Polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medications, and the vulnerability of older adults

Abstract

Objective To analyze the frequency of polypharmacy and the prescription of Potentially Inappropriate Medications (PIM) according to the Beers Criteria and CBMPI in older adults with clinical-functional vulnerability. Method This is a cross-sectional study where the medical records of 496 participants aged 60 and older, seen in their first appointment at a Gerontological Polyclinic, were analyzed. Sociodemographic data, medications, the Clinical-Functional Vulnerability Index-20 (IVCF-20), and falls were extracted from the medical records. Polypharmacy was defined as the simultaneous use of five or more medications. Participants were classified into three groups: robust, at risk, and vulnerable. Results The analysis revealed that 69 (13.91%) participants were using polypharmacy. Among polypharmacy users, 40 (57.97%) were using at least one PIM. The most commonly found PIM were glibenclamide and omeprazole, respectively. Older adults with vulnerability were three times more likely to have polypharmacy (OR 3.59; 95% CI 2.109-6.092). Conclusion The use of polypharmacy and PIM in this study was associated with the vulnerability of older adults, emphasizing the need for a thorough evaluation of medication prescriptions for this population.