Prescription of Potentially Inappropriate Medications in Geriatric Patients: Data from a Single Dental Institution

Publication date: Available online 8 February 2019

Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology

Author(s): Arwa Farag, Jessaca York, Matthew Finkelman, Bhavik Desai

ABSTRACT

Objectives

The Beers Criteria and the Screening Tool of Older Persons' Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions(STOPP) are consensus-driven lists of potentially inappropriate medications(PIMs) in geriatric patients. The Primary objective was to determine the frequency of PIMs prescribed to geriatrics at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine(TUSDM). The secondary aim was to determine the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status of these patients and suggest that Beers/STOPP guidelines should be implied with consideration to the patient's ASA status.

Methods

Beers/STOPP criteria were studied and PIMs thus identified. A retrospective electronic chart review of patients at TUSDM aged 65+ was performed for calendar years 2013,2014 and 2015. Search queries were generated for ASA status, along with PIM's prescribed.

Results

Out of 15569 geriatrics, over half of patients between 65-74 years were classified as ASA-I. Over a 3-year-period, 895(5.75%) and 840(5.4%) received new prescriptions for opioids or NSAIDs, respectively. New prescriptions for muscle relaxants, benzodiazepines and tricyclic antidepressants were given to 65(0.42%),44(0.28%) and 38(0.24%) patients, respectively.

Conclusion

PIMs are prescribed at low percentages to geriatric patients. However, prescription of opioids, benzodiazepines and NSAIDs across undergraduate/postgraduate clinics is not uncommon. The majority of TUSDM geriatric patients fall within the category of ASAI-II. ASA classification must be taken into consideration when PIMs are prescribed to geriatrics rather than relying solely on chronological age.

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