were extracted from Lambeth DataNet (LDN), a pseudonymised database of all patients registered at general practices in Lambeth, for those aged 45-64 years prescribed ≥1 medicines in each year from 2014-2019 (n = 46 633-52 582). Prevalence and trends over 6 years were investigated, including the association of PIP with polypharmacy, multimorbidity, deprivation, sex, and age.

Results: The prevalence of PIP decreased from 20% in 2014 to 18% in 2019. The most prevalent PROMPT criteria in 2019 were the use of ≥2 drugs from the same pharmacological class (7.6%), use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for >3 months (7.1%) and use of proton pump inhibitors above recommended maintenance dosages for >8 weeks (3.1%). Over the study period, the prevalence of multimorbidity increased (47-52%) and polypharmacy remained stable (27%). Polypharmacy, multimorbidity, deprivation, and age were independently associated with PIP. Sex was the only variable not associated with PIP.

Conclusion: Almost one-fifth of middle-aged adults prescribed medicines are exposed to PIP, as defined by the PROMPT criteria. This is likely to be linked with exposure to avoidable adverse drug events. The PROMPT criteria may provide a useful aid in interventions to optimise prescribing.

History

Comments

The original article is available at https://bjgp.org

Published Citation

Khatter A, Moriarty F, Ashworth M, Durbaba S, Redmond P. Prevalence and predictors of potentially inappropriate prescribing in middle-aged adults: a repeated cross-sectional study. Br J Gen Pract. 2021;71(708):e491–7.

Publication Date

18 May 2021

PubMed ID

33606659

Department/Unit

  • General Practice
  • School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences

Research Area

  • Population Health and Health Services

Publisher

Royal College of General Practitioners

Version

  • Published Version (Version of Record)